第42章

TELEGRAMANDLETTERTOHORACEGREELEY。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，July12，1864。

HON。HORACEGREELEY，NewYork：

Isupposeyoureceivedmyletterofthe9th。Ihavejustreceivedyoursofthe13th，andamdisappointedbyit。Iwasnotexpectingyoutosendmealetter，buttobringmeaman，ormen。Mr。Haygoestoyouwithmyanswertoyoursofthe13th。

A。LINCOLN。

[CarriedbyMajorJohnHay。]

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，JULY15，1864。

HON。HORACEGREELEY。

MYDEARSIR：—Yoursofthe13thisjustreceived，andIamdisappointedthatyouhavenotalreadyreachedherewiththosecommissioners，iftheywouldconsenttocomeonbeingshownmylettertoyouofthe9thinstant。Showthatandthistothem，andiftheywillcomeonthetermsstatedintheformer，bringthem。Inotonlyintendasincereeffortforpeace，butIintendthatyoushallbeapersonalwitnessthatitismade。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

SAFECONDUCTFORCLEMENTC。CLAYANDOTHERS，JULY16，1864。

ThePresidentoftheUnitedStatesdirectsthatthefourpersonswhosenamesfollow，towit，HON。ClementC。Clay，HON。JacobThompson，ProfessorJamesP。Holcombe，GeorgeN。Sanders，shallhavesafeconducttothecityofWashingtonincompanywiththeHON。

HORACEGREELEY，andshallbeexemptfromarrestorannoyanceofanykindfromanyofficeroftheUnitedStatesduringtheirjourneytothesaidcityofWashington。

ByorderofthePresident：

JOHNHAY，MajorandAssistantAdjutant—GeneralTELEGRAMTOGENERALU。S。GRANT。

[WASHINGTON]July17。1864。11。25A。M。

LIEUTENANT—GENERALGRANT，CityPoint，Va。：

InyourdispatchofyesterdaytoGeneralSherman，Ifindthefollowing，towit：

"Ishallmakeadesperateefforttogetapositionhere，whichwillholdtheenemywithoutthenecessityofsomanymen。"

PressedaswearebylapseoftimeIamgladtohearyousaythis；

andyetIdohopeyoumayfindawaythattheeffortshallnotbedesperateinthesenseofgreatlossoflife。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN，President。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALD。HUNTER

WASHINGTONJULY17，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALHUNTER，Harper’sFerry，WestVa。

Yoursofthismorningreceived。Youmisconceive。Theorderyoucomplainofwasonlynominallymine，andwasframedbythosewhoreallymadeitwithnothoughtofmakingyouascapegoat。ItseemedtobeGeneralGrant’swishthattheforcesunderGeneralWrightandthoseunderyoushouldjoinanddriveattheenemyunderGeneralWright。Wrighthadthelargerpartoftheforce，butyouhadtherank。ItwasthoughtthatyouwouldpreferCrook’scommandingyourparttoyourservinginpersonunderWright。Thatisallofit。

GeneralGrantwishesyoutoremainincommandofthedepartment，andIdonotwishtoorderotherwise。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALW。T。SHERMAN。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，July18，1864。11。25A。M。

MAJOR—GENERALSHERMAN，ChattahoocheeRiver，Georgia：

IhaveseenyourdespatchesobjectingtoagentsofNorthernStatesopeningrecruitingstationsnearyourcamps。AnactofCongressauthorizesthis，givingtheappointmentofagentstotheStates，andnottotheExecutiveGovernment。ItisnotfortheWarDepartment，ormyself，torestrainormodifythelaw，initsexecution，furtherthanactualnecessitymayrequire。Tobecandid，Iwasforthepassageofthelaw，notapprehendingatthetimethatitwouldproducesuchinconveniencetothearmiesinthefieldasyounowcausemetofear。ManyoftheStateswereveryanxiousforit，andI

hopedthat，withtheirStatebounties，andactiveexertions，theywouldgetoutsubstantialadditionstoourcoloredforces，which，unlikewhiterecruits，helpuswheretheycomefrom，aswellaswheretheygoto。Istillhopeadvantagefromthelaw；andbeingalaw，itmustbetreatedassuchbyallofus。Weherewilldowhatweconsistentlycantosaveyoufromdifficultiesarisingoutofit。

MayIask，therefore，thatyouwillgiveyourheartyco—operation。

A。LINCOLN。

ANNOUNCEMENTCONCERNINGTERMSOFPEACE。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，July18，1864。

TOWHOMITMAYCONCERN：

Anypropositionwhichembracestherestorationofpeace，theintegrityofthewholeUnion，andtheabandonmentofslavery，andwhichcomesbyandwithanauthoritythatcancontrolthearmiesnowatwaragainsttheUnitedStates，willbereceivedandconsideredbytheExecutiveGovernmentoftheUnitedStates，andwillbemetbyliberaltermsonothersubstantialandcollateralpoints；andthebearerorbearersthereofshallhavesafeconductbothways。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

PROCLAMATIONCALLINGFORFIVEHUNDREDTHOUSANDVOLUNTEERS，JULY18，1864，BYTHEPRESIDENTOFTHEUNITEDSTATESOFAMERICA：

AProclamation。

WhereasbytheactapprovedJuly4，1864，entitled"Anactfurthertoregulateandprovidefortheenrollingandcallingoutthenationalforcesandforotherpurposes，"itisprovidedthatthePresidentoftheUnitedStatesmay，"athisdiscretion，atanytimehereafter，callforanynumberofmen，asvolunteersfortherespectivetermsofone，two，andthreeyearsformilitaryservice，"and"thatincasethequotaoranypartthereofofanytown，township，wardofacity，precinct，orelectiondistrict，orofacountynotsosubdivided，shallnotbefilledwithinthespaceoffiftydaysaftersuchcall，thenthePresidentshallimmediatelyorderadraftforoneyeartofillsuchquotaoranypartthereofwhichmaybeunfilled；"andWhereasthenewenrolmentheretoforeorderedissofarcompletedasthattheaforementionedactofCongressmaynowbeputinoperationforrecruitingandkeepingupthestrengthofthearmiesinthefield，forgarrisons，andsuchmilitaryoperationsasmayberequiredforthepurposeofsuppressingtherebellionandrestoringtheauthorityoftheUnitedStatesGovernmentintheinsurgentStates：

Now，therefore，I，AbrahamLincoln，PresidentoftheUnitedStates，doissuethismylastcallforfivehundredthousandvolunteersforthemilitaryservice：Provided，nevertheless，Thatthiscallshallbereducedbyallcreditswhichmaybeestablishedundersectioneightoftheaforesaidactonaccountofpersonswhohaveenteredthenavalserviceduringthepresentrebellionandbycreditsformenfurnishedtothemilitaryserviceinexcessofcallsheretoforemade。

Volunteerswillbeacceptedunderthiscallforone，two，orthreeyears，astheymayelect，andwillbeentitledtothebountyprovidedbythelawfortheperiodofservicesforwhichtheyenlist。

AndIherebyproclaim，order，anddirectthatimmediatelyafterthe5thdayofSeptember，1864，beingfiftydaysfromthedateofthiscall，adraftfortroopstoserveforoneyearshallbehadineverytown，township，wardofacity，precinct，orelectiondistrict，orcountynotsosubdivided，tofillthequotawhichshallbeassignedtoitunderthiscalloranypartthereofwhichmaybeunfilledbyvolunteersonthesaid5thdayofSeptember，1864。

IntestimonywhereofIhavehereuntosetmyhandandcausedthesealoftheUnitedStatestobeaffixed。

DoneattheCityofWashington，thisi8thdayofJuly，A。D。1864，andoftheindependenceoftheUnitedStatestheeighty—ninth。

ABRAHAMLINCOLN。

BythePresident：

WILLIAMH。SEWARD，SecretaryofState。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALU。S。GRANT。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，July20，1864。4。30p。m。

LIEUTENANT—GENERALGRANT，CityPoint，Va。：

Yoursofyesterday，aboutacallforthreehundredthousand，isreceived。Isupposeyouhadnotseenthecallforfivehundredthousand，madethedaybefore，andwhich，Isuppose，coversthecase。

Alwaysgladtohaveyoursuggestions。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOJ。L。WRIGHT。

WARDEPARTMENT，JULY。20，1864。

J。L。WRIGHT，Indianapolis，Ind。：

Allamistake。Mr。Stantonhasnotresigned。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALD。HUNTER。

(Cipher。)

WARDEPARTMENT，JULY23，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALHUNTER，Harper’sFerry，WestVa。

Areyouabletotakecareoftheenemy，whenheturnsbackuponyou，asheprobablywillonfindingthatWrighthasleft？

A。LINCOLN。

TOGOVERNORCURTIN，ENCLOSINGALETTERTOWILLIAMO。SNIDER。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，July25，1864。

GOVERNORCURTIN：

Herewithisthemanuscriptletterforthegentlemanwhosentmeacanethroughyourhands。FormylifeIcannotmakeouthisname；andthereforeIcutitfromhisletterandpastediton，asyousee。I

suppose[sic]willrememberwhoheis，andIwillthankyoutoforwardhimtheletter。HedateshisletteratPhiladelphia。

Yourstruly，A。LINCOLN。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，，July25，1864。

WILLIAMO。SNIDER：

ThecaneyoudidmethehonortopresentthroughGovernorCurtinwasdulyplacedinmyhandbyhim。Pleaseacceptmythanks；and，atthesametime，pardonmefornothavingsoonerfoundtimetotenderthem。

Yourobedientservant，A。LINCOLN。

FROMJOHNHAYTOJ。C。WELLING。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON。

July25，1864。

J。C。WELLING，ESQ。

SIR：——Accordingtotherequestcontainedinyournote，IhaveplacedMr。Gibson’sletterofresignationinthehandsofthePresident。Hehasreadtheletter，andsaysheacceptstheresignation，ashewillbegladtodowithanyother，whichmaybetendered，asthisis，forthepurposeoftakinganattitudeofhostilityagainsthim。

HesayshewasnotawarethathewassomuchindebtedtoMr。Gibsonforhavingacceptedtheofficeatfirst，notrememberingthatheeverpressedhimtodoso，orthathegaveitotherwisethanaswasusual，uponrequestmadeonbehalfofMr。Gibson。

HethanksMr。Gibsonforhisacknowledgmentthathehasbeentreatedwithpersonalkindnessandconsideration，andsaysheknowsofbuttwosmalldrawbacksuponMr。Gibson’srighttostillreceivesuchtreatment，oneofwhichisthathenevercouldlearnofhisgivingmuchattentiontothedutiesofhisoffice，andtheotheristhisstudiedattemptofMr。Gibson’stostabhim。

Iamverytruly，Yourobedientservant，JOHNHAY。

TOCOLONEL，FIRSTN。Y。VETERANCAVALRY。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，JULY25，1864。

ThomasConnor，aprivateintheFirstVeteranNewYorkCavalry，isnowimprisonedathardlaborfordesertion。IftheColonelofsaidRegimentwillsayinwritingonthissheetsthatheiswillingtoreceivehimbacktotheRegiment，Iwillpardon，andsendhim。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALW。T。SHERMAN。

WASHINGTON，July26，1864。2。30P。M。

MAJOR—GENERALSHERMAN，nearAtlanta：

IhavejustseenyourscomplainingoftheappointmentofHoveyandOsterhaus。Thepointyoumakeisunquestionablyagoodone，andyetpleasehearawordfromus。MyrecollectionisthatbothGeneralGrantandyourselfrecommendedbothH[ovey]andO[sterhaus]forpromotion，andthese，withotherstrongrecommendations，drewcommittalsfromuswhichwecouldneitherhonorablyorsafelydisregard。WeblamedH[ovey]forcomingawayinthemannerinwhichhedid，butheknewhehadapparentreasontofeeldisappointedandmortified，andwefeltitwasnotbesttocrushonewhocertainlyhadbeenagoodsoldier。Asto[Osterhaus]，wedidnotknowofhisleavingatthetimewemadetheappointment，anddonotnowknowthetermsonwhichheleft。Nottohaveappointedhim，asthecaseappearedtousatthetime，wouldhavebeenalmost，ifnotquite，aviolationofourword。Thewordwasgivenonwhatwethoughtwashighmeritandsomewhatonhisnationality。Ibegyoutobelievewedonotactinaspiritofdisregardingmerit。Weexpecttoawaityourprogrammeforfurtherchangesandpromotionsinyourarmy。Myprofoundestthankstoyouandyourwholearmyforthepresentcampaignsofar。

A。LINCOLN。

FROMSECRETARYSTANTONTOGENERALHALLECK。

WASHINGTONCITY，July27，1864

MAJOR—GENERALHALLECK，ChiefofStaffoftheArmy：

GENERAL：——Lieutenant—GeneralGranthavingsignifiedthat，owingtothedifficultiesanddelayofcommunicationbetweenhisheadquartersandWashington，itisnecessarythatinthepresentemergencymilitaryordersmustbeissueddirectlyfromWashington，thePresidentdirectsmetoinstructyouthatallthemilitaryoperationsforthedefenseoftheMiddleDepartment，theDepartmentoftheSusquehanna，theDepartmentofWashington，andtheDepartmentofWestVirginia，andalltheforcesinthosedepartments，areplacedunderyourgeneralcommand，andthatyouwillbeexpectedtotakeallmilitarymeasuresnecessaryfordefenseagainstanyattackoftheenemyandforhiscaptureanddestruction。Youwillissuefromtimetotimesuchorderstothecommandersoftherespectivedepartmentsandtothemilitaryauthoritiesthereinasmaybeproper。

Yourobedientservant，EDWINM。STANTON，SecretaryofWar。

TELEGRAMTOGOVERNORJOHNSON。

WASHINGTON，July27，1864。

GOVERNORJOHNSON，Nashville，Tennessee：

YoursinrelationtoGeneralA。C。Gillamjustreceived。Willlookafterthematterto—day。

IalsoreceivedyoursaboutGeneralCarlSchurz。Iappreciatehimcertainly，ashighlyasyoudo；butyoucanneverknowuntilyouhavethetrial，howdifficultitistofindaplaceforanofficerofsohighrankwhenthereisnoplaceseekinghim。

A。LINCOLN。

TOMrs。ANNEWILLIAMSON，EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，July29，1864。

Mrs。ANNEWILLIAMSON。

MADAM：——Theplaidyousendmeisjustnowplacedinmyhands。I

thankyouforthatprettyandusefulpresent，butstillmoreforthosegoodwishesformyselfandourcountry，whichpromptedyoutopresentit。

Yourobedientservant，A。LINCOLN。

INDORSEMENT，AUGUST3，1864。

WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTONCITY，August2，1864。

MR。PRESIDENT：——ThisnotewillintroducetoyouMr。SchleyofBaltimore，whodesirestoappealtoyoufortherevocationofanorderofGeneralHunter，removingsomepersons，citizensofFrederick，beyondhislines，andimprisoningothers。ThisDepartmenthasnoinformationofthereasonsorproofsonwhichGeneralHunteracts，andIdonotthereforefeelatlibertytosuspendorinterferewithhisactionexceptunderyourdirection。

Yourstruly，EDWINM。STANTON，SecretaryofWar。

[Indorsement。)

August3，1864。

TheSecretaryofWarwillsuspendtheorderofGeneralHuntermentionedwithin，untilfurtherorderanddirecthimtosendtotheDepartmentabriefreportofwhatisknownagainsteachoneproposedtobedealtwith。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALU，S。GRANT。

(Cipher。)

WASHINGTON，D。C……August3，1864

LIEUTENANT—GENERALGRANT，CityPoint，Va。：

Ihaveseenyourdespatchinwhichyousay，"IwantSheridanputincommandofallthetroopsinthefield，withinstructionstoputhimselfsouthoftheenemy，andfollowhimtothedeath。Wherevertheenemygoes，letourtroopsgoalso。"

This，Ithink，isexactlyrightastohowourforcesshouldmove；butpleaselookoverthedespatchesyoumayhavereceivedfromhere，eversinceyoumadethatorder，anddiscover，ifyoucan，thatthereisanyideaintheheadofanyonehereof"puttingourarmysouthoftheenemy，"oroffollowinghimtothe"death，"inanydirection。I

repeattoyou，itwillneitherbedonenorattempted，unlessyouwatchiteverydayandhour，andforceit。

A。LINCOLN。

[HerethePresidentwasmistakeninthinkingthatShermanandGranthadthesameinabilityofmostofhispreviousgeneralofficers。NooneneededtowatchGrantorSherman，theyonlyneededtogetoutoftheirway。D。W。]

TELEGRAMTOHORACEGREELEY。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，August6，1864

HON。HORACEGREELEY，NewYork：

YourstoMajorHayaboutpublicationofourcorrespondencereceived。

WiththesuppressionofafewpassagesinyourlettersinregardtowhichIthinkyouandIwouldnotdisagree，Ishouldbegladofthepublication。Pleasecomeoverandseeme。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOHORACEGREELEY。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，August8，1864

HON。HORACEGREELEY，NewYork：

ItelegraphedyouSaturday。Didyoureceivethedespatch？Pleaseanswer。

A。LINCOLN。

ONDISLOYALFAMILYMEMBER

TOGENERALS。O。BURBRIDGE。

WASHINGTON，D。C。，August8，1864

MAJOR—GENERALBURBRIDGE，Lexington，Ky。：

LastDecemberMrs。EmilyT。Helm，half—sisterofMrs。Lincoln，andwidowoftherebelgeneral，BenHardinHelm，stoppedhereonherwayfromGeorgiatoKentucky，andIgaveherapaper，asIremember，toprotectheragainstthemerefactofherbeingGeneralHelm’swidow。

Iheararumorto—daythatyourecentlysoughttoarresther，butwerepreventedbyherpresentingthepaperfromme。Idonotintendtoprotectheragainsttheconsequencesofdisloyalwordsoracts，spokenordonebyhersinceherreturntoKentucky，andifthepapergivenherbymecanbeconstruedtogiveherprotectionforsuchwordsandacts，itisherebyrevokedprotanto。Dealwithherforcurrentconductjustasyouwouldwithanyother。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALU。S。GRANT。

WASHINGTON，D。C。，August14，1864。1。30P。M。

LIEUTENANT—GENERALGRANT，CityPoint，Va。：

TheSecretaryofWarandIconcurthatyouhadbetterconferwithGeneralLee，andstipulateforamutualdiscontinuanceofhouse—

burningandotherdestructionofprivateproperty。Thetimeandmannerofconferenceandparticularsofstipulationweleave，onourpart，toyourconvenienceandjudgment。

A。LINCOLN。

TELEGRAMTOGENERALW。T。SHERMAN。

EXECUTIVEMANSION，WASHINGTON，D。C。，August15，1864。

MAJOR—GENERALSHERMAN，nearAtlanta，Ga。：

IftheGovernmentshouldpurchase，onitsownaccount，cottonnorthwardofyou，andonthelineofyourcommunications，woulditbeaninconveniencetoyou，ordetrimenttothemilitaryservice，forittocometothenorthontherailroad？

A。LINCOLN。

INTERVIEWWITHJOHNT。MILLS，AUGUST[15？]，1864。

Mr。President，"saidGovernorRandall，"whycan’tyouseekseclusion，andplayhermitforafortnight？Itwouldreinvigorateyou。"

"Ah，"saidthePresident，"twoorthreeweekswoulddomenogood。I

cannotflyfrommythoughts——mysolicitudeforthisgreatcountryfollowsmewhereverIgo。Idonotthinkitispersonalvanityorambition，thoughIamnotfreefromtheseinfirmities，butIcannotbutfeelthatthewealorwoeofthisgreatnationwillbedecidedinNovember。ThereisnoprogramofferedbyanywingoftheDemocraticpartybutthatmustresultinthepermanentdestructionoftheUnion。

"But，Mr。President，GeneralMcClellanisinfavorofcrushingoutthisrebellionbyforce。HewillbetheChicagocandidate。"

"Sir，theslightestknowledgeofarithmeticwillprovetoanymanthattherebelarmiescannotbedestroyedbyDemocraticstrategy。ItwouldsacrificeallthewhitemenoftheNorthtodoit。TherearenowintheserviceoftheUnitedStatesnearlyonehundredandfiftythousandable—bodiedcoloredmen，mostofthemunderarms，defendingandacquiringUnionterritory。TheDemocraticstrategydemandsthattheseforcesbedisbanded，andthatthemastersbeconciliatedbyrestoringthemtoslavery。TheblackmenwhonowassistUnionprisonerstoescapearetobeconvertedintoourenemies，inthevainhopeofgainingthegood—willoftheirmasters。Weshallhavetofighttwonationsinsteadofone。

"YoucannotconciliatetheSouthifyouguaranteetothemultimatesuccess；andtheexperienceofthepresentwarprovestheirsuccessisinevitableifyouflingthecompulsorylaborofmillionsofblackmenintotheirsideofthescale。Willyougiveourenemiessuchmilitaryadvantagesasinsuresuccess，andthendependoncoaxing，flattery，andconcessiontogetthembackintotheUnion？Abandonallthepostsnowgarrisonedbyblackmen，takeonehundredandfiftythousandmenfromoursideandputtheminthebattle—fieldorcorn—

fieldagainstus，andwewouldbecompelledtoabandonthewarinthreeweeks。

"Wehavetoholdterritoryininclementandsicklyplaces；wherearetheDemocratstodothis？Itwasafreefight，andthefieldwasopentothewarDemocratstoputdownthisrebellionbyfightingagainstbothmasterandslave，longbeforethepresentpolicywasinaugurated。

"TherehavebeenmenbaseenoughtoproposetometoreturntoslaverytheblackwarriorsofPortHudsonandOlustee，andthuswintherespectofthemasterstheyfought。ShouldIdoso，Ishoulddeservetobedamnedintimeandeternity。Comewhatwill，Iwillkeepmyfaithwithfriendandfoe。MyenemiespretendIamnowcarryingonthiswarforthesolepurposeofabolition。SolongasI

amPresident，itshallbecarriedonforthesolepurposeofrestoringtheUnion。Butnohumanpowercansubduethisrebellionwithouttheuseoftheemancipationpolicy，andeveryotherpolicycalculatedtoweakenthemoralandphysicalforcesoftherebellion。

"Freedomhasgivenusonehundredandfiftythousandmen，raisedonSouthernsoil。Itwillgiveusmoreyet。Justsomuchithassubtractedfromtheenemy，and，insteadofal