Dec. 2, 1861

Dec. 2, 1861: On this date, Pres. Lincoln sends to Gen. Halleck, commander in the Dept. of the West, authority to suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus.

To Major General, Henry W. Halleck, December 2, 1861
Commanding in the Department of Missouri.

General: As an insurrection exists in the United States and is in arms in the State of Missouri, you are hereby authorized and empowered to suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus within the limits of the military division under your command and to exercise martial law as you find it necessary in your discretion to secure the public safety and the authority of the United States.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed at Washington, this second day of December, A d 1861. ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Sergeant Alexander G. Downing of the Union Army records in his journal: "Monday, 2d—It turned warm today and the snow is all gone. I was on guard for the first time here at the barracks. We have to walk the beats with our overcoats on. A man on this, the west side, of the camp was engaged in cleaning his rifle today, when by some movement it was accidentally discharged and hit and killed a soldier on the other side of the grounds."