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as to you; but by some this has been too much neglected。
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL J。 C。 FREMONT
WAR DEPARTMENT; WASHINGTON CITY; D。 C。; June 15; 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL FREMONT:
MY DEAR SIR:Your letter of the 12th by Colonel Zagonyi is just
received。 In answer to the principal part of it; I repeat the
substance of an order of the 8th and one or two telegraphic
despatches sent you since。
We have no definite power of sending reinforcements; so that we are
compelled rather to consider the proper disposal of the forces we
have than of those we could wish to have。 We may be able to send you
some dribs by degrees; but I do not believe we can do more。 As you
alone beat Jackson last Sunday; I argue that you are stronger than he
is to…day; unless he has been reinforced; and that he cannot have
been materially reinforced; because such reinforcement could only
have come from Richmond; and he is much more likely to go to Richmond
than Richmond is to come to him。 Neither is very likely。 I think
Jackson's gamehis assigned worknow is to magnify the accounts of
his numbers and reports of his movements; and thus by constant alarms
keep three or four times as many of our troops away from Richmond as
his own force amounts to。 Thus he helps his friends at Richmond
three or four times as much as if he were there。 Our game is not to
allow this。 Accordingly; by the order of the 8th; I directed you to
halt at Harrisonburg; rest your force; and get it well in hand; the
objects being to guard against Jackson's returning by the same route
to the upper Potomac over which you have just driven him out; and at
the same time give some protection against a raid into West Virginia。
Already I have given you discretion to occupy Mount Jackson instead;
if; on full consideration; you think best。 I do not believe Jackson
will attack you; but certainly he cannot attack you by surprise; and
if he comes upon you in superior force; you have but to notify us;
fall back cautiously; and Banks will join you in due time。 But while
we know not whether Jackson will move at all; or by what route; we
cannot safely put you and Banks both on the Strasburg line; and leave
no force on the Front Royal linethe very line upon which he
prosecuted his late raid。 The true policy is to place one of you on
one line and the other on the other in such positions that you can
unite once you actually find Jackson moving upon it。 And this is
precisely what we are doing。 This protects that part of our
frontier; so to speak; and liberates McDowell to go to the assistance
of McClellan。 I have arranged this; and am very unwilling to have it
deranged。 While you have only asked for Sigel; I have spoken only of
Banks; and this because Sigel's force is now the principal part of
Bank's force。
About transferring General Schenck's commands; the purchase of
supplies; and the promotion and appointment of officers; mentioned in
your letter; I will consult with the Secretary of War to…morrow。
Yours truly;
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL J。 C。 FREMONT。
WASHINGTON; June 16; 1862
MAJOR…GENERAL FREMONT; Mount Jackson; Virginia:
Your despatch of yesterday; reminding me of a supposed understanding
that I would furnish you a corps of 35;000 men; and asking of me the
〃fulfilment of this understanding;〃 is received。 I am ready to come
to a fair settlement of accounts with you on the fulfilment of
understandings。
Early in March last; when I assigned you to the command of the
Mountain Department; I did tell you I would give you all the force I
could; and that I hoped to make it reach 35;000。 You at the same
time told me that within a reasonable time you would seize the
railroad at or east of Knoxville; Tenn。; if you could。 There was
then in the department a force supposed to be 25;000; the exact
number as well known to you as to me。 After looking about two or
three days; you called and distinctly told me that if I would add the
Blenker division to the force already in the department; you would
undertake the job。 The Blenker division contained 10;000; and at the
expense of great dissatisfaction to General McClellan I took it from
his army and gave it to you。 My promise was literally fulfilled。 I
have given you all I could; and I have given you very nearly; if not
quite; 35;000。
Now for yours。 On the 23d of May; largely over two months afterward;
you were at Franklin; Va。; not within 300 miles of Knoxville; nor
within 80 miles of any part of the railroad east of it; and not
moving forward; but telegraphing here that you could not move for
lack of everything。 Now; do not misunderstand me。 I do not say you
have not done all you could。 I presume you met unexpected
difficulties; and I beg you to believe that as surely as you have
done your best; so have I。 I have not the power now to fill up your
Corps to 35;000。 I am not demanding of you to do the work of 35;000。
I am only asking of you to stand cautiously on the defensive; get
your force in order; and give such protection as you can to the
valley of the Shenandoah and to western Virginia。
Have you received the orders; and will you act upon them?
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL C。 SCHURZ。
WASHINGTON; June 16; 1862
BRIGADIER…GENERAL SCHURZ; Mount Jackson; Virginia:
Your long letter is received。 The information you give is valuable。
You say it is fortunate that Fremont did not intercept Jackson; that
Jackson had the superior force; and would have overwhelmed him。 If
this is so; how happened it that Fremont fairly fought and routed him
on the 8th? Or is the account that he did fight and rout him false
and fabricated? Both General Fremont and you speak of Jackson having
beaten Shields。 By our accounts he did not beat Shields。 He had no
engagement with Shields。 He did meet and drive back with disaster
about 2000 of Shields's advance till they were met by an additional
brigade of Shields's; when Jackson himself turned and retreated。
Shields himself and more than half his force were not nearer than
twenty miles to any of it。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H。 W。 HALLECK。
WASHINGTON; June 18; 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL HALLECK; Corinth; Mississippi:
It would be of both interest and value to us here to know how the
expedition toward East Tennessee is progressing; if in your judgment
you can give us the information with safety。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。
WAR DEPARTMENT; WASHINGTON; D。 C。; June 18; 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL McCLELLAN:
Yours of to…day; making it probable that Jackson has been reinforced
by about 10;000 from Richmond; is corroborated by a despatch from
General King at Fredericksburg; saying a Frenchman; just arrived from
Richmond by way of Gordonsville; met 10;000 to 15;000 passing through
the latter place to join Jackson。
If this is true; it is as good as a reinforcement to you of an equal
force。 I could better dispose of things if I could know about what
day you can attack Richmond; and would be glad to be informed; if you
think you can inform me with safety。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。
WASHINGTON; JUNE 19; 1862
MAJOR…GENERAL McCLELLAN:
Yours of last night just received; and for which I thank you。
If large reinforcements are going from Richmond to Jackson; it proves
one of two things: either they are very strong at Richmond; or do not
mean to defend the place desperately。
On reflection; I do not see how reinforcements from Richmond to
Jackson could be in Gordonsville; as reported by the Frenchman and
your deserters。 Have not all been sent to deceive?
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。
WAR DEPARTMENT; WASHINGTON; June 20; 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL McCLELLAN:
In regard to the contemplated execution of Captains Spriggs and
Triplett the government has no information whatever; but will inquire
and advise you。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。
WASHINGTON CITY; June 20; 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL McCLELLAN:
We have this morning sent you a despatch of General Sigel
corroborative of the proposition that Jackson is being reinforced
from Richmond。 This may be reality; and yet may only be contrivance
for deception; and to determine which is perplexing。 If we knew it
was not true; we could send you some more force; but as the case
stands we do not think we safely can。 Still; we will watch the signs
and do so if possible。
In regard to a contemplated execution of Captains Spriggs and
Triplett the government has no information whatever; but will inquire
and advise you。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。
WASHINGTON; June 21 1862 6 PM。
MAJOR…G