The Yankees' Secret Weapon

[Steve]

If the accusation is true, it seems like it was a really pointless thing to forge when Lincoln signed several similar orders on April 14, 1865, like this one to discharge Maine Private Thomas Geary:

   

(I checked and Pvt. Geary was in fact not discharged but continued to serve in his unit until it was mustered out on July 15, 1865.)


According to the text of Basler, Lincoln reviewed 67 cases with his endorsement on April 14, 1864. There were notes written by Lincoln on 2 pardons:

(Pardon of John C. Clevenger) -

To Joseph Holt 

Pardon---proof being insufficient, except for short absence without leave. A. LINCOLN
April 14. 1864

Annotation
[1]   AES, DNA WR RG 153, Judge Advocate General, NN 1204. Lincoln's endorsement is written on the court-martial record of John C. Clevenger, First New Jersey Cavalry, sentenced to two years' imprisonment for absence without leave and for forgery. This is one of sixty-seven cases reviewed by Lincoln on April 14. His endorsements are routine pardons, commutations, remissions, or approvals of sentence with the exception of the two reproduced.

(Pardon of Patrick Murphy) -

To Joseph Holt 

This man is pardoned, and hereby ordered to be discharged from the service. A. LINCOLN
April 14. 1864

Annotation
[1]   AES, DNA WR RG 153, Judge Advocate General, MM 761. Lincoln's endorsement is written on the court-martial record of Private Patrick Murphy, Company E, Second California Volunteers, sentenced to be shot for desertion and violation of the Twenty-Third Article of War. The court asked clemency, as the accused was insane.

UPDATE (9/29):
For any reader interested in Pvt John C. Clevenger, I found a copy of the Adjutant General's Office General Order No. 187, April 27, 1864 which goes more in-depth into the case:

https://archive.org/stream/generalorders...2/mode/2up

(Clevenger's case is mentioned on pages 4, 5, and 10 of the order)