第38章

MAJOR—GENERALROSECRANS，Chattanooga：

Beofgoodcheer。Wehaveunabatedconfidenceinyou，andinyoursoldiersandofficers。Inthemainyoumustbethejudgeastowhatistobedone。IfIweretosuggest，Iwouldsay，saveyourarmybytakingstrongpositionsuntilBurnsidejoinsyou，when，Ihope，youcanturnthetide。IthinkyouhadbettersendacouriertoBurnsidetohurryhimup。Wecannotreachhimbytelegraph。WesupposesomeforceisgoingtoyoufromCorinth，butforwantofcommunicationwedonotknowhowtheyaregettingalong。Weshalldoourutmosttoassistyou。Sendusyourpresentpositions。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALW。S。ROSECRANS。

[Cipher。]

WARDEPARTMENT，September22，1863。8。30A。M。

MAJOR—GENERALROSECRANS，Chattanooga，Tenn。：

Wehavenotawordhereastothewhereaboutsorconditionofyourarmyuptoalaterhourthansunset，Sunday，the20th。Yourdespatchestomeof9A。M。，andtoGeneralHalleckof2P。M。，yesterday，tellusnothinglateronthosepoints。Pleaserelievemyanxietyastothepositionandconditionofyourarmyuptothelatestmoment。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOO。M。HATCHANDJ。K。DUBOIS。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON。

September22，1863。

HON。O。M。HATCH，HON。J。K。DUBOIS，Springfield，Ill。：

Yourletterisjustreceived。Theparticularformofmydespatchwasjocular，whichIsupposedyougentlemenknewmewellenoughtounderstand。GeneralAllenisconsideredhereasaveryfaithfulandcapableofficer，andonewhowouldbeatleastthoughtofforquartermaster—generalifthatofficewerevacant。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOMRS。LINCOLN。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，September22，1863。

MRS。A。LINCOLN，FifthAvenueHouse，NewYork：——Didyoureceivemydespatchofyesterday？Mrs。Cuthbertdidnotcorrectlyunderstandme。

Idirectedhertotellyoutouseyourownpleasurewhethertostayorcome，andIdidnotsayitissicklyandthatyoushouldonnoaccountcome。SofarasIseeorknow，itwasneverhealthier，andI

reallywishtoseeyou。Answerthisonreceipt。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALW。S。ROSECRANS。

WASHINGTON，September23，1863。9。13A。M。

MAJOR—GENERALROSECRANS，Chattanooga，Tenn：

BelowisBragg’sdespatchasfoundintheRichmondpapers。Youseehedoesnotclaimsomanyprisonersorcapturedgunsasyouwereinclinedtoconcede。Healsoconfessestoheavyloss。AnexchangedgeneralofoursleavingRichmondyesterdaysaystwoofLongstreet’sdivisionsandhisentireartilleryandtwoofPickett’sbrigadesandWise’slegionhavegonetoTennessee。Hementionsnoother。

"CHICAMAUGARIVER，SEPTEMBER20。

"GENERALCOOPER，Adjutant—General：

"Aftertwodays’hardfightingwehavedriventheenemy，afteradesperateresistance，fromseveralpositions，andnowholdthefield；

buthestillconfrontsus。Thelosesareheavyonbothsides，especiallyinourofficers……

BRAXTONBRAGG

A。LINCOLN

PROCLAMATIONOPENINGTHEPORTOFALEXANDRIA，VIRGINIA，SEPTEMBER24，1863。

BYTHEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA：

AProclamation。

Whereas，inmyproclamationofthetwenty—seventhofApril，1861，theportsoftheStatesofVirginiaandNorthCarolinawere，forreasonsthereinsetforth，placedunderblockade；andwhereastheportofAlexandria，Virginia，hassincebeenblockaded，butastheblockadeofsaidportmaynowbesafelyrelaxedwithadvantagetotheinterestsofcommerce：

Now，therefore，beitknownthatI，AbrahamLincoln，PresidentoftheUnitedSates，pursuanttotheauthorityinmevestedbythefifthsectionoftheactofCongress，approvedonthe13thofJuly，1861，entitled"Anactfurthertoprovideforthecollectionofdutiesonimports，andforotherpurposes，"doherebydeclarethattheblockadeofthesaidportofAlexandriashallsofarceaseanddetermine，fromandafterthisdate，thatcommercialintercoursewithsaidport，exceptastopersons，things，andinformationcontrabandofwar，mayfromthisdatebecarriedon，subjecttothelawsoftheUnitedStates，andtothelimitationsandinpursuanceoftheregulationswhichareprescribedbytheSecretaryoftheTreasuryinhisorderwhichisappendedtomyproclamationofthe12thofMay，1862。

Inwitnesswhereof，Ihavehereuntosetmyhand，andcausedthesealoftheUnitedStatestobeaffixed。

DoneatthecityofWashington，thistwenty—fourthdayofSeptemberintheyearofourLordonethousandeighthundredandsixty—three，andoftheindependenceoftheUnitedStatestheeighty—eighth。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

BythePresidentWILLIAMH。SEWARD，SecretaryofState。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALW。S。ROSECRANS。

WARDEPARTMENT，September24，1863。10A。M。

MAJOR—GENERALROSECRANS，Chattanooga，Term。：

Lastnightwereceivedtherebelaccounts，throughRichmondpapers，ofyourlatebattle。TheygiveMajor—GeneralHoodasmortallywounded，andBrigadiersPrestonSmith，Wofford，Walthall，HelmofKentucky，andDesMerkilled，andMajor—GeneralsPreston，Cleburne，andGregg，andBrigadier—GeneralsBenning，Adams，Burm，Brown，andJohn[B。H。]Helmwounded。ByconfusionthetwoHelmsmaybethesameman，andBunnandBrownmaybethesameman。WithBurnside，Sherman，andfromelsewhereweshallgettoyoufromfortytosixtythousandadditionalmen。

A。LINCOLN

MRS。LINCOLN’SREBELBROTHER—IN—LAWKILLED

TELEGRAMTOMRS。LINCOLN。

WARDEPARTMENT，SEPTEMBER24，1863

MRS。A。LINCOLN，FifthAvenueHotel，NewYork：

WenowhaveatolerablyaccuratesummingupofthelatebattlebetweenRosecransandBraag。Theresultisthatweareworsted，ifatall，onlyinthefactthatwe，afterthemainfightingwasover，yieldedtheground，thusleavingconsiderableofourartilleryandwoundedtofallintotheenemy’shands。，forwhichwegotnothinginturn。Welostingeneralofficersonekilledandthreeorfourwounded，allbrigadiers，while，accordingtotherebelaccountswhichwehave，theylostsixkilledandeightwounded：ofthekilledonemajor—generalandfivebrigadiersincludingyourbrother—in—law，Helm；andofthewoundedthreemajor—generalsandfivebrigadiers。

Thislistmaybereducedtwoinnumberbycorrectionsofconfusioninnames。At11。40A。M。yesterdayGeneralRosecranstelegraphedfromChattanooga："Weholdthispoint，andIcannotbedislodgedexceptbyverysuperiornumbersandafteragreatbattle。"Adespatchleavingthereafternightyesterdaysays，"Nofightto—day。"

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALMcCALLUM。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，D。C。，September25，1863。

GENERALMcCALLUM，Alexandria，Va。：

IhavesenttoGeneralMeade，bytelegraph，tosuspendtheexecutionofDanielSullivanofCompanyF，ThirteenthMassachusetts，whichwastobeto—day，butunderstandingthereisaninterruptionontheline，mayIbegyoutosendthistohimbythequickestmodeinyourpower？

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALMEADE。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，D。C。，September25，1863。

MAJOR—GENERALMEADE，ArmyofPotomac：

OwingtothepressinbehalfofDanielSullivan，CompanyE，ThirteenthMassachusetts，andthedoubt；thoughsmall，whichyouexpressofhisguiltyintention，Ihaveconcludedtosaylethisexecutionbesuspendedtillfurtherorder，andcopyofrecordsentme。

A。LINCOLN。

TOGENERALW。S。ROSECRANS。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，September25，1863。

MYDEARGENERALROSECRANS：

Wearesendingyoutwosmallcorps，oneunderGeneralHowardandoneunderGeneralSlocum，andthewholeunderGeneralHooker。

UnfortunatelytherelationsbetweenGeneralsHookerandSlocumarenotsuchastopromisegood，iftheirpresentrelativepositionsremain。Therefore，letmebeg——almostenjoinuponyou——thatontheirreachingyou，youwillmakeatranspositionbywhichGeneralSlocumwithhisCorps，maypassfromunderthecommandofGeneralHooker，andGeneralHooker，inturnreceivesomeotherequalforce。Itisimportantforthistobedone，thoughwecouldnotwellarrangeithere。Pleasedoit。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALW。S。ROSECRANS。

WARDEPARTMENT，September28，1863。8A。M。

MAJOR—GENERALROSECRANS，Chattanooga。，Tenn。：

YoucanperhapscommunicatewithGeneralBurnsidemorerapidlybysendingtelegramsdirectlytohimatKnoxville。Thinkofit。Isendalikedespatchtohim。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALSCHOFIELD。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，D。C，September30，1863。

GENERALSCHOFIELD，SaintLouis，Mo。：

Followingdespatchjustreceived：

"UnionMenDrivenoutofMissouri。"

"Leavenworth，September29，I863。

"GovernorGamblehavingauthorizedColonelMoss，ofLiberty，Missouri，toarmthemeninPlatteandClintonCounties，hehasarmedmostlythereturnedrebelsoldiersandmenwiderbonds。Moss’smenarenowdrivingtheUnionmenoutofMissouri。Overonehundredfamiliescrossedtheriverto—day。ManyofthewivesofourUnionsoldiershavebeencompelledtoleave。FourorfiveUnionmenhavebeenmurderedbyColonelMoss’smen。"

Pleaselooktothisand，iftrue，inmainorpart，putastoptoit。

A。LINCOLN

TELEGRAMTOF。S。CORKRAN。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，September30，1863。

HON。FRANCISS。CORKRAN，Baltimore，Md。：

MRS。L。isnowathomeandwouldbepleasedtoseeyouanytime。Ifthegrapetimehasnotpassedaway，shewouldbepleasedtojoinintheenterpriseyoumention。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALTYLER

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，D。C。，October1，1863。

GENERALTYLER，Baltimore：

Takecareofcoloredtroopsinyourcharge，butdonothingfurtheraboutthatbranchofaffairsuntilfurtherorders。ParticularlydonothingaboutGeneralVickersofKentCounty。

A。LINCOLN。

SendacopytoColonelBirney。

A。L。

TOGENERALSCHOFIELD。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，OCTOBER1，1863

GENERALJOHNM。SCHOFIELD：

ThereisnoorganizedmilitaryforceinavowedoppositiontotheGeneralGovernmentnowinMissouri，andifanyshallreappear，yourdutyinregardtoitwillbetooplaintorequireanyspecialinstruction。Still，theconditionofthings，boththereandelsewhere，issuchastorenderitindispensabletomaintain，foratime，theUnitedStatesmilitaryestablishmentinthatState，aswellastorelyuponitforafaircontributionofsupporttothatestablishmentgenerally。YourimmediatedutyinregardtoMissourinowistoadvancetheefficiencyofthatestablishment，andtosouseit，asfaraspracticable，tocompeltheexcitedpeopletheretoletoneanotheralone。

Underyourrecentorder，whichIhaveapproved，youwillonlyarrestindividuals，andsuppressassembliesornewspapers，whentheymaybeworkingpalpableinjurytothemilitaryinyourcharge；andinnoothercasewillyouinterferewiththeexpressionofopinioninanyform，orallowittobeinterferedwithviolentlybyothers。Inthisyouhaveadiscretiontoexercisewithgreatcaution，calmness，andforbearance。

Withthematterofremovingtheinhabitantsofcertaincountiesenmasse，andofremovingcertainindividualsfromtimetotime，whoaresupposedtobemischievous，Iamnotnowinterfering，butamleavingtoyourowndiscretion。

NoramIinterferingwithwhatmaystillseemtoyoutobenecessaryrestrictionsupontradeandintercourse。Ithinkproper，however，toenjoinuponyouthefollowing：Allownopartofthemilitaryunderyourcommandtobeengagedineitherreturningfugitiveslavesorinforcingorenticingslavesfromtheirhomes；and，sofaraspracticable，enforcethesameforbearanceuponthepeople。

ReporttomeyouropinionupontheavailabilityforgoodoftheenrolledmilitiaoftheState。Allownoonetoenlistcoloredtroops，exceptuponordersfromyou，orfromherethroughyou。

Allownoonetoassumethefunctionsofconfiscatingproperty，underthelawofCongress，orotherwise，exceptuponordersfromhere。

Atelectionsseethatthose，andonlythose，areallowedtovotewhoareentitledtodosobythelawsofMissouri，includingasofthoselawstherestrictionslaidbytheMissouriconventionuponthosewhomayhaveparticipatedintherebellion。

Sofaraspracticable，youwill，bymeansofyourmilitaryforce，expelguerrillas，marauders，andmurderers，andallwhoareknowntoharbor，aid，orabetthem。Butinlikemanneryouwillrepressassumptionsofunauthorizedindividualstoperformthesameservice，becauseunderpretenseofdoingthistheybecomemaraudersandmurderersthemselves。

Tonowrestorepeace，letthemilitaryobeyorders，andthosenotofthemilitaryleaveeachotheralone，thusnotbreakingthepeacethemselves。

Ingivingtheabovedirections，itisnotintendedtorestrainyouinotherexpedientandnecessarymattersnotfallingwithintheirrange。

Yourobedientservant，A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALS。M。SCHOFIELD。

WASHINGTON，D。C。OCTOBER2，1863

MAJOR—GENERALSCHOFIELD：

IhavejustseenyourdespatchtoHalleckaboutMajor—GeneralBlunt。

Ifpossible，youbetterallowmetogetthroughwithacertainmatterhere，beforeaddingtothedifficultiesofit。MeantimesupplymetheparticularsofMajor—GeneralBlunt’scase。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOCOLONELBIRNEY。

[Cipher。)

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，D。C。，October3，1863。

COLONELBIRNEY，Baltimore，Md。：

Pleasegiveme，asnearasyoucan，thenumberofslavesyouhaverecruitedinMaryland。Ofcoursethenumberisnottoincludethefreecolored。

A。LINCOLN。

PROCLAMATIONFORTHANKSGIVING，OCTOBER3，1863。

BYTHEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATESAMERICA：

AProclamation。

Theyearthatisdrawingtowardsitsclosehasbeenfilledwiththeblessingsoffruitfulfieldsandhealthfulskies。Tothesebounties，whicharesoconstantlyenjoyedthatwearepronetoforgetthesourcefromwhichtheycome，othershavebeenaddedwhichareofsoextraordinaryanaturethattheycannotfailtopenetrateandsofteneventheheartwhichishabituallyinsensibletotheever—watchfulprovidenceofAlmightyGod。Inthemidstofacivilwarofunequalledmagnitudeandseveritywhichhassometimesseemedtoinviteandprovoketheaggressionsofforeignstates；peacehasbeenpreservedwithallnations，orderhasbeenmaintained，thelawshavebeenrespectedandobeyed，andharmonyhasprevailedeverywhereexceptinthetheatreofmilitaryconflict；whilethattheatrehasbeengreatlycontractedbytheadvancingarmiesandnaviesoftheUnion。Theneedfuldiversionofwealthandstrengthfromthefieldsofpeacefulindustry，tothenationaldefensehasnotarrestedtheplough，theshuttle，ortheship：Theaxehasenlargedthebordersofoursettlements，andthemines，aswellof，ironandcoalasofthepreciousmetals，haveyieldedevenmoreabundantlythanheretofore。

Populationhassteadilyincreased，notwithstandingthewastethathasbeenmadeinthecamp，thesiege，andthebattle—field；andthecountry，rejoicingintheconsciousnessofaugmentedstrengthandvigor，ispermittedtoexpectacontinuanceofyears，withlargeincreaseoffreedom。

Nohumancounselhathdevised，norhathanymortalhandworkedoutthesegreatthings。TheyarethegraciousgiftsoftheMostHighGod，who，whiledealingwithusinangerforoursins，hathneverthelessrememberedmercy。

Ithasseemedtomefitandproperthattheyshouldbereverently，solemnly，andgratefullyacknowledged，aswithoneheartandvoice，bythewholeAmericanpeople。Ido，therefore，invitemyfellow—citizensineverypartoftheUnitedStates，andalsothosewhoareatsea，andthosewhoaresojourninginforeignlands，tosetapartandobservethelastThursdayofNovembernextasadayofthanksgivingandprayertoourbeneficentFatherwhodwellethintheheavens。AndIrecommendtothemthat，whileofferinguptheascriptionsjustlyduetoHimforsuchsingulardeliverancesandblessings，theydoalso，withhumblepenitenceforournationalperversenessanddisobedience，commendtoHistendercareallthosewhohavebecomewidows，orphans，mourners，orsufferersinthelamentablecivilstrifeinwhichweareunavoidablyengaged，andferventlyimploretheinterpositionoftheAlmightyhandtohealthewoundsofthenation，andtorestoreit，assoonasmaybeconsistentwithdivinepurposes，tothefullenjoymentofpeace，harmony，tranquillity，andunion。

Intestimonywhereof，Ihavehereuntosetmyhand，andcausedthesealoftheUnitedStatestobeaffixed。

DoneatthecityofWashington，thisthirddayofOctober，intheyearofourLordonethousandeighthundredandsixty—three，andoftheindependenceoftheUnitedStatestheeighty—eighth。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

BythePresident：

WILLIAMH。SEWARD，SecretaryofStateTELEGRAMTOGENERALJ。M。SCHOFIELD。

WASHINGTOND。C。，OCTOBER4，1863

MAJOR—GENERALSCHOFIELD，St。Louis，Mo。：

Ithinkyouwillnothavejustcausetocomplainofmyaction。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALW。S。ROSECRANS。

WARDEPARTMENT，October4，1863。11。30A。M。

MAJOR—GENERALROSECRANS，Chattanooga，Tenn。：

Yoursofyesterdayreceived。IfwecanholdChattanoogaandEastTennessee，Ithinktherebellionmustdwindleanddie。IthinkyouandBurnsidecandothis，andhencedoingsoisyourmainobject。Ofcoursetogreatlydamageordestroytheenemyinyourfrontwouldbeagreaterobject，becauseitwouldincludetheformerandmore，butitisnotsocertainlywithinyourpower。Iunderstandthemainbodyoftheenemyisverynearyou，sonearthatyoucould"boardathome，"sotospeak，andmenaceorattackhimanyday。Wouldnotthedoingofthisbeyourbestmodeofcounteractinghisraidonyourcommunications？Butthisisnotanorder。Iintenddoingsomethinglikewhatyousuggestwheneverthecaseshallappearripeenoughtohaveitacceptedinthetrueunderstandingratherthanasaconfessionofweaknessandfear。

A。LINCOLN。

TOC。D。DRAKEANDOTHERS。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，October5，1863。

HON。CHARLESD。DRAKEANDOTHERS，Committee。

GENTLEMEN：—Youroriginaladdress，presentedonthe30thult。，andthefoursupplementaryonespresentedonthe3dinst。，havebeencarefullyconsidered。Ihopeyouwillregardtheotherdutiesclaimingmyattention，togetherwiththegreatlengthandimportanceofthesedocuments，asconstitutingasufficientapologyfornothavingrespondedsooner。

Thesepapers，framedforacommonobject，consistofthethingsdemandedandthereasonsfordemandingthem。

ThethingsdemandedareFirst。ThatGeneralSchofieldshallberelieved，andGeneralButlerbeappointedasCommanderoftheMilitaryDepartmentofMissouri。

Second。ThatthesystemofenrolledmilitiainMissourimaybebrokenup，andnationalforceshesubstitutedforit；andThird。Thatatelectionspersonsmaynotbeallowedtovotewhoarenotentitledbylawtodoso。

Amongthereasonsgiven，enoughofsufferingandwrongtoUnionmeniscertainly，andIsupposetruly，stated。Yetthewholecase，aspresented，failstoconvincemethatGeneralSchofield，ortheenrolledmilitia，isresponsibleforthatsufferingandwrong。Thewholecanbeexplainedonamorecharitable，and，asIthink，amorerationalhypothesis。

Weareinacivilwar。Insuchcasestherealwaysisamainquestion，butinthiscasethatquestionisaperplexingcompound——

Unionandslavery。Itthusbecomesaquestionnotoftwosidesmerely，butofatleastfoursides，evenamongthosewhoarefortheUnion，sayingnothingofthosewhoareagainstit。Thus，thosewhoarefortheUnionwith，butnotwithoutslavery；thoseforitwithout，butnotwith；thoseforitwithorwithout，butpreferitwith；andthoseforitwithorwithout，butpreferitwithout。

Amongthese，again，isasubdivisionofthosewhoareforgradual，butnotforimmediate，andthosewhoareforimmediate，butnotforgradualextinctionofslavery。

Itiseasytoconceivethatalltheseshadesofopinion，andevenmore，maybesincerelyentertainedbyhonestandtruthfulmen。Yet，allbeingfortheUnion，byreasonofthesedifferenceseachwillpreferadifferentwayofsustainingtheUnion。Atonce，sincerityisquestioned，andmotivesareassailed。Actualwarcoining，bloodgrowshotandbloodisspilled。Thoughtisforcedfromoldchannelsintoconfusion。Deceptionbreedsandthrives。Confidencedies，anduniversalsuspicionreigns。Eachmanfeelsanimpulsetokillhisneighbor，lesthebekilledbyhim。Revengeandretaliationfollow。

Andallthis，asbeforesaid，maybeamonghonestmenonly。Butthisisnotall。Everyfoulbirdcomesabroad，andeverydirtyreptilerisesup。Theseaddcrimetoconfusion。Strongmeasuresdeemedindispensable，butharshatbest，suchmenmakeworsebymaladministration。Murdersforoldgrudges，andmurdersforself，proceedunderanycloakthatwillbestservefortheoccasion。

ThesecausesamplyaccountforwhathasoccurredinMissouri，withoutascribingittotheweaknessorwickednessofanygeneral。Thenewspaperfiles，thosechroniclersofcurrentevents，willshowthattheevilsnowcomplainedofwerequiteasprevalentunderFremont，Hunter，Halleck，andCurtis，asunderSchofield。Iftheformerhadgreaterforceopposedtothem，theyalsohadgreaterforcewithwhichtomeetit。WhentheorganizedrebelarmylefttheState，themainFederalforcehadtogoalso，leavingthedepartmentcommanderathomerelativelynostrongerthanbefore。Withoutdisparagingany，I

affirmwithconfidencethatnocommanderofthatdepartm