Brevet Major-General LORENZO THOMAS,
Adjutant-General United States Army, Washington, D.C.
SIR: The Hon. Edwin M. Stanton having been this day removed from office as Secretary for the Department of War, you are hereby authorized and empowered to act as Secretary of War ad interim , and will immediately enter upon the discharge of the duties pertaining to that office.
Mr. Stanton has been instructed to transfer to you all the records, books, papers, and other public property now in his custody and charge.
Respectfully, yours,
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Andrew Johnson, Executive Order—Authorizing Lorenzo Thomas to Act as Secretary of War Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/202959