第29章

If，inconjunctionwithMcDowell’smovementagainstAnderson，youcouldsendaforcefromyourrighttocutofftheenemy’ssuppliesfromRichmond，preservetherailroadbridgesacrossthetwoforksofthePamunkey，andintercepttheenemy’sretreat，youwillpreventthearmynowopposedtoyoufromreceivinganaccessionofnumbersofnearly15，000men；andifyousucceedinsavingthebridgesyouwillsecurealineofrailroadforsuppliesinadditiontotheoneyounowhave。CanyounotdothisalmostaswellasnotwhileyouarebuildingtheChickahominybridges？McDowellandShieldsbothsaytheycan，andpositivelywill，moveMondaymorning。Iwishyoutomovecautiouslyandsafely。

YouwillhavecommandofMcDowell，afterhejoinsyou，preciselyasyouindicatedinyourlongdespatchtousofthe21st。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALRUFUSSAXTON。

WARDEPARTMENT，May，241862。2P。M。

GENERALSAXTON：

GearyreportsJacksonwith20，000movingfromAshby’sGapbytheLittleRiverturnpike，throughAldie，towardCentreville。Thishesaysisreliable。Heisalsoinformedoflargeforcessouthofhim。

Weknowaforceofsome15，000brokeupSaturdaynightfrominfrontofFredericksburgandwentweknownotwhere。Pleaseinformus，ifpossible，whathasbecomeoftheforcewhichpursuedBanksyesterday；

alsoanyotherinformationyouhave。

A。LINCOLN

TELEGRAMTOCOLONELD。S。MILES。

WARDEPARTMENT，May24，1862。1。30P。M。

COLONELMILES，Harper’sFerry，VirginiaCouldyounotsendscoutsfromWinchesterwhowouldtellwhetherenemyarenorthofBanks，movingonWinchester？Whatisthelatestyouhave？

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALJ。C。FREMONT。

WARDEPARTMENT，May24，1862。4P。M。

MAJOR—GENERALFREMONT，Franklin：

Youareauthorizedtopurchasethe400horses，ortakethemwhereverorhoweveryoucangetthem。TheexposedconditionofGeneralBanksmakeshisimmediatereliefapointofparamountimportance。YouarethereforedirectedbythePresidenttomoveagainstJacksonatHarrisonburgandoperateagainsttheenemyinsuchwayastorelieveBanks。Thismovementmustbemadeimmediately。Youwillacknowledgethereceiptofthisorder，andspecifythehouritisreceivedbyyou。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALJ。C。FREMONT。

WARDEPARTMENT，May24，1862。7。15P。M。

MAJOR—GENERALFREMONT，Franklin，Virginia：

Manythanksforthepromptnesswithwhichyouhaveansweredthatyouwillexecutetheorder。Much——perhapsall——dependsupontheceleritywithwhichyoucanexecuteit。Puttheutmostspeedintoit。Donotloseaminute。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALH。W。HALLECK。

WARDEPARTMENT，May24，1862。

MAJOR—GENERALHALLECK，nearCorinth，Mississippi：

SeveraldespatchesfromAssistantSecretaryScottandonefromGovernorMortonaskingreinforcementsforyouhavebeenreceived。I

begyoutobeassuredwedothebestwecan。ImeantocastnoblamewhereItellyoueachofourcommandersalongourlinefromRichmondtoCorinthsupposeshimselftobeconfrontedbynumberssuperiortohisown。UnderthispressureWethinnedthelineontheupperPotomac，untilyesterdayitwasbrokenwithheavylosstous，andGeneralBanksputingreatperil，outofwhichheisnotyetextricated，andmaybeactuallycaptured。Weneedmentorepairthisbreach，andhavethemnotathand。MydearGeneral，Ifeeljustifiedtorelyverymuchonyou。IbelieveyouandthebraveofficersandmenwithyoucanandwillgetthevictoryatCorinth。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALI。McDOWELL

WARDEPARTMENT，May24，1862。

MAJOR—GENERALMcDOWELL，Fredricksburg：

GeneralFremonthasbeenorderedbytelegraphtomovefromFranklinonHarrisonburgtorelieveGeneralBanks，andcaptureordestroyJackson’sandEwell’sforces。Youareinstructed，layingasideforthepresentthemovementonRichmond，toput20，000meninmotionatoncefortheShenandoah，movingonthelineorinadvanceofthelineoftheManassasGaprailroad。YourobjectwillbetocapturetheforcesofJacksonandEwell，eitherinco—operationwithGeneralFremont，or，incasewantofsuppliesoroftransportation，interfereswithhismovements，itisbelievedthattheforcewhichyoumovewillbesufficienttoaccomplishthisobjectalone。TheinformationthusfarreceivedheremakesitprobablethatiftheenemyoperateactivelyagainstGeneralBanks，youwillnotbeabletocountuponmuchassistancefromhim，butmayevenhavetoreleasehim。ReportsreceivedthismomentarethatBanksisfightingwithEwelleightmilesfromWinchester。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALMcDOWELL。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTONCITY，D。C。，May24，1862

MAJOR—GENERALI。McDOWELL：

Iamhighlygratifiedbyyouralacrityinobeyingmyorder。Thechangewasaspainfultomeasitcanpossiblybetoyouortoanyone。Everythingnowdependsuponthecelerityandvigorofyourmovement。

A。LINCOLN

TELEGRAMTOGENERALJ。W。GEARY。

WARDEPARTMENT，May25，18621。45P。M。

GENERALGEARY，WhitePlains：

Pleasegiveusyourbestpresentimpressionastothenumberoftheenemy’sforcesnorthofStrasburgandFrontRoyal。AretheforcesstillmovingnorththroughthegapatFrontRoyalandbetweenyouandthere？

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALG。B。McCLELLAN。

WASHINGTON，May25，1862。2P。M。

MAJOR—GENERALMcCLELLAN：

TheenemyismovingnorthinsufficientforcetodriveGeneralBanksbeforehim——preciselyinwhatforcewecannottell。HeisalsothreateningLeesburgandGeary，ontheManassasGaprailroad，frombothnorthandsouth——inpreciselywhatforcewecannottell。I

thinkthemovementisageneralandconcertedone，suchaswouldnotbeifhewasactinguponthepurposeofaverydesperatedefenseofRichmond。IthinkthetimeisnearwhenyoumusteitherattackRichmondorgiveupthejobandcometothedefenseofWashington。

Letmehearfromyouinstantly。

A。LINCOLN，President。

ORDERTAKINGMILITARYPOSSESSIONOFRAILROADS。

WARDEPARTMENT，May25，1862。

Ordered：ByvirtueoftheauthorityvestedbyactofCongress，thePresidenttakesmilitarypossessionofalltherailroadsintheUnitedStatesfromandafterthisdateuntilfurtherorder，anddirectsthattherespectiverailroadcompanies，theirofficersandservants，shallholdthemselvesinreadinessforthetransportationofsuchtroopsandmunitionsofwarasmaybeorderedbythemilitaryauthorities，totheexclusionofallotherbusiness。

ByorderoftheSecretaryofWar。

M。C。MEIGS

TELEGRAMTOSECRETARYCHASE。

WARDEPARTMENT，May25，1862。

SECRETARYCHASE，Fredericksburg，Virginia：

ItnowappearsthatBanksgotsafelyintoWinchesterlastnight，andisthismorningretreatingonHarper’sFerry。Thisjustifiestheinferencethatheispressedbynumberssuperiortohisown。IthinkitnotimprobablethatEwell，Jackson，andJohnsonarepouringthroughthegaptheymadedaybeforeyesterdayatFrontRoyal，makingadashnorthward。ItwillbeaveryvaluableandveryhonorableserviceforGeneralMcDowelltocutthemoff。Ihopehewillputallpossibleenergyandspeedintotheeffort。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALR。SAXTON。

WARDEPARTMENT，May25，1862。

GENERALSAXTON，Harper’sFerry：

IfBanksreachesMartinsburg，isheanythebetterforit？WillnottheenemycuthimfromthencetoHarper’sFerry？HaveyousentanythingtomeethimandassisthimatMartinsburg？Thisisaninquiry，notanorder。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALR。SAXTON。

WARDEPARTMENT，May25，1862。6。30P。M。

GENERALSAXTON，Harper’sFerry：

Onegoodsix—gunbattery，completeinitsmenandappointments，isnowonitswaytoyoufromBaltimore。Elevenotherguns，ofdifferentsorts，areontheirwaytoyoufromhere。Hopetheywillallreachyoubeforemorning。Asyouhavebut2500menatHarper’sFerry，wherearetherestwhichwereinthatvicinityandwhichwehavesentforward？Haveanyofthembeencutoff？

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALR。SAXTON。

WARDEPARTMENT，May25，1862。

GENERALSAXTON，Harper’sFerry：

Ifearyouhavemistakenme。Ididnotmeantoquestionthecorrectnessofyourconduct；onthecontrary1Iapprovewhatyouhavedone。Asthe2500reportedbyyouseemedsmalltome，IfearedsomehadgottoBanksandbeencutoffwithhim。Pleasetellmetheexactnumberyounowhaveinhand。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALG。B。McCLELLAN。

[Sentincipher。]

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTONCITY，D。C。，May25，1862。8。30P。M。

MAJOR—GENERALMcCLELLAN：

Yourdespatchreceived。GeneralBankswasatStrasburg，withabout6，000men，ShieldshavingbeentakenfromhimtoswellacolumnforMcDowelltoaidyouatRichmond，andtherestofhisforcescatteredatvariousplaces。Onthe23darebelforceof7000to10，000fellupononeregimentandtwocompaniesguardingthebridgeatFrontRoyal，destroyingitentirely；crossedtheShenandoah，andonthe24th(yesterday)pushedtogetnorthofBanks，ontheroadtoWinchester。Banksranaracewiththem，beatingthemintoWinchesteryesterdayevening。Thismorningabattleensuedbetweenthetwoforces，inwhichBankswasbeatenbackintofullretreattowardMartinsburg，andprobablyisbrokenupintoatotalrout。Geary，ontheManassasGaprailroad，justnowreportsthatJacksonisnownearFrontRoyal，With10，000，followingupandsupporting，asI

understand，theforcesnowpursuingBanks，alsothatanotherforceof10，000isnearOrleans，followingoninthesamedirection。Strippedhere，aswearehere，itwillbeallwecandotopreventthemcrossingthePotomacatHarper’sFerryorabove。Wehaveabout20，000ofMcDowell’sforcemovingbacktothevicinityofFrontRoyal，andGeneralFremont，whowasatFranklin，ismovingtoHarrisonburg；boththesemovementsintendedtogetintheenemy’srear。

OnemoreofMcDowell’sbrigadesisorderedthroughheretoHarper’sFerry；therestofhisforceremainsforthepresentatFredericksburg。WearesendingsuchregimentsanddribsfromhereandBaltimoreaswecansparetoHarper’sFerry，supplyingtheirplacesinsomesortbycallinginmilitiafromtheadjacentStates。

WealsohaveeighteencannonontheroadtoHarper’sFerry，ofwhicharmthereisnotasingleoneyetatthatpoint。Thisisnowoursituation。

IfMcDowell’sforcewasnowbeyondourreach，weshouldbeutterlyhelpless。Apprehensionofsomethinglikethis，andnounwillingnesstosustainyou，hasalwaysbeenmyreasonforwithholdingMcDowell’sforcefromyou。Pleaseunderstandthis，anddothebestyoucanwiththeforceyouhave。

A。LINCOLN。

HISTORYOFCONSPIRACYOFREBELLION

MESSAGETOCONGRESS。

MAY16，1862

TOTHESENATEANDHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES：

TheinsurrectionwhichisyetexistingintheUnitedStatesandaimsattheoverthrowoftheFederalConstitutionandtheUnion，wasclandestinelypreparedduringtheWinterof1860and1861，andassumedanopenorganizationintheformofatreasonableprovisionalgovernmentatMontgomery，inAlabamaonthe18thdayofFebruary，1861。Onthe12thdayofApril，1861，theinsurgentscommittedtheflagrantactofcivilwarbythebombardmentandthecaptureofFortSumter，Whichcutoffthehopeofimmediateconciliation。

Immediatelyafterwardalltheroadsandavenuestothiscitywereobstructed，andthecapitalwasputintotheconditionofasiege。

Themailsineverydirectionwerestoppedandthelinesoftelegraphcutoffbytheinsurgents，andmilitaryandnavalforceswhichhadbeencalledoutbythegovernmentforthedefenseofWashingtonwerepreventedfromreachingthecitybyorganizedandcombinedtreasonableresistanceintheStateofMaryland。Therewasnoadequateandeffectiveorganizationforthepublicdefense。Congresshadindefinitelyadjourned。Therewasnotimetoconvenethem。Itbecamenecessaryformetochoosewhether，usingonlytheexistingmeans，agencies，andprocesseswhichCongresshadprovided，Ishouldletthegovernmentfallatonceintoruinorwhether，availingmyselfofthebroaderpowersconferredbytheConstitutionincasesofinsurrection，Iwouldmakeanefforttosaveit，withallitsblessings，forthepresentageandforposterity。

Ithereuponsummonedmyconstitutionaladvisers，theheadsofallthedepartments，tomeetonSunday，the20thdayofApril，1861，attheofficeoftheNavyDepartment，andthenandthere，withtheirunanimousconcurrence，Idirectedthatanarmedrevenuecuttershouldproceedtoseatoaffordprotectiontothecommercialmarine，andespeciallytheCaliforniatreasureshipsthenontheirwaytothiscoast。Ialsodirectedthecommandantofthenavy—yardatBostontopurchaseorcharterandarmasquicklyaspossiblefivesteamshipsforpurposesofpublicdefense。Idirectedthecommandantofthenavy—yardatPhiladelphiatopurchaseorcharterandarmanequalnumberforthesamepurpose。IdirectedthecommandantatNewYorktopurchaseorcharterandarmanequalnumber。IdirectedCommanderGillistopurchaseorcharterandarmandputtoseatwoothervessels。SimilardirectionsweregiventoCommodoreDupont，withaviewtotheopeningofpassagesbywatertoandfromthecapital。I

directedtheseveralofficerstotaketheadviceandobtaintheaidandefficientservices，inthematter，ofhisExcellencyEdwinD。

Morgan，theGovernorofNewYork，orinhisabsenceGeorgeD。Morgan，WilliamM。Evarts，R。M。Blatchford，andMosesH。Grinnell，whowerebymydirectionsespeciallyempoweredbytheSecretaryoftheNavytoactforhisdepartmentinthatcrisisinmatterspertainingtotheforwardingoftroopsandsuppliesforthepublicdefense。

Theseveraldepartmentsofthegovernmentatthattimecontainedsolargeanumberofdisloyalpersonsthatitwouldhavebeenimpossibletoprovidesafelythroughofficialagentsonlyfortheperformanceofthedutiesthusconfidedtocitizensfavorablyknownfortheirability，loyalty，andpatriotism。

Theseveralordersissuedupontheseoccurrencesweretransmittedbyprivatemessengers，whopursuedacircuitouswaytotheseaboardcities，inlandacrosstheStatesofPennsylvaniaandOhioandthenorthernlakes。Ibelievebytheseandothersimilarmeasurestakeninthatcrisis，someofwhichwerewithoutanyauthorityoflaw，thegovernmentwassavedfromoverthrow。Iamnotawarethatadollarofthepublicfundsthusconfidedwithoutauthorityoflawtounofficialpersonswaseitherlostorwasted，althoughapprehensionsofsuchmisdirectionoccurredtomeasobjectionstothoseextraordinaryproceedings，andwerenecessarilyoverruled。

IrecallthesetransactionsnowbecausemyattentionhasbeendirectedtoaresolutionwhichwaspassedbytheHouseofRepresentativesonthe30thdayoflastmonth，whichisinthesewords：

"Resolved，ThatSimonCameron，lateSecretaryofWarbyinvestingAlexanderCummingswiththecontroloflargesumsofthepublicmoneyandauthoritytopurchasemilitarysupplieswithoutrestriction，withoutrequiringfromhimanyguarantyforthefaithfulperformanceofhisduties，whentheservicesofcompetentpublicofficerswereavailable，andbyinvolvingthegovernmentinavastnumberofcontractswithpersonsnotlegitimatelyengagedinthebusinesspertainingtothesubject—matterofsuchcontracts，especiallyinthepurchaseofarmsforfuturedelivery，hasadoptedapolicyhighlyinjurioustothepublicservice，anddeservesthecensureoftheHouse。"

CongresswillseethatIshouldbewantingequallyincandorandinjusticeifIshouldleavethecensureexpressedinthisresolutiontorestexclusivelyorchieflyuponMr。Cameron。ThesamesentimentisunanimouslyentertainedbytheheadsofdepartmentwhoparticipatedintheproceedingswhichtheHouseofRepresentativeshavecensured。

ItisduetoMr。Camerontosaythatalthoughhefullyapprovedtheproceedingstheywerenotmovednorsuggestedbyhimself，andthatnotonlythePresident，butalltheotherheadsofdepartments，wereatleastequallyresponsiblewithhimforwhatevererror，wrong，orfaultwascommittedinthepremises。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALG。B。McCLELLAN。

WASHINGTON，May26，1862。12。40

MAJOR—GENERALMcCLELLAN：

WehaveGeneralBanks’sofficialreport。Hehassavedhisarmyandbaggage，andhasmadeasaferetreattotheriver，andisprobablysafeatWilliamsport。Hereportstheattackingforceat15，000。

A。LINCOLN，President。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALI。McDOWELL。

WARDEPARTMENT，May26，1862。1P。M。

MAJOR—GENERALMcDOWELL，Falmouth，Virginia：

DespatchesfromGearyjustreceivedhavebeensentyou。Shouldnottheremainderofyourforces，exceptsufficienttoholdthepointatFredericksburg，movethisway——toManassasJunctionorAlexandria？

Ascommanderofthisdepartment，shouldyounotbehere？Iaskthesequestions。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALMcCLELLAN。

WASHINGTON，May26，1862。

MAJOR—GENERALGEORGEB。McCLELLAN：

CanyounotcuttheAlulaCreekrailroad？Also，whatimpressionhaveyouastointrenchedworksforyoutocontendwithinfrontofRichmond？Canyougetnearenoughtothrowshellsintothecity？

A。LINCOLN，President。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALJ。C。FREMONT。

May27。1862。9。58P。M。

MAJOR—GENERALFREMONT：

Ise