what you say to be true; but a telegraphic de-
spatch of Governor Johnson, now before me,
says this very man Mallory "has been guilty of
the most outrageous and atrocious murders
known to civilization," and that the "punishment
of death is not half atonement for the crimes
he has committed on the defenseless and un-
offending Union men of the county." As I know
Governor Johnson would not purposely mislead
me, I think it will be well for you to communicate
the particulars of your information to him.
A. Lincoln.
McClure, A. K.
War Department,
Washington City, June 30, 1863.
A. K. McClure, Philadelphia:
Do we gain anything by opening one leak to
stop another ? Do we gain anything by quieting
one clamor merely to open another, and probably
a larger one?
A. Lincoln.
McCullough, Miss Fanny.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, December 23, 1862.
Dear Fanny: It is with deep regret that I
learn of the death of your kind and brave father,
and especially that it is affecting your young
heart beyond what is common in such cases. In
this sad world of ours sorrow comes to all, and
to the young it comes with bitterer agony be-
cause it takes them unawares. The older have
learned ever to expect it. I am anxious to afford
McDOUGALL, 7. A. 295
some alleviation to your present distress. Per-
fect relief is not possible, except with time. You
cannot now realize that you will ever feel bet-
ter. Is not this so? And yet it is a mistake.
You are sure to be happy again. To know this,
which is certainly true, will make you some less
miserable now. I have had experience enough
to know what I say, and you need only to be-
lieve it to feel better at once. The memory of
your dear father, instead of an agony, will yet be
a sad, sweet feeling in your heart of a purer and
holier sort than you have known before.
Please present my kind regards to your af-
flicted mother.
Your sincere friend,
A. Lincoln.
McDougall, J. A.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, March 14, 1862.
Hon. James A. McDougall, United States Sen-
ate:
My dear Sir: As to the expensiveness of the
plan of gradual emancipation with compensation,
proposed in the late message, please allow me one
or two brief suggestions.
Less than one-half day's cost of this war would
pay for all the slaves in Delaware at four hun-
dred dollars per head.
Thus, all the slaves in Delaware by
the census of i860, are 1,798
400
Cost of the slaves $719,200
One day's cost of the war 2,000,000
296 LETTERS
Again, less than eighty-seven days' cost of this
war would, at the same price, pay for all in Dela-
ware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Kentucky,
and Missouri.
Thus, slaves in Delaware 1,798
Maryland 87,188
Dist. of Columbia. 3,181
Kentucky 225,490
Missouri 114,965
432,622
400
Cost of slaves $173,048,800
Eighty-seven days' cost of the war. 174,000,000
Do you doubt that taking the initiatory steps
on the part of those States and this District
would shorten the war more than eighty-seven
days, and thus be an actual saving of expense?
A word as to the time and manner of incurring
the expense. Suppose, for instance, a State de-
vises and adopts a system by which the institu-
tion absolutely ceases therein by a named day —
say January 1, 1882. Then let the sum to be
paid to such a State by the United States be
ascertained by taking from the census of i860
the number of slaves within the State, and mul-
tiplying that number by four hundred — the
United States to pay such sums to the State in
twenty equal annual instalments, in six per cent,
bonds of the United States.
The sum thus given, as to time and manner,
I think, would not be half as onerous as would
be an equal sum raised now for the indefinite
prosecution of the war; but of this you can
Mcdowell, irvin 297
judge as well as I. I inclose a census table for
your convenience.
Yours very truly,
A. Lincoln.
McDowell, Irvin.
[Telegram.]
Washington, May 16, 1862.
Major-General McDowell :
What is the strength of your force now actu-
ally with you?
A. Lincoln.
[Memorandum.]
May 17, 1862.
You will retain the separate command of the
forces taken with you; but while co-operating
with General McClellan you will obey his orders,
except that you are to judge, and are not to allow
your force to be disposed otherwise than so as
to give the greatest protection to this capital
which may be possible from that distance.
[Indorsement.]
To the Secretary of War.
The President having shown this to me, I suggest that
it is dangerous to direct a subordinate not to obey the
orders of his superior in any case, and that to give in-
structions to General McClellan to this same end and
furnish General McDowell with a copy thereof would
effect the object desired by the President. He desired
me to say that the sketch of instructions to General Mc-
Clellan herewith he thought made this addition unneces-
sary.
Respectfully,
M. C. M.
[Quartermaster-General Meigs.]
c 9 8 LETTERS
[ Telegram. ]
War Department, May 24, 1862. 5 p. m.
Major-General McDowell, Fredericksburg:
General Fremont has been ordered by tele-
graph to move from Franklin on Harrisonburg
to relieve General Banks, and capture or destroy
Jackson's and Ewell's forces.
You are instructed, laying aside for the pres-
ent the movement on Richmond, to put 20,000
men in motion at once for the Shenandoah, mov-
ing on the line or in advance of the line of the
Manassas Gap Railroad. Your object will be
to capture the forces of Jackson and Ewell,
either in co-operation with General Fremont, or,
in case want of supplies or of transportation in-
terferes with his movements, it is believed that
the force which you move will be sufficient to
accomplish this object alone. The information
thus far received here makes it probable that
if the enemy operate actively against General
Banks, you will not be able to count upon much
assistance from him, but may even have to re-
lease him.
Reports received this moment are that Banks
is fighting with Ewell eight miles from Win-
chester.
A. Lincoln.
[ Telegram. ]
War Department, May 24, 1862.
Major-General McDowell, Falmouth:
In view of the operations of the enemy on
the line of General Banks, the President thinks
the whole force you designed to move from
Fredericksburg should not be taken away, and
he therefore directs that one brigade in addition
Mcdowell, irvin 299
to what you designed to leave at Fredericksburg
should be left there : this brigade to be the least
effective of your command.
Edwin M. Stanton.
[ Telegram. ]
War Department, Washington City, D. C,
May 24, 1862. 8 p. m.
Major-General McDowell:
I am highly gratified by your alacrity in obey-
ing my order. The change was as painful to me
as it can possibly be to you or to any one.
Everything now depends upon the celerity and
vigor of your movement.
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram.]
W T ar Department, May 26, 1862. 1 p. m.
Major-General McDowell, Falmouth, Virginia :
Despatches from Geary just received have
been sent you. Should not the remainder of
your forces, except sufficient to hold the point
at Fredericksburg, move this way — to Manassas
Junction or Alexandria? As commander of this
department, should you not be here ? I ask these
questions.
A. Lincoln.
[ Telegram. ]
Washington, May 28, 1862. 1 p. m.
General McDowell, Manassas Junction :
General McClellan at 6.30 p. m. yesterday
telegraphed that Fitz-John Porter's division had
fought and driven 13,000 of the enemy, under
General Branch, from Hanover Court House, and
was driving them from a stand they had made
on the railroad at the time the messenger left.
3 oo LETTERS
Two hours later he telegraphed that Stoneman
had captured an engine and six cars on the
Virginia Central, which he at once sent to com-
municate with F. J. Porter. Nothing further
from McClellan.
If Porter effects a lodgment on both railroads
near Hanover Court House, consider whether
your forces in front of Fredericksburg should not
push through and join him.
A. Lincoln.
[ Telegram. ]
Washington, May 28, 1862. 4 p. m.
General McDowell, Manassas Junction :
You say General Geary's scouts report that
they find no enemy this side of the Blue Ridge.
Neither do I. Have they been to the Blue Ridge
looking for them?
A. Lincoln.
[ Telegram. ]
Washington, May 28, 1862. 5.40 p. m.
General McDowell, Manassas Junction :
I think the evidence now preponderates that
Ewell and Jackson are still about Winchester.
Assuming this, it is for you a question of legs.
Put in all the speed you can. I have told Fre-
mont as much, and directed him to drive at them
as fast as possible. By the way, I suppose you
know Fremont has got up to Moorefield, instead
of going to Harrisonburg.
A. Lincoln.
[ Telegram. ]
Washington, May 29, 1862. 12 m.
Major-General McDowell, Manassas Junction :
General Fremont's force should, and probably
Mcdowell, irvin 3 oi
will, be at or near Strasburg by twelve (noon)
to-morrow. Try to have your force, or the ad-
vance of it, at Front Royal as soon.
A. Lincoln.
[ Telegram. ]
War Department, Washington City,
May 30, 1862. 9.30 p. m.
Major-General McDowell, Rectortown, Virginia :
I send you a despatch just received from Sax-
ton at Harper's Ferry :
The rebels are in line of battle in front of our lines.
They have nine pieces of artillery, and in position, and
cavalry. I shelled the woods in which they were, and
they in return threw a large number of shells into the
lines and tents from which I moved last night to take
up a stronger position. I expect a great deal from the
battery on the mountain, having there 9-inch Dahlgren
bearing directly on the enemy's approaches. The enemy
appeared this morning and then retired, with the inten-
tion of drawing us on. I shall act on the defensive, as
my position is a strong one. In a skirmish which took
place this afternoon I took one horse. The enemy lost
two men killed and seven wounded.
R. Saxton, Brigadier-General.
It seems the game is before you. Have sent a
copy to General Fremont.
A. Lincoln.
[ Telegram. ]
Washington, May 30, 1862. 10 a. m.
Major-General McDowell, Manassas Junction :
I somewhat apprehend that Fremont's force, in
its present condition, may not be quite strong
enough in case it comes in collision with the ene-
my. For this additional reason I wish you to
3 o2 LETTERS
push forward your column as rapidly as possi-
ble. Tell me what number your force reaching
Front Royal will amount to.
A. Lincoln.
[ Telegram. ]
Washington, May 30, 1862. 12.40.
Major-General McDowell, Rectortown :
Your despatch of to-day received and is satis-
factory. Fremont has nominally 22,000, really
about 17,000. Blenker's division is part of it.
I have a despatch from Fremont this morning,
not telling me where he is ; but he says :
Scouts and men from Winchester represent Jackson's
force variously at 30,000 to 60,000. With him Generals
Ewell and Longstreet.
The high figures erroneous, of course. Do
you know where Longstreet is ? Corinth is evac-
uated and occupied by us.
A. Lincoln.
[ Telegram. ]
Washington, May 30, 1862. 2.30 p. m.
Major-General McDowell :
Herewith I send a telegram just received from
General Fremont. The despatch is dated of last
night, and the point he says he will be at five
o'clock Saturday afternoon is "Strasburg, or as
near it as it may be to the enemy at that time."
I direct Fremont to come to time as fixed by
himself, and you will act your discretion, taking
this information into your calculation.
A. Lincoln.
Mclean, john 303
[Telegram.]
Washington, June 3, 1862. 6.15 p. m.
Major-General McDowell, Front Royal, Vir-
ginia :
Anxious to know whether Shields can head or
flank Jackson. Please tell about where Shields
and Jackson, respectively, are at the time this
reaches you.
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram in Cipher.]
Washington, June 6, 1862.
Major-General McDowell :
The President directs that McCall's division
be sent by water to General McClellan imme-
diately, and that you place such force at Fred-
ericksburg by the time McCall leaves there as
may, in your judgment, be necessary to hold that
place. In respect to the operations of the resi-
due of your force, the President reserves direc-
tions, to be given as soon as he determines.
Transportation has been ordered up the Rap-
pahannock from here and from Fortress Monroe.
Adjutant-General shall issue the order.
Edwin M. Stanton.
McLean, John.
Springfield, Illinois, December 6, 1854.
Hon. Justice McLean.
Sir : I understand it is in contemplation to
displace the present clerk, and appoint a new one,
for the Circuit and District Courts of Illinois.
I am very friendly to the present incumbent, and
both for his own sake and that of his family, I
304 LETTERS
wish him to be retained so long as it is possible
for the court to do so. In the contingency of his
removal, however, I have recommended William
Butler as his successor, and I do not wish what
I write now to be taken as any abatement of that
recommendation.
William J. Black is also an applicant for the
appointment, and I write this at the solicitation
of his friends to say that he is every way worthy
of the office, and that I doubt not the conferring
it upon him will give great satisfaction.
Your obedient servant,
A. Lincoln.
McMichael, Morton.
[Private.]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, August 5, 1864.
Hon. Morton McMichael.
My dear Sir: When the Philadelphia post-
master was here on the 20th of June last, I read
to him a paper in the following words :
Complaint is made to me that you are using your offi-
cial power to defeat Judge Kelley's renomination to
Congress. I am well satisfied with Judge Kelley as a
member of Congress, and I do not know that the man
who might supplant him would be as satisfactory ; but
the correct principle, I think, is that all our friends
should have absolute freedom of choice among our
friends. My wish, therefore, is that you will do just as
you think fit with your own suffrage in the case, and not
constrain any of your subordinates to do other than as
he thinks fit with his. This is precisely the rule I in-
culcated and adhered to on my part, when a certain
other nomination, now recently made, was being can-
vassed for.
McNEIL, C. F. 305
He promised me to strictly follow this. I am
now told that, of the two or three hundred em-
ployees in the Post-office, not one of them is open-
ly for Judge Kelley. This, if true, is not acciden-
tal. Left to their free choice, there can be no
doubt that a large number of them, probably as
much or more than half, would be for Kelley.
And if they are for him, and are not restrained,
they can put it beyond question by publicly saying
so. Please tell the postmaster he must find a
way to relieve me from the suspicion that he is
not keeping his promise to me in good faith.
Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.
McNeil, C. F.
Springfield, April 6, i860.
C. F. McNeil, Esq.
Dear Sir : Reaching home yesterday, I found
yours of the 23d March, inclosing a slip from
the Middleport "Press." It is not true that I
ever charged anything for a political speech in
my life ; but this much is true : Last October
I was requested by letter to deliver some sort of
speech in Mr. Beecher's church, in Brooklyn — •
two hundred dollars being offered in the first let-
ter. I wrote that I could do it in February, pro-
vided they would take a political speech if I could
find time to get up no other. They agreed ; and
subsequently I informed them the speech would
have to be a political one. When I reached New
York, I for the first time learned that the place
was changed to "Cooper Institute." I made the
speech, and left for New Hampshire, where I
have a son at school, neither asking for pay, nor
306 LETTERS
having any offered me. Three days after a check
for two hundred dollars was sent to me at New
Hampshire ; and I took it, and did not know it
was wrong. My understanding now is — though
I knew nothing of it at the time — that they did
charge for admittance to the Cooper Institute,
and that they took in more than twice two hun-
dred dollars.
I have made this explanation to you as a friend ;
but I wish no explanation made to our enemies.
What they want is a squabble and a fuss, and
thai they can have if we explain; and they can-
not have it if we don't.
When I returned through New York from
New England, I was told by the gentlemen who
sent me the check that a drunken vagabond in the
club, having learned something about the two
hundred dollars, made the exhibition out of which
the "Herald" manufactured the article quoted by
the ''Press" of your town.
My judgment is, and therefore my request. is,
that you give no denial and no explanation.
Thanking you for your kind interest in the
matter, I remain,
Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.
McPheeters, Samuel S.
[fan. 2, 1863. See Curtis, S. R. See also Filley,
O. D|
[Indorsement on Petition.]
The assumptions of this paper, so far as I
know, or believe, arc entirely false. I have never
deprived Doctor McPheeters of any ecclesiastical
MEADE, GEORGE G. 307
right, or authorized or excused its being done by
any one deriving authority from me. On the
contrary, in regard to this very case, I directed
a long time ago that Doctor McPheeters was to
be arrested, or remain at large, upon the same
rule as any one else ; and that in no event was
any one to interfere, by my authority, as to who
should or should not preach in any church. This
was done, I think, in a letter, in the nature of an
order, to Mr. Dick. The assumption that I am
keeping Dr. McPheeters from preaching in his
church is monstrous. If any one is doing this,
by pretense of my authority, I will thank any one
who can to make out and present me a specific
case against him. If, after all, the doctor is kept
out by the majority of his own parishioners, and
my official power is sought to force him in over
their heads, I decline that also.
A. Lincoln.
December 22, 1863.
Meade, George G.
[Telegram.]
Washington, D. C. July 7, 1863.
Major-General Meade, Army of the Potomac:
I have received from the President the following
note, which I respectfully communicate :
Major-General Halleck:
We have certain information that Vicksburg sur-
rendered to General Grant on the Fourth of July. Now,
if General Meade can complete his work so gloriously
prosecuted thus far, by the literal or substantial de-
struction of Lee's army, the rebellion will be over.
Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.
H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief.
3 o8 LETTERS
[Telegram.]
Washington, D. C, July 8, 1863.
Major-General Meade, Frederick, Maryland:
There is reliable information that the enemy is cross-
ing at Williamsport. The opportunity to attack his
divided forces should not be lost. The President is
urgent and anxious that your army should move against
him by forced marches.
H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief.
[Private.]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, July 27, 1863.
Major-General Meade :
I have not thrown General Hooker away; and
therefore I would like to know whether it would
be agreeable to you, all things considered, for
him to take a corps under you, if he himself is
willing to do so. Write me in perfect freedom,
with the assurance that I will not subject you to
any embarrassment by making your letter or its
contents known to any one. I wish to know your
wishes before I decide whether to break the sub-
ject to him. Do not lean a hair's breadth against
your own feelings, or your judgment of the public
service, on the idea of gratifying me.
Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, August 11, 1863.
My dear General Meade:
Yesterday week I made known to General
Hooker our brief correspondence in regard to
him. He seemed gratified with the kind spirit
manifested by both of us ; but said he was busy
preparing a report and would consider.
MEADE, GEORGE G. 309
Yesterday he called again, and said he would
accept the offer if it was still open; would go
at once if you desire, but would prefer waiting
till the 1 st of September, unless there was to be
a battle, or you desire him to come sooner. I told
him I would write you. Please answer.
Yours very truly,
A. Lincoln.
[ Telegram. ]
War Department, Washington, D. C,
August 2J, 1863. 9 a. m.
Major-General Meade, Warrenton, Virginia:
Walter, Rionese, Folancy, Lai, and Kuhn ap-
pealed to me for mercy, without giving any
ground for it whatever. I understand these are
very flagrant cases, and that you deem their pun-
ishment as being indispensable to the service. If
I am not mistaken in this, please let them know
at once that their appeal is denied.
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, September 9, 1863.
Major-General Meade, Warrenton, Va. :
It would be a generous thing to give General
Wheaton a leave of absence for ten or fifteen
days, and if you can do so without injury to the
service, please do it.
A. Lincoln.
War Department,
Washington, D. C., September 25, 1863.
Major-General Meade, Army of Potomac:
Owing to the press in behalf of Daniel Sulli-
van, Company E, Thirteenth Massachusetts, and
3 io LETTERS
the doubt though small, which you express of his
guilty intention, I have concluded to say let his
execution be suspended till further order, and
copy of record sent me.
A. Lincoln.
War Department,
Washington, D. C, October 8, 1863.
Major-General Meade, Army of Potomac:
I am appealed to in behalf of August Blitters-
dorf, at Mitchell's Station, Va., to be shot to-
morrow as a deserter. I am unwilling for any
boy under eighteen to be shot, and his father
affirms that he is yet under sixteen. Please an-
swer. His regiment or company not given me.
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram.]
Washington, October 10, 1863. 4.55 p. m.
General Meade :
Am interested with your despatch of noon.
How is it now?
A. Lincoln.
[ Telegram. ]
Washington, October 12, 1863. 9 a. m.
Major-General Meade :
What news this morning? A despatch from
Rosecrans, leaving him at 7.30 p. m. yesterday,
says :
Rebel rumors that head of Ewell's column reached
Dalton yesterday.
I send this for what it is worth.
A. Lincoln.
MEADE, GEORGE G. 311
Executive Mansion,
Washington, October 12, 1863.
Major-General Meade, Army of Potomac :
The father and mother of John Murphy, of the
One Hundred and Nineteenth Pennsylvania Vol-
unteers, have filed their own affidavits that he
was born June 22, 1846, and also the affidavits
of three other persons who all swear that they
remembered the circumstances of his birth and
that it was in the year 1846, though they do not
remember the particular day. I therefore, on
account of his tender age, have concluded to
pardon him, and to leave it to yourself, whether
to discharge him or continue him in the service.
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, November 3, 1863.
Major-General Meade, Army of Potomac :
Samuel Wellers, private in Company B, Forty-
ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, writes that he is
to be shot for desertion on the 6th instant. His
own story is rather a bad one, and yet he tells
it so frankly that I am somewhat interested in
him. Has he been a good soldier except the de-
sertion ? About how old is he ?
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, D. C., November 5, 1863.
Major-General Meade, Army of Potomac :
Please suspend the execution of Samuel Wel-
lers, Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, until
further orders.
A. Lincoln.
3 I2 LETTERS
[ Telegram. ]
Washington, November 9, 1863. 7.30 p. m.
Major-General Meade :
I have seen your despatches about operations
on the Rappahannock on Saturday, and I wish to
say, "Well done!" Do the 1500 prisoners re-
ported by General Sedgwick include the 400 taken
by General French, or do the whole amount to
1900?
A. Lincoln.
[Mar. 10, 1864. See Grant, Ulysses S.]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, March 29, 1864.
Major-General Meade.
My dear Sir: Your letter to Colonel Town-
send, inclosing a slip from the "Herald," and ask-
ing a court of inquiry, has been laid before me
by the Secretary of War, with the request that
I would consider it. It is quite natural that you
should feel some sensibility on the subject; yet
I am not impressed, nor do I think the country
is impressed, with the belief that your honor de-
mands, or the public interest demands, such an in-
quiry. The country knows that at all events you
have done good service; and I believe it agrees
with me that it is much better for you to be en-