ir report.

Third, all officers and persons in the military, naval and revenue
services, or in any branch of the public service under the authority
of the United States Government, are required, upon subpoena issued by
direction of the said commissioners, to appear before them at such time
and place as may be designated in said subpoena and to give testimony on
oath touching such matters as may be inquired of by the commissioners,
and to produce such books, papers, writings, and documents as they may
be notified or required to produce by the commissioners, and as may be in
their possession.

Fourth, said special commissioners shall also investigate and report upon
any other matters that may hereafter be directed by the Secretary of War,
and shall with all convenient dispatch make report to him in writing of
their investigation, and shall also from time to time make special reports
to the Secretary of War upon such matters as they may deem of importance
to the public interests.

Fifth, the Secretary of War shall assign to the said commissioners such
aid and assistance as may be required for the performance of their duties,
and make such just and reasonable allowances and compensation for the said
commissioners and for the persons employed by them as he may deem proper.

A. LINCOLN.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G, H. THOMAS. WASHINGTON, D.C., December 16, 1864.

MAJOR-GENERAL THOMAS, Nashville, Tennessee:

Please accept for yourself, officers, and men, the nation's thanks for
your good work of yesterday. You made a magnificent beginning; a grand
consummation is within your easy reach. Do not let it slip.

A. LINCOLN,

ORIGIN OF THE "GREENBACK" CURRENCY

TO COLONEL B. D. TAYLOR

EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, December [16?], 1864.

DEAR COLONEL DICK:--I have long determined to make public the origin of
the greenback and tell the world that it is Dick Taylor's creation. You
had always been friendly to me, and when troublous times fell on us, and
my shoulders, though broad and willing, were weak, and myself surrounded
by such circumstances and such people that I knew not whom to trust, then
I said in my extremity: "I will send for Colonel Taylor; he will know what
to do." I think it was in January, 1862, on or about the 16th, that I did
so. You came, and I said to you:

"What can we do?" Said you, "Why, issue Treasury notes bearing no
interest, printed on the best banking paper. Issue enough to pay off