第41章

OFFICERINMILITARYCOMMAND，FortWarren，BostonHarbor，Mass。：

IfthereisamanbythenameofCharlesCarpenter，undersentenceofdeathfordesertion，atFortWarren，suspendexecutionuntilfurtherorderandsendtherecordofhistrial。Ifsentencedforanyotheroffence，telegraphwhatitisandwhenheistobeexecuted。Answeratallevents。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOOFFICERCOMMANDINGATFORTWARREN。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，April21，1864。

OFFICERINCOMMANDATFORTWARREN，BostonHarbor，Mass。：

TheorderIsentyesterdayinregardtoCharlesCarpenterisherebywithdrawnandyouaretoactasifitneverexisted。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALDIX。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，D。C。，April21，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALDix，NewYork：

YesterdayIwasinducedtotelegraphtheofficerinmilitarycommandatFortWarren，BostonHarbor，Massachusetts，suspendingtheexecutionofCharlesCarpenter，tobeexecutedtomorrowfordesertion。Justnow，onreachingyourorderinthecase，I

telegraphedthesameofficerwithdrawingthesuspension，andleavethecaseentirelywithyou。Theman’sfriendsarepressingme，butI

referthemtoyou，intendingtotakenofurtheractionmyself。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALBUTLER。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，April23，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALBUTLER，FortMonroe，Va。：

SenatorTenEyckisveryanxioustohavea，specialexchangeofCapt。

FrankJ。McLean，ofNinthTennesseeCavalrynow，orlately，atJohnson’sIsland，forCapt。T。TenEyck，EighteenthU。S。Infantry，andnowatRichmond。Iwouldliketohaveitdone。Canitbe？

A。LINCOLN。

INDORSEMENTONOFFEROFTROOPS，APRIL23，1864。

TOTHEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATES：

1。TheGovernorsofOhio，Indiana，Illinois，Iowa，andWisconsinoffertothePresidentinfantrytroopsfortheapproachingcampaignasfollows：Ohio，thirtythousand；Indiana，twentythousand；

Illinois，twentythousand；Iowa，tenthousand；Wisconsin，fivethousand。

2。Thetermofservicetobeonehundreddays，reckonedfromthedateofmusterintotheserviceoftheUnitedStates，unlesssoonerdischarged。

3。ThetroopstobemusteredintotheserviceoftheUnitedStatesbyregiments，whentheregimentsarefilledup，accordingtoregulations，totheminimumstrength——theregimentstobeorganizedaccordingtotheregulationsoftheWarDepartment。Thewholenumbertobefurnishedwithintwentydaysfromdateofnoticeoftheacceptanceofthisproposition。

4。Thetroopstobeclothed，armed，equipped，subsisted；transported，andpaidasotherUnitedStatesinfantryvolunteers，andtoserveinfortifications，——orwherevertheirservicesmayberequired，withinorwithouttheirrespectiveStates。

5。Nobountytobepaidthetroops，northeservicechargedorcreditedonanydraft。

6。Thedraftforthreeyears’servicetogooninanyStateordistrictwherethequotaisnotfilledup；butifanyofficerorsoldierinthisspecialserviceshouldbedrafted，heshallbecreditedfortheservicerendered。

JOHNBROUGH，GovernorofOhio。

O。P。MORTON，GovernorofIndiana。

RICHARDPATES，GovernorofIllinois。

WILLIAMM。STONE，GovernorofIowa。

JAMEST。LEWIS，GovernorofWisconsin(Indorsement。)

April23，1864。

Theforegoingpropositionofthegovernorsisaccepted，andtheSecretaryofWarisdirectedtocarryitintoexecution。

A。LINCOLN。

TOSECRETARYSTANTON。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，April23，1864。

HON。SECRETARYOFWAR：

MYDEARSIR：——AccordingtoourunderstandingwithMajor—GeneralFrankP。BlairatthetimehetookhisseatinCongresslastwinter，henowaskstowithdrawhisresignationasMajor—General，thentendered，andbesenttothefield。Letthisbedone。Lettheordersendinghimbesuchasshownmeto—daybytheAdjutant—General，onlydroppingfromitthenamesofMaguireandTompkins。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOJOHNWILLIAMS。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTONCITY，April25，1864。

JOHNWILLIAMS，Springfield，Ill。：

Yoursofthe15thisjustreceived。Thanksforyourkindremembrance。Iwouldacceptyourofferatonce，wereitnotthatI

feartheremightbesomeimproprietyinit，thoughIdonotseethattherewould。Iwillthinkofitawhile。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALMEADE。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTONCITY，April25，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALMEADE，ArmyofPotomac：

AMr。CorbybroughtyouanotefrommeatthefootofapetitionI

believe，inthecaseofDawson，tobeexecutedto—day。Therecordhasbeenexaminedhere，anditshowstoostrongacaseforapardonorcommutation，unlessthereissomethinginthepoorman’sfavoroutsideoftherecord，whichyouonthegroundmayknow，butIdonot。Mynotetoyouonlymeansthatifyouknowofanysuchthingrenderingasuspensionoftheexecutionproper，onyourownjudgment，youareatlibertytosuspendit。OtherwiseIdonotinterfere。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALTHOMAS。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，D。C。，April26，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALTHOMAS，Chattanooga，Term。：

SuspendexecutionofdeathsentenceofyoungPerry，ofWisconsin，condemnedforsleepingonhispost，tillfurtherorders，andforwardrecordforexamination。

A。LINCOLN。

TOGOVERNORMURPHY。

WASHINGTON，D。C。，April27，1864。

GOVERNORMURPHY，LittleRock，Arkansas：

Iammuchgratifiedtolearnthatyougotoutsolargeavote，sonearlyalltherightway，atthelateelection；andnotlesssothatyourStategovernmentincludingthelegislature，isorganizedandingoodworkingorder。WhateverIcanIwilldotoprotectyou；

meanwhileyoumustdoyourutmosttoprotectyourselves。Presentmygreetingtoall。

A。LINCOLN。

MESSAGETOCONGRESS，APRIL28，1864。

TOTHEHONORABLETHESENATEANDHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES：

IhavethehonortotransmitherewithanaddresstothePresidentoftheUnitedStates，andthroughhimtobothHousesofCongress，ontheconditionandwantsofthepeopleofeastTennessee，andaskingtheirattentiontothenecessityofsomeactiononthepartoftheGovernmentfortheirrelief，andwhichaddressispresentedbyacommitteeofanorganizationcalled"TheEastTennesseeReliefAssociation。"

Deeplycommiseratingtheconditionofthesemostloyalandsufferingpeople，Iamunpreparedtomakeanyspecificrecommendationfortheirrelief。Themilitaryisdoingandwillcontinuetodothebestforthemwithinitspower。TheiraddressrepresentsthattheconstructionofdirectrailroadcommunicationbetweenKnoxvilleandCincinnatibywayofcentralKentuckywouldbeofgreatconsequenceinthepresentemergency。ItmayberememberedthatintheannualmessageofDecember，1861，suchrailroadconstructionwasrecommended。Inowaddthat，withtheheartyconcurrenceofCongress，Iwouldyetbepleasedtoconstructaroad，bothforthereliefofthesepeopleandforitscontinuingmilitaryimportance。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

MESSAGETOTHEHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES，APRIL28，1864。

TOTHEHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES：

Inobediencetotheresolutionofyourhonorablebody，acopyofwhichisherewithreturned，Ihavethehonortomakethefollowingbriefstatement，whichisbelievedtocontaintheinformationsought：

PriortoandatthemeetingofthepresentCongress，RobertC。

Schenck，ofOhio，andFrankP。Blair，Jr。，ofMissouri，memberselectthereto，byandwiththeconsentoftheSenateheldcommissionsfromtheExecutiveasmajor—generalsinthevolunteerarmy。GeneralSchencktenderedtheresignationofhissaidcommission，andtookhisseatintheHouseofRepresentatives，attheassemblingthereof，uponthedistinctverbalunderstandingwiththeSecretaryofWarandtheExecutivethathemight，atanytimeduringthesession，athisownpleasure，withdrawsaidresignationandreturntothefield。

GeneralBlairwas，bytemporaryassignmentofGeneralSherman，incommandofacorpsthroughthebattlesinfrontofChattanooga，andinthemarchtothereliefofKnoxville，whichoccurredinthelatterdaysofNovemberandearlydaysofDecemberlast，andofcoursewasnotpresentattheassemblingofCongress。Whenhesubsequentlyarrivedhere，hesought，andwasallowedbytheSecretaryofWarandtheExecutive，thesameconditionsandpromiseasallowedandmadetoGeneralSchenck。

GeneralSchenckhasnotappliedtowithdrawhisresignation；butwhenGeneralGrantwasmadeLieutenant—General，producingsomechangeofcommanders，GeneralBlairsoughttobeassignedtothecommandofacorps。ThiswasmadeknowntoGeneralsGrantandSherman，andassentedtobythem，andtheparticularcorpsforhimdesignated。

Thiswasallarrangedandunderstood，asnowremembered，somuchasamonthago；buttheformalwithdrawalofGeneralBlair’sresignation，andmakingtheorderassigninghimtothecommandofthecorps，werenotconsummatedattheWarDepartmentuntillastweek，perhapsonthe23dofAprilinstant。Asasummaryofthewhole，itmaybestatedthatGeneralBlairholdsnomilitarycommissionorappointmentotherthanashereinstated，andthatitisbelievedheisnowactingasmajor—Generalupontheassumedvalidityofthecommissionhereinstated，inconnectionwiththefactshereinstated，andnototherwise。Therearesomeletters，notes，telegrams，orders，entries，andperhapsotherdocumentsinconnectionwiththissubject，whichitisbelievedwouldthrownoadditionallightuponit，butwhichwillbecheerfullyfurnishedifdesired。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

TOGENERALU。S。GRANT。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，April30，1864。

LIEUTENANT—GENERALGRANT：

Notexpectingtoseeyoubeforethespringcampaignopens，Iwishtoexpressinthiswaymyentiresatisfactionwithwhatyouhavedoneuptothistime，sofarasIunderstandit。

TheparticularsofyourplansIneitherknownorseektoknow。Youarevigilantandself—reliant；and，pleasedwiththis，Iwishnottoobtrudeanyrestraintsorconstraintsuponyou。WhileIamveryanxiousthatanygreatdisasterorcaptureofourmeningreatnumbershallbeavoided，Iknowthatthesepointsarelesslikelytoescapeyourattentionthantheywouldbemine。Iftherebeanythingwantingwhichiswithinmypowertogive，donotfailtoletmeknowit。

Andnow，withabravearmyandajustcause，mayGodsustainyou。

Yoursverytruly，A。LINCOLN。

MESSAGETOTHEHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES

MAY2，1864。

TOTHEHONORABLETHEHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES：

Incompliancewiththerequestcontainedinyourresolutionofthe29thultimo，acopyofwhichresolutionisherewithreturned，Ihavethehonortotransmitthefollowing：

[CorrespondenceandordersrelatingtotheresignationandreinstatementofMajor—GeneralFrankP。Blair，Jr。，ofMissouri。]

Theforegoingconstitutesallsoughtbytheresolutionsofarasisrememberedorhasbeenfoundupondiligentsearch。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALW。T。SHERMAN。

WASHINGTON，D。C。，May4，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALSHERMAN，Chattanooga，Tenn。：

IhaveanimploringappealinbehalfofthecitizenswhosayyourOrderNo。8willcompelthemtogonorthofNashville。Thisisinnosenseanorder，norisitevenarequestthatyouwilldoanythingwhichintheleastshallbeadrawbackuponyourmilitaryoperations，butanythingyoucandoconsistentlywiththoseoperationsforthosesufferingpeopleIshallbegladof。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALROSECRANS。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，May5，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALROSECRANS，Commanding，SaintLouis，Mo。：

ThePresidentdirectsmetoinquirewhetheradayhasyetbeenfixedfortheexecutionofcitizenRobertLouden，andifsowhatday？

JOHNHAY，MajorandAssistantAdjutant—General。

TOMRS。S。B。McCONKEY。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，May9，1864。

MRS。SARAHB。McCONKEY，WestChester，Pa。：

MADAM：——Ourmutualfriend，JudgeLewis，tellsmeyoudomethehonortoinquireformypersonalwelfare。Ihavebeenveryanxiousforsomedaysinregardtoourarmiesinthefield，butamconsiderablycheered，justnow，byfavorablenewsfromthem。

Iamsureyouwilljoinmeinthehopefortheirfurthersuccess；

whileyourself，andothergoodmothers，wives，sisters，anddaughters，doallyouandtheycan，torelieveandcomfortthegallantsoldierswhocomposethem。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

RECOMMENDATIONOFTHANKSGIVING。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，May9，1864

TOTHEFRIENDSOFUNIONANDLIBERTY：

Enoughisknownofarmyoperations，withinthelastfivedays，toclaimourspecialgratitudetoGod。WhilewhatremainsundonedemandsourmostsincereprayerstoandrelianceuponHim(withoutwhomalleffortisvain)，Irecommendthatallpatriotsattheirhomes，intheirplacesofpublicworship，andwherevertheymaybe，uniteincommonthanksgivingandprayertoAlmightyGod。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

RESPONSETOASERENADE，MAY9，1864。

FELLOW—CITIZENS：——Iamverymuchobligedtoyouforthecomplimentofthiscall，thoughIapprehenditisowingmoretothegoodnewsreceivedto—dayfromtheArmy，thantoadesiretoseeme。Iamindeedverygratefultothebravemenwhohavebeenstrugglingwiththeenemyinthefield，totheirnoblecommanderswhohavedirectedthem，andespeciallytoourMaker。Ourcommandersarefollowinguptheirvictoriesresolutelyandsuccessfully。Ithink，withoutknowingtheparticularsoftheplansofGeneralGrant，thatwhathasbeenaccomplishedisofmoreimportancethanatfirstappears。I

believe，Iknow(andamespeciallygratefultoknow)thatGeneralGranthasnotbeenjostledinhispurposes，thathehasmadeallhispoints，andto—dayheisonhislineashepurposedbeforehemovedhisarmies。IwillvolunteertosaythatIamverygladatwhathashappened，butthereisagreatdealstilltobedone。Whilewearegratefultoallthebravemenandofficersfortheeventsofthepastfewdays，weshould，aboveall，beverygratefultoAlmightyGod，whogivesusvictory。

ThereisenoughyetbeforeusrequiringallloyalmenandpatriotstoperformtheirshareofthelaborandfollowtheexampleofthemodestGeneralattheheadofourarmies，andsinkallpersonalconsiderationforthesakeofthecountry。Icommendyoutokeepyourselvesinthesametranquilmoodthatischaracteristicofthatbraveandloyalman。IhavesaidmorethanIexpectedwhenIcamebeforeyou。Repeatingmythanksforthiscall，Ibidyougood—bye。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALLEWWALLACE。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，D。C。，May10，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALWALLACE，Baltimore：

PleasetellmewhatisthetroublewithDr。Hawks。AlsopleaseaskBishopWhittingtontogivemehisviewofthecase。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALW。S。ROSECRANS，EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，May11，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALROSECRANS，St。Louis，Missouri：

ComplaintsarecomingtomeofdisturbancesinCanoll，Platte，andBuchanancounties。Pleaseascertainthetruth，correctwhatisfoundwrong，andtelegraphme。

A。LINCOLN。

TOP。B。LOOMIS。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，May12，1864

F。B。LOOMIS，ESQ。

MYDEARSIR：——Ihavethehonortoacknowledgethereceiptofyourcommunicationofthe28thApril，inwhichyouoffertoreplacethepresentgarrisonatPortTrumbullwithvolunteers，whichyouproposetoraiseatyourownexpense。Whileitseemsinexpedientatthistimetoacceptthispropositiononaccountofthespecialdutiesnowdevolvinguponthegarrisonmentioned，Icannotpassunnoticedsuchameritoriousinstanceofindividualpatriotism。

Permitme，fortheGovernment，toexpressmycordialthankstoyouforthisgenerousandpublic—spiritedoffer，whichisworthyofnoteamongthemanycalledforthinthesetimesofnationaltrial。

Iamverytruly，yourobedientservant，A。LINCOLN。

RESPONSETOAMETHODISTDELEGATION，MAY14，1864。

GENTLEMEN：—Inresponsetoyouraddress，allowmetoattesttheaccuracyofitshistoricalstatements，indorsethesentimentsitexpresses，andthankyouinthenation’snameforthesurepromiseitgives。Noblysustained，astheGovernmenthasbeen，byallthechurches，Iwouldutternothingwhichmightintheleastappearinvidiousagainstany。Yetwithoutthis，itmayfairlybesaid，thattheMethodistEpiscopalChurch，notlessdevotedthanthebest，isbyitsgreatestnumbersthemostimportantofall。ItisnofaultinothersthattheMethodistChurchsendsmoresoldierstothefield，morenursestothehospitals，andmoreprayerstoHeaventhan——anyother。GodblesstheMethodistChurchBlessallthechurches；andblessedbeGod，whointhisourgreattrialgivethusthechurches。

TELEGRAMTOGOVERNORYATES。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，May18，1864。

HisEXCELLENCYRICHARDYATES，Springfield，Ill。：

Ifanysuchproclamationhasappeared，itisaforgery。

A。LINCOLN。

ARRESTANDIMPRISONMENTOFIRRESPONSIBLENEWSPAPER

REPORTERSANDEDITORS

ORDERTOGENERALJ。A。DIX。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，May18，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALJOHNA。DIX，CommandingatNewYork：

WhereastherehasbeenwickedlyandtraitorouslyprintedandpublishedthismorningintheNewYorkWorldandNewYorkJournalofCommerce，newspapersprintedandpublishedinthecityofNewYork，afalseandspuriousproclamationpurportingtobesignedbythePresidentandtobecountersignedbytheSecretaryofState，whichpublicationisofatreasonablenature，designedtogiveaidandcomforttotheenemiesoftheUnitedStatesandtotherebelsnowatwaragainsttheGovernmentandtheiraidersandabettors，youarethereforeherebycommandedforthwithtoarrestandimprisoninanyfortormilitaryprisoninyourcommand，theeditors，proprietors，andpublishersoftheaforesaidnewspapers，andallsuchpersonsas，afterpublicnoticehasbeengivenofthefalsehoodofsaidpublication，printandpublishthesamewithintenttogiveaidandcomforttotheenemy；andyouwillholdthepersonssoarrestedinclosecustodyuntiltheycanbebroughttotrialbeforeamilitarycommissionfortheiroffense。YouwillalsotakepossessionbymilitaryforceoftheprintingestablishmentsoftheNewYorkWorldandJournalofCommerce，andholdthesameuntilfurtherorders，andprohibitanyfurtherpublicationtherefrom。

A。LINCOLN。

[OnthemorningofMay18，3864，aforgedproclamationwaspublishedintheWorld，andJournalofCommerce，ofNewYork。Theproclamationnamedadayforfastingandprayer，calledfor400，000freshtroops，andpurposedtoraisebyan"immediateandperemptorydraft，"

whateverquotaswerenotfurnishedonthedayspecified。D。W。]

TELEGRAMTOGENERALB。P。BUTLER。

(Cipher。)

WASHINGTON，D。C。，May18，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALBUTLER，BermudaHundred，Va。：

Untilreceivingyourdispatchofyesterday，theideaofcommissionsinthevolunteersexpiringattheendofthreeyearshadnotoccurredtome。Ithinknotroublewillcomeofit；and，atallevents，I

shalltakecareofitsofarasinmelies。Astothemajor—

generalshipsintheregulararmy，IthinkIshallnotdisposeofanother，atleastuntilthecombinedoperationsnowinprogress，underdirectionofGeneralGrant，andwithinwhichyourselfandcommandareincluded，shallbeterminated。

Meanwhile，onbehalfofyourself，officers，andmen，pleaseacceptmyheartythanksforwhatyouandtheyhavesofardone。

A。LINCOLN。

ORDERCONCERNINGTHEEXEMPTIONOF

AMERICANCONSULSFROMMILITARYSERVICE，MAY19，1864。

ItisofficiallyannouncedbytheStateDepartmentthatcitizensoftheUnitedStatesholdingcommissionsandrecognizedasConsulsofforeignpowers，arenotbylawexemptfrommilitaryserviceifdrafted：

Thereforethemereenrolmentofacitizenholdingaforeignconsulatewillnotbeheldtovacatehiscommission，butifheshallbedraftedhisexequaturwillberevokedunlessheshallhavepreviouslyresignedinorderthatanotherConsulmaybereceived。

Anexequaturbearingdatethe3ddayofMay，1858，havingbeenissuedtoCharlesHunt，acitizenoftheUnitedStates，recognizinghimasaConsulofBelgiumforSt。Louis，Missouri，anddeclaringhimfreetoexerciseandenjoysuchfunctions，powers，andprivilegesasareallowedtotheConsulsofthemostfavorednationsintheUnitedStates，andthesaidHunthavingsoughttoscreenhimselffromh