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as a butcher drives bullocks into the slaughter…pen。  No time is

wasted; no argument is used。  This produces an army which will soon

turn upon our now victorious soldiers already in the field; if they

shall not be sustained by recruits as they should be。  It produces an

army with a rapidity not to be matched on our side if we first waste

time to re…experiment with the volunteer system; already deemed by

Congress; and palpably; in fact; so far exhausted as to be

inadequate; and then more time to obtain a court decision as to

whether a law is constitutional; which requires a part of those not

now in the service to go to the aid of those who are already in it;

and still more time to determine with absolute certainty that we get

those who are to go in the precisely legal proportion to those who

are not to go。  My purpose is to be in my action just and

constitutional; and yet practical; in performing the important duty

with which I am charged; of maintaining the unity and the free

principles of our common country。



Your obedient servant;



A。 LINCOLN。









TO GENERAL U。S。 GRANT。



EXECUTIVE MANSION WASHINGTON;

August 9; 1863。



MY DEAR GENERAL GRANT:



I see by a despatch of yours that you incline quite strongly toward

an expedition against Mobile。  This would appear tempting to me also;

were it not that in view of recent events in Mexico I am greatly

impressed with the importance of re…establishing the national

authority in western Texas as soon as possible。  I am not making an

order; however; that I leave; for the present at least; to the

general…in…chief。



A word upon another subject: General Thomas has gone again to the

Mississippi Valley; with the view of raising colored troops。  I have

no reason to doubt that you are doing what you reasonably can upon

the same subject。  I believe it is a resource which if vigorously

applied now will soon close the contest。  It works doubly; weakening

the enemy and strengthening us。  We were not fully ripe for it until

the river was opened。  Now; I think at least one hundred thousand can

and ought to be rapidly organized along its shores; relieving all

white troops to serve elsewhere。  Mr。 Dana understands you as

believing that the Emancipation Proclamation has helped some in your

military operations。  I am very glad if this is so。



Did you receive a short letter from me dated the 13th of July?



Yours very truly;



A。 LINCOLN。









TO GENERAL W。 S。 ROSECRANS。



EXECUTIVE MANSION; WASHINGTON;

August 10; 1863。



MY DEAR GENERAL ROSECRANS:



Yours of the 1st was received two days ago。  I think you must have

inferred more than General Halleck has intended; as to any

dissatisfaction of mine with you。  I am sure you; as a reasonable

man; would not have been wounded could you have heard all my words

and seen all my thoughts in regard to you。   I have not abated in my

kind feeling for and confidence in you。  I have seen most of your

despatches to General Halleckprobably all of them。  After Grant

invested Vicksburg I was very anxious lest Johnston should overwhelm

him from the outside; and when it appeared certain that part of

Bragg's force had gone and was going to Johnston; it did seem to me

it was exactly the proper time for you to attack Bragg with what

force he had left。  In all kindness let me say it so seems to me yet。

Finding from your despatches to General Halleck that your judgment

was different; and being very anxious for Grant; I; on one occasion;

told General Halleck I thought he should direct you to decide at once

to immediately attack Bragg or to stand on the defensive and send

part of your force to Grant。  He replied he had already so directed

in substance。  Soon after; despatches from Grant abated my anxiety

for him; and in proportion abated my anxiety about any movement of

yours。  When afterward; however; I saw a despatch of yours arguing

that the right time for you to attack Bragg was not before; but would

be after; the fall of Vicksburg; it impressed me very strangely; and

I think I so stated to the Secretary of War and General Halleck。  It

seemed no other than the proposition that you could better fight

Bragg when Johnston should be at liberty to return and assist him

than you could before he could so return to his assistance。



Since Grant has been entirely relieved by the fall of Vicksburg; by

which Johnston is also relieved; it has seemed to me that your chance

for a stroke has been considerably diminished; and I have not been

pressing you directly or indirectly。  True; I am very anxious for

East Tennessee to be occupied by us; but I see and appreciate the

difficulties you mention。  The question occurs; Can the thing be done

at all?  Does preparation advance at all?  Do you not consume

supplies as fast as you get them forward?  Have you more animals to…

day than you had at the battle of Stone's River?  And yet have not

more been furnished you since then than your entire present stock?  I

ask the same questions as to your mounted force。



Do not misunderstand: I am not casting blame upon you; I rather think

by great exertion you can get to East Tennessee; but a very important

question is; Can you stay there?  I make no order in the casethat I

leave to General Halleck and yourself。



And now be assured once more that I think of you in all kindness and

confidence; and that I am not watching you with an evil eye。



Yours very truly;



A。 LINCOLN。









TO GOVERNOR SEYMOUR。



EXECUTIVE MANSION WASHINGTON;

August 11。1863。



HIS EXCELLENCY HORATIO  SEYMOUR;

Governor of New York:



Yours of the 8th; with Judge…Advocate…Genera1 Waterbury's report; was

received to…day。



Asking you to remember that I consider time as being very important;

both to the general cause of the country and to the soldiers in the

field; I beg to remind you that I waited; at your request; from the

1st until the 6th inst。; to receive your communication dated the 3d。

In view of its great length; and the known time and apparent care

taken in its preparation; I did not doubt that it contained your full

case as you desired to present it。  It contained the figures for

twelve districts; omitting the other nineteen; as I suppose; because

you found nothing to complain of as to them。  I answered accordingly。

In doing so I laid down the principle to which I purpose adhering;

which is to proceed with the draft; at the same time employing

infallible means to avoid any great wrong。  With the communication

received to…day you send figures for twenty…eight districts;

including the twelve sent before; and still omitting three; for which

I suppose the enrolments are not yet received。  In looking over the

fuller list of twenty…eight districts; I find that the quotas for

sixteen of them are above 2000 and below 2700; while; of the rest;

six are above 2700 and six are below 2000。   Applying the principle

to these new facts; the Fifth and Seventh districts must be added to

the four in which the quotas have already been reduced to 2200 for

the first draft; and with these four others just be added to those to

be re…enrolled。  The correct case will then stand: the quotas of the

Second; Fourth; Fifth; Sixth; Seventh; and Eighth districts fixed at

2200 for the first draft。  The Provost…Marshal…General informs me

that the drawing is already completed in the Sixteenth; Seventeenth;

Eighteenth; Twenty…second; Twenty…fourth; Twenty…sixth; Twenty…

seventh; Twenty…eighth; Twenty…ninth; and Thirtieth districts。   In

the others; except the three outstanding; the drawing will be made

upon the quotas as now fixed。  After the first draft; the Second;

Fourth; Fifth; Sixth; Seventh; Eighth; Sixteenth; Seventeenth;

Twenty…first; Twenty…fifth; Twenty…ninth; and Thirty…first will be

enrolled for the purpose and in the manner stated in my letter of the

7th inst。 The same principle will be applied to the now outstanding

districts when they shall come in。  No part of my former letter is

repudiated by reason of not being restated in this; or for any other

cause。



Your obedient servant;



A。 LINCOLN。









TO GENERAL J。 A。 McCLERNAND。



EXECUTIVE MANSION; WASHINGTON;

August 12; 1863。



MAJOR…GENERAL McCLERNAND。



MY DEAR SIR:Our friend William G。 Greene has just presented a kind

letter in regard to yourself; addressed to me by our other friends

Yates; Hatch; and Dubois。



I doubt whether your present position is more painful to you than to

myself。  Grateful for the patriotic stand so early taken by you in

this life…and…death struggle of the nation; I have done whatever has

appeared practicable to advance you and the public interest together。

 No charges; with a view to a trial; have been preferred against you

by any one; nor do I suppose any will be。   All there is; so far as I

have heard; is General Grant's statement of his reaso

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