第32章

RECORDEXPLAININGTHEDISMISSALOFMAJORJOHNJ。KEYFROMTHE

MILITARYSERVICEOFTHEUNITEDSTATES。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，September26，1862。

MAJORJOHNJ。KEY：

Iaminformedthat，inanswertothequestion，"WhywasnottherebelarmybaggedimmediatelyafterthebattlenearSharpsburg？"propoundedtoyoubyMajorLeviC。Turner，JudgeAdvocate，etc。，yousaid：

"Thatisnotthegame。Theobjectis，thatneitherarmyshallgetmuchadvantageoftheother；thatbothshallbekeptinthefieldtilltheyareexhausted，whenwewillmakeacompromiseandsaveslavery。"

Ishallbeveryhappyifyouwill，withintwenty—fourhoursfromthereceiptofthis，provetomebyMajorTurnerthatyoudidnot，eitherliterallyorinsubstance，maketheanswerstated。

[AbovedeliveredtoMajorKeyat10。25a。m。September27th。]

Atabout11o’clockA。M。，September27，1862，MajorKeyandMajorTurnerappearedbeforeme。MajorTurnersays：

"AsIrememberit，theconversationwas：’WhydidwenotbagthemafterthebattleofSharpsburg？’MajorKey’sreplywas：’Thatwasnotthegame；thatweshouldtiretherebelsoutandourselves；thatthatwastheonlywaytheUnioncouldbepreserved，wecometogetherfraternally，andslaverybesaved。’"

Oncross—examination，MajorTurnersayshehasfrequentlyheardMajorKeyconverseinregardtothepresenttroubles，andneverheardhimutterasentimentunfavorabletothemaintenanceoftheUnion。Hehasneverutteredanythingwhichhe，MajorT。，wouldcalldisloyalty。

Theparticularconversationdetailedwasaprivateone。

[Indorsementontheabove。]

Inmyview，itiswhollyinadmissibleforanygentlemanholdingamilitarycommissionfromtheUnitedStatestouttersuchsentimentsasMajorKeyiswithinprovedtohavedone。Therefore，letMajorJohnJ。KeybeforthwithdismissedfromthemilitaryserviceoftheUnitedStates。

A。LINCOLN。

TOHANNIBALHAMLIN。

(Strictlyprivate。)

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，September28，1862。

HON。HANNIBALHAMLIN。

MYDEARSIR：Yourkindletterofthe25thisjustreceived。Itisknowntosomethat，whileIhopesomethingfromtheproclamation，myexpectationsarenotassanguineasarethoseofsomefriends。Thetimeforitseffectsouthwardhasnotcome；butnorthwardtheeffectshouldbeinstantaneous。Itissixdaysold，and，whilecommendationinnewspapersandbydistinguishedindividualsisallthatavainmancouldwish，thestockshavedeclined，andtroopscomeforwardmoreslowlythanever。This，lookedsoberlyintheface，isnotverysatisfactory。Wehavefewertroopsinthefieldattheendofthesixdaysthanwehadatthebeginning——theattritionamongtheoldoutnumberingtheadditionbythenew。TheNorthrespondstotheproclamationsufficientlyinbreath；butbreathalonekillsnorebels。

IwishIcouldwritemorecheerfully；nordoIthankyouthelessforthekindnessofyourletter。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

TOGENERALHALLECK。

McCLELLAN’SHEADQUARTERS，October3，1862。

MAJOR—GENERALHALLECK：

GeneralStuart，oftherebelarmy，hassentinafewofourprisonersunderaflagoftruce，paroledwithtermstopreventtheirfightingtheIndians，andevidentlyseekingtocommitustotheirrighttoparoleprisonersinthatway。Myinclinationistosendtheprisonersbackwithadefinitenoticethatwewillrecognizenoparolesgiventoourprisonersbytherebelsasextendingbeyondaprohibitionagainstfightingthem，thoughIwishyouropinionuponit，basedbothuponthegenerallawandourcartel。Iwishtoavoidviolationsofthelawandbadfaith。Answerasquicklyaspossible，asthething，ifdoneatall，shouldbedoneatonce。

A。LINCOLN，PresidentREMARKSTOTHEARMYOFTHEPOTOMACAT

FREDERICK，MARYLAND，OCTOBER，4，1862。

IamsurroundedbysoldiersandalittlefartheroffbythecitizensofthisgoodCityofFrederick。NeverthelessIcanonlysay，asI

didfiveminutesago，itisnotproperformetomakespeechesinmypresentposition。Ireturnthankstooursoldiersforthegoodservicestheyhaverendered，theenergytheyhaveshown，thehardshipstheyhaveendured，andthebloodtheyhaveshedforthisUnionofours；andIalsoreturnthanks，notonlytothesoldiers，buttothegoodcitizensofFrederick，andtothegoodmen，women，andchildreninthislandofours，fortheirdevotiontothisgloriouscause；andIsaythiswithnomaliceinmyhearttowardsthosewhohavedoneotherwise。Mayourchildrenandchildren’schildren，forathousandgenerations，continuetoenjoythebenefitsconferreduponusbyaunitedcountry，andhavecauseyettorejoiceunderthesegloriousinstitutions，bequeathedtousbyWASHINGTONandhiscompeers。Now，myfriends，soldiersandcitizens，Icanonlysayoncemore—farewell。

TELEGRAMFROMGENERALHALLECK

TOGENERALG。B。McCLELLAN。，WASHINGTON，D。C。，October6，1862。

MAJOR—GENERALMcCLELLAN：

Iaminstructedtotelegraphyouasfollows：ThePresidentdirectsthatyoucrossthePotomacandgivebattletotheenemy，ordrivehimsouth。Yourarmymustmovenow，whiletheroadsaregood。IfyoucrosstheriverbetweentheenemyandWashington，andcoverthelatterbyyouroperation，youcanbereinforcedbythirtythousandmen。IfyoumoveupthevalleyoftheShenandoah，notmorethantwelveorfifteenthousandcanbesentyou。ThePresidentadvisestheinteriorlinebetweenWashingtonandtheenemy，butdoesnotorderit。Heisverydesirousthatyourarmymoveassoonaspossible。Youwillimmediatelyreportwhatlineyouadopt，andwhenyouintendtocrosstheriver；alsotowhatpointthereinforcementsaretobesent。Itisnecessarythattheplanofyouroperationsbepositivelydeterminedon，beforeordersaregivenforbuildingbridgesandrepairingrailroads。IamdirectedtoaddthattheSecretaryofWarandtheGeneral—in—chieffullyconcurwiththePresidentinthesedirections。

H。W。HALLECK，General—in—Chief。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALMcCLELLAN。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，October7，1862。

MAJOR—GENERALMcCLELLAN，Hdqs。ArmyofthePotomac：

YouwishtoseeyourfamilyandIwishtoobligeyou。Itmightbelefttoyourowndiscretion；certainlyso，ifMrs。M。couldmeetyouhereatWashington。

A。LINCOLN。

TOT。H。CLAY。

WARDEPARTMENT，October8，1862。

THOMASH。CLAY，Cincinnati，Ohio：

YoucannothavereflectedseriouslywhenyouaskthatIshallorderGeneralMorgan’scommandtoKentuckyasafavorbecausetheyhavemarchedfromCumberlandGap。Theprecedentestablishedbyitwouldevidentlybreakupthewholearmy。Buell’soldtroops，nowinpursuitofBragg，havedonemorehardmarchingrecently；and，infact，ifyouincludemarchingandfighting，therearescarcelyanyoldtroopseastorwestofthemountainsthathavenotdoneashardservice。Isincerelywishwarwasaneasierandpleasanterbusinessthanitis；butitdoesnotadmitofholidays。OnMorgan’scommand，whereitisnowsent，asIunderstand，dependsthequestionwhethertheenemywillgettotheOhioRiverinanotherplace。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALU。S。GRANT。

WASHINGTON，D。C。，October8，1862

MAJOR—GENERALGRANT：

Icongratulateyouandallconcernedinyourrecentbattlesandvictories。Howdoesitallsumup？IespeciallyregretthedeathofGeneralHackleman，andamveryanxioustoknowtheconditionofGeneralOglesby，whoisanintimatepersonalfriend。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALJ。T。BOYLE。

WARDEPARTMENT，October11，1862。4P。M。

GENERALBOYLE，Louisville，Kentucky：

PleasesendanynewsyouhavefromGeneralBuellto—day。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALJ。T。BOYLE。

WARDEPARTMENT，October12，1862。4。10P。M。

GENERALBOYLE，Louisville，Kentucky：

WeareanxioustohearfromGeneralBuell’sarmy。Wehaveheardnothingsincedaybeforeyesterday。Haveyouanything？

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALCURTIS。

WASHINGTON，D。C。，October12，1862。

MAJOR—GENERALCURTIS，SaintLouis，Missouri：

WouldthecompletionoftherailroadsomedistancefurtherinthedirectionofSpringfield，Mo。，beofanymilitaryadvantagetoyou？

Pleaseanswer。

A。LINCOLN。

TOGENERALG。B。McCLELLAN。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，October13，1862。

MYDEARSIR—YouremembermyspeakingtoyouofwhatIcalledyourover—cautiousness。Areyounotover—cautiouswhenyouassumethatyoucannotdowhattheenemyisconstantlydoing？Shouldyounotclaimtobeatleasthisequalinprowess，andactupontheclaim？

AsIunderstand，youtelegraphedGeneralHalleckthatyoucannotsubsistyourarmyatWinchesterunlesstherailroadfromHarper’sFerrytothatpointbeputinworkingorder。ButtheenemydoesnowsubsisthisarmyatWinchester，atadistancenearlytwiceasgreatfromrailroadtransportationasyouwouldhavetodo，withouttherailroadlastnamed。HenowwagonsfromCulpepperCourt—House，whichisjustabouttwiceasfarasyouwouldhavetodofromHarper’sFerry。Heiscertainlynotmorethanhalfaswellprovidedwithwagonsasyouare。IcertainlyshouldbepleasedforyoutohavetheadvantageoftherailroadfromHarper’sPerrytoWinchester；butitwastesantheremainderofautumntogiveittoyou，and，infact，ignoresthequestionoftime，whichcannotandmustnotbeignored。

Again，oneofthestandardmaximsofwar，asyouknow，is"tooperateupontheenemy’scommunicationsasmuchaspossible，withoutexposingyourown。"Youseemtoactasifthisappliesagainstyou，butcannotapplyinyourfavor。Changepositionswiththeenemy，andthinkyounothewouldbreakyourcommunicationwithRichmondwithinthenexttwenty—fourhours？YoudreadhisgoingintoPennsylvania。

Butifhedoessoinfullforce，hegivesuphiscommunicationstoyouabsolutely，andyouhavenothingtodobuttofollowandruinhim；ifhedoessowithlessthanfullforce，falluponandbeatwhatisleftbehindalltheeasier。

Exclusiveofthewaterline，youarenownearertoRichmondthantheenemyis，bytheroutethatyoucanandhemusttake。Whycanyounotreachtherebeforehim，unlessyouadmitthatheismorethanyourequalonamarch？Hisrouteisthearcofacircle，whileyoursisthechord。Theroadsareasgoodonyoursasonhis。

YouknowIdesired，butdidnotorder，youtocrossthePotomacbelowinsteadofabovetheShenandoahandBlueRidge。Myideawas，thatthiswouldatoncemenacetheenemy’scommunications，whichIwouldseizeifhewouldpermit。Ifheshouldmovenorthward，Iwouldfollowhimclosely，holdinghiscommunications。Ifheshouldpreventourseizinghiscommunications，andmovetowardRichmond，Iwouldpresscloselytohim，fighthimifafavorableopportunityshouldpresent，andatleasttrytobeathimtoRichmondontheinsidetrack。Isaytry；"ifwenevertry，weshallneversucceed。IfhemakesastandatWinchester，movingneithernorthorsouth，Iwouldfighthimthere，ontheideathatifwecannotbeathimwhenhebearsthewastageofcomingtous，wenevercanwhenwebearthewastageofgoingtohim。Thispropositionisasimpletruth，andistooimportanttobelostsightofforamoment。Incomingtoushetendersusanadvantagewhichweshouldnotwaive。Weshouldnotsooperateastomerelydrivehimaway。Aswemustbeathimsomewhereorfailfinally，wecandoit，ifatall，easierneartousthanfaraway。Ifwecannotbeattheenemywherehenowis，wenevercan，heagainbeingwithintheentrenchmentsofRichmond。

[And，indeed，theenemywasletbackintoRichmondandittookanothertwoyearsandthousandsofdeadforMcClellandcowardice——ifthatwasallthatitwas。Istillsuspect，andIthinktheevidenceisoverwhelmingthathewas，eithersecretlyasupporteroftheSouth，or，whatismorelikely，apoliticianreadyingforadifferentcampaign：thatofthePresidencyoftheUnitedStates。]

RecurringtotheideaofgoingtoRichmondontheinsidetrack，thefacilityofsupplyingfromthesideawayfromtheenemyisremarkable，asitwere，bythedifferentspokesofawheelextendingfromthehubtowardtherim，andthiswhetheryoumovedirectlybythechordorontheinsidearc，huggingtheBlueRidgemoreclosely。

Thechordline，asyousee，carriesyoubyAldie，HayMarket，andFredericksburg；andyouseehowturnpikes，railroads，andfinallythePotomac，byAquiaCreek，meetyouatallpointsfromWASHINGTON；thesame，onlythelineslengthenedalittle，ifyoupressclosertotheBlueRidgepartoftheway。

ThegapsthroughtheBlueRidgeIunderstandtobeaboutthefollowingdistancesfromHarper’sFerry，towit：Vestal’s，5miles；

Gregory’s，13；Snicker’s，18；Ashby’s，28；Manassas，38；Chester，45；

andThornton’s，53。Ishouldthinkitpreferabletotaketheroutenearesttheenemy，disablinghimtomakeanimportantmovewithoutyourknowledge，andcompellinghimtokeephisforcestogetherfordreadofyou。Thegapswouldenableyoutoattackifyoushouldwish。ForagreatpartofthewayyouwouldbepracticallybetweentheenemyandbothWASHINGTONandRichmond，enablingustospareyouthegreatestnumberoftroopsfromhere。WhenatlengthrunningforRichmondaheadofhimenableshimtomovethisway，ifhedoesso，turnandattackhiminrear。ButIthinkheshouldbeengagedlongbeforesuchapointisreached。Itisalleasyifourtroopsmarchaswellastheenemy，anditisunmanlytosaytheycannotdoit。

Thisletterisinnosenseanorder。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGOVERNORPIERPOINT。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTONCITY，D。C。，October16，1862。

GOVERNORPIERPOINT，Wheeling，Virginia：

Yourdespatchofto—dayreceived。Iamverysorrytohaveoffendedyou。Iappointedthecollector，asIthought，onyourwrittenrecommendation，andtheassessoralsowithyourtestimonyofworthiness，althoughIknowyoupreferredadifferentman。Iwillexamineto—morrowwhetherIammistakeninthis。

A。LINCOLN。

EXECUTIVEORDERESTABLISHINGAPROVISIONALCOURTINLOUISIANA。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTONCITY，October20，1862。

TheinsurrectionwhichhasforsometimeprevailedinseveraloftheStatesofthisUnion，includingLouisiana，havingtemporarilysubvertedandsweptawaythecivilinstitutionsofthatState，includingthejudiciaryandthejudicialauthoritiesoftheUnion，sothatithasbecomenecessarytoholdtheStateinmilitaryOccupation，anditbeingindispensablynecessarythatthereshallbesomejudicialtribunalexistingtherecapableofadministeringjustice，Ihavethereforethoughtitpropertoappoint，andIdoherebyconstitute，aprovisionalcourt，whichshallbeacourtofrecord，fortheStateofLouisiana；andIdoherebyappointCharlesA

Peabody，ofNewYork，tobeaprovisionaljudgetoholdsaidcourt，withauthoritytohear，try，anddetermineallcauses，civilandcriminal，includingcausesinlaw，equity，revenue，andadmiralty，andparticularlyallsuchpowersandjurisdictionasbelongtothedistrictandcircuitcourtsoftheUnitedStates，conforminghisproceedingssofaraspossibletothecourseofproceedingsandpracticewhichhasbeencustomaryinthecourtsoftheUnitedStatesandLouisiana，hisjudgmenttobefinalandconclusive。AndIdoherebyauthorizeandempowerthesaidjudgetomakeandestablishsuchrulesandregulationsasmaybenecessaryfortheexerciseofhisjurisdiction，andempowerthesaidjudgetoappointaprosecutingattorney，marshal，andclerkofthesaidcourt，whoshallperformthefunctionsofattorney，marshal，andclerkaccordingtosuchproceedingsandpracticeasbeforementionedandsuchrulesandregulationsasmaybemadeandestablishedbysaidjudge。TheseappointmentsaretocontinueduringthepleasureofthePresident，notextendingbeyondthemilitaryoccupationofthecityofNewOrleansortherestorationofthecivilauthorityinthatcityandintheStateofLouisiana。Theseofficersshallbepaid，outofthecontingentfundoftheWarDepartment，compensationasfollows：

Thejudgeattherateof$3500perannum；theprosecutingattorney，includingthefees，attherateof$3000perannum；themarshal，includingthefees，attherateof$3000perannum；andtheclerk，includingthefees，attherateof$2500perannum；suchcompensationstobecertifiedbytheSecretaryofWar。Acopyofthisorder，certifiedbytheSecretaryofWaranddeliveredtosuchjudge，shallbedeemedandheldtobeasufficientcommission。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN，PresidentoftheUnitedStates。

TOGENERALU。S。GRANT。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，October21，1862。

MAJOR—GENERALU。S。GRANT：

Thebearerofthis，ThomasR。Smith，acitizenofTennessee，goestothatStateseekingtohavesuchofthepeoplethereofasdesiretoavoidtheunsatisfactoryprospectbeforethem，andtohavepeaceagainupontheoldterms，undertheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates，tomanifestsuchdesirebyelectionsofmemberstotheCongressoftheUnitedStatesparticularly，andperhapsaLegislature，Stateofficers，andaUnitedStatessenatorfriendlytotheirobject。

Ishallbegladforyouandeachofyoutoaidhim，andallothersactingforthisobject，asmuchaspossible。Inallavailablewaysgivethepeopleashowtoexpresstheirwishesattheseelections。

Followlaw，andformsoflaw，asfarasconvenient，butatalleventsgettheexpressionofthelargestnumberofthepeoplepossible。AllseehowsuchactionwillconnectwithandaffecttheproclamationofSeptember22。Ofcoursethemenelectedshouldbegentlemenofcharacter，willingtoswearsupporttotheConstitutionasofold，andknowntobeabovereasonablesuspicionofduplicity。

Yoursveryrespectfully，A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALJAMESON。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，October21，1862。

GENERALJAMESON，UpperStillwater，Me。：

Howisyourhealthnow？DoyouornotwishLieut。R。P。Crawfordtoberestoredtohisoffice？

A。LINCOLN。

GENERALMcCLELLANSTIREDHORSES

TELEGRAMTOGENERALG。B。McCLELLAN。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTONCITY，October24[25？]，1862。

MAJOR—GENERALMcCLELLAN：

Ihavejustreadyourdespatchaboutsore—tonguedandfatiguedhorses。WillyoupardonmeforaskingwhatthehorsesofyourarmyhavedonesincethebattleofAntietamthatfatiguesanything？

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALG。B。McCLELLAN。

EXECUTIVEMANSIONWASHINGTON，October26，1862。11。30amMAJOR—GENERALMcCLELLAN：

Yours，inreplytomineabouthorses，received。OfcourseyouknowthefactsbetterthanI；stilltwoconsiderationsremain：Stuart’scavalryoutmarchedours，havingcertainlydonemoremarkedserviceonthePeninsulaandeverywheresince。Secondly，willnotamovementofourarmybearelieftothecavalry，compellingtheenemytoconcentrateinsteadofforaginginsquadseverywhere？ButIamsorejoicedtolearnfromyourdespatchtoGeneralHalleckthatyoubegincrossingtheriverthismorning。

A。LINCOLN。

TOGENERALDIX。

(Privateandconfidential。)

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON

October26，1862。

MAJOR—GENERALDix，FortMonroe，Virginia：

YourdespatchtoMr。Stanton，ofwhichtheenclosedisacopy，hasbeenhandedmebyhim。Itwouldbedangerousformenowtobeginconstruingandmakingspecificapplicationsoftheproclamation。

ItisobvioustoallthatIthereinintendedtogivetimeandopportunity。Also，itisseenIleftmyselfatlibertytoexemptpartsofStates。Withoutsayingmore，IshallbeverygladifanyCongressionaldistrictwill，ingoodfaith，doasyourdespatchcontemplates。

Couldyougivemethefactswhichpromptedyoutotelegraph？

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALG。B。McCLELLAN。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，October27，1862，12。10

MAJOR—GENERALMcCLELLAN：

Yoursofyesterdayreceived。MostcertainlyIintendnoinjusticetoany，andifIhavedoneanyIdeeplyregretit。Tobetold，aftermorethanfiveweeks’totalinactionofthearmy，andduringwhichperiodwehavesenttothearmyeveryfreshhorsewepossiblycould，amountinginthewholeto7918，thatthecavalryhorsesweretoomuchfatiguedtomove，presentsaverycheerless，almosthopeless，prospectforthefuture，anditmayhaveforcedsomethingofimpatienceinmydespatch。Ifnotrecruitedandrestedthen，whencouldtheyeverbe？Isupposetheriverisrising，andIamgladtobelieveyouarecrossing。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALG。B。McCLELLAN。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，October27，1862。3。25pmMAJOR—GENERALMcCLELLAN：

Yourdespatchof3P。M。to—day，inregardtofillingupoldregimentswithdraftedmen，isreceived，andtherequestthereinshallbecompliedwithasfaraspracticable。

AndnowIaskadistinctanswertothequestion，IsityourpurposenottogointoactionagainuntilthemennowbeingdraftedintheStatesareincorporatedintotheoldregiments？

A。LINCOLN

TELEGRAMTOGENERALG。B。McCLELLAN。

EXECUTIVEMANSION