I received yours of the 11th & would say that I can heartily recommend your son in the particulars referred to. But I suppose my recommendation would have no influence where the selection proceeds from merit & not from favor.

I have no doubt William can pass the preliminary examination which is by no means a severe one.

I did not ask Mr. G. P. Fisher for an endorsement of this certificate, as his wife was dying, when I received your letter; he left immediately with her body for Connecticut.

Thanking you for your kind expression of sympathy for me in my bodily weakness.

Allow me to wish you a continuance of the blessing of health, with all other good things.

Truly yours, S. J. Witherbee

L.J. Witherbee to Isaac Fisher

LJ Witherbee to Isaac Fisher

I received your letter a few days since and I will give you all the information I possess.

After I had seen my son’s name among those appointed by the President I wrote, for him, to the Adjutant General. But the only answer given was the transmission of his commission. You might, with sincerity, do the same.

My son sent forward his acceptance of the commission with the certificate of having later the oath required. He has since equipped himself with uniform & sword. He is now expecting to receive orders, but to what place he may be ordered is very uncertain.

All the appointments, including that of your son, I understand to be in the Regular Army and will possibly be permanent.

The compensation of a Second Lieutenant is about $1000 per annum.

I had supposed there would be some examination, but as my son has received his commission, it will probably be omitted in his case.

He was a member of the Commonwealth Artillery Company of Philadelphia, served 3 months, as such, at Fort Delaware. That fact may have dispensed with any examination, but, I am not certain that he will yet be examined. He is between 18 & 19 years of age and, at the time he volunteered, was a clerk in a store in Philadelphia.

I would advise you to write on behalf of your son stating, that having seen his appointment Gazetted, he is awaiting instructions at his place of residence.

Yours very respectfully, Geo. B. Rodney

P.S. If your son should conclude to get his outfit & will stop here [New Castle] on his way to the city [Wilmington], my son may give him some information as to the articles required, he having consulted Capt. Gibson of Fort Delaware on the subject.

The cost of his uniform, sword, etc., will be about $75.00

George B. Rodney to Isaac Fisher

George B. Rodney to Isaac Fisher