After visit to telegraph office, Lincoln writes to Martin about telegram pertaining to Sangamon & Alton cases which Martin claims was sent from Springfield office. "The operator . . . declares that no such despach ever went from this office—at least, never in . . . February or March last. He then got up a correspondence with the operator at Alton, who . . . says . . . no such despach was ever, received there." Abraham Lincoln to William Martin, 19 July 1851, CW, 2:106.