In November of 1864, after three-quarters of a century of Presidents, and more than three years of the Civil War, the first full-time Presidential body guards were finally hired. A promotion two months later left a job opening in the foursome, and William H. Crook was hired away from the Washington Police Force (he had previously served in the Union Army during the Civil War). As one of the bodyguards, Crook was in close contact with President Abraham Lincoln and his family, observing the sixteenth President as a person, and recording his observations.