Fort Monroe, Virginia, May 10, 1862.
Flag-officer Goldsborough.
My dear Sir: I send you this copy of your
report of yesterday for the purpose of saying
1 6 LETTERS
to you in writing that you are quite right in
supposing that the movement made hy you and
therein reported was made in accordance with
my wishes verhally expressed to you in advance.
I avail myself of the occasion to thank you for
your courtesy and all your conduct, so far as
known to me, during my brief visit here.
Yours very truly,
A. Lincoln.
[Message to Congress.']
To the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States : . . .
Believing that no occasion could arise which
would more fully correspond with the intention
of the law [authorizing the President to recom-
mend to Congress naval officers to receive vote
of thanks for gallant service), or be more preg-
nant with happy influence as an example, I cor-
dially recommend that Louis M. Goldsborough
receive a vote of thanks of Congress for his
services and gallantry displayed in the com-
bined attack of the forces commanded by him
and Brigadier-General Burnside in the capture
of Roanoke Island and the destruction of rebel
gunboats on the 7th, 8th, and 10th of February,
1862.
Abraham Lincoln.
Washington, February 15, 1862.
[Telegram.]
Washington, D. C, June 28, 1862.
Flag-Officer Goldsborough, Fort Monroe :
Enemy has cut McClellan's communication
with White House, and is driving Stoneman
GORDON, NA THANIEL 1 7
back on that point. Do what you can for him
with gunboats at or near your place. McClellan's
main force is between the Chickahominy and the
James. Also clo what you can to communicate
with him and support him there.
A. Lincoln.
Goodman, Edward.
[See Chase, Salmon P., March 2, 1863.]
Goodrich, J. Z.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, March 13, 1865.
Hon. John Z. Goodrich.
My dear Sir : Your official term expires about
this time. I know not whether you desire a re-
appointment, and I am not aware of any objection
to you — personal, political, or official. Yet if it
be true, as I have been informed, that the office
is of no pecuniary consequence to you, it would
be quite a relief to me to have it at my dis-
posal.
Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.
Gordon, Nathaniel.
On February 4, 1862, the President having
refused the petition of "a large number of re-
spectable citizens" to commute the death sen-
tence of Nathaniel Gordon, convicted of being a
slave trader, gave him a respite from February
7, 1862, to February 21, 1862, because of the
seeming probability that the expectation of a
commutation of sentence may have prevented
18 LETTERS
Gordon "from making the necessary prepara-
tion for the awful change which awaits him."
"In granting this respite it becomes my pain-
ful duty to admonish the prisoner that, relin-
quishing all expectation of pardon by human au-
thority, he refer himself alone to the mercy of
the common God and Father of all men."
In testimony, etc.
Abraham Lincoln.
By the President:
William H. Seward, Secretary of State.
Goss, G. G., and Others.
[Schedule A.]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, D. C., 1861.
Rev. G. G. Goss.
Sir : Having been solicited by Christian min-
isters and other pious people to appoint suitable
persons to act as chaplains at the hospitals for
our sick and wounded soldiers, and feeling the
intrinsic propriety of having such persons to so
act, and yet believing there is no law conferring
the power upon me to appoint them, I think fit
to say that if you will voluntarily enter upon
and perform the appropriate duties of such posi-
tion, I will recommend that Congress make com-
pensation therefor at the same rate as chaplains
in the army are compensated.
The following are the names and dates, re-
spectively, of the persons and times to whom
and when such letters were delivered :
Rev. G. G. Goss September 25, 1861.
Rev. John G. Butler September 25, 1861.
Rev. Henry Hopkins September 25, 1861.
GRANT, ULYSSES S. 19
Rev. F. M. Magrath October 30, 1861.
Rev. F. E. Boyle October 30, 1861.
Rev. John C. Smith November 7, 1861.
Rev. Wm. Y. Brown November 7, 1861.
Governors of States.
[See Stone, William M., and Washburne, Israel.]
Grant, Ulysses S.
Washington, D. C., October 8, 1862.
Major-General Grant :
I congratulate you and all concerned in your
recent battles and victories. How does it all
sum up? I especially regret the death of Gen-
eral Hackleman, and am very anxious to know
the condition of General Oglesby, who is an
intimate personal friend.
A. Lincoln.
Headquarters of the Army,
Washington, January 21, 1863.
Major-General Grant, Memphis.
General : The President has directed that so much of
Arkansas as you may desire to control be temporarily
attached to your department. This will give you control
of both banks of the river.
In your operations down the Mississippi you must not
rely too confidently upon any direct cooperation of Gen-
eral Banks and the lower flotilla, as it is possible that
they may not be able to pass or reduce Port Hudson.
They, however, will do everything in their power to
form a junction with you at Vicksburg. If they should
not be able to effect this, they will at least occupy a por-
tion of the enemy's forces, and prevent them from re-
inforcing Vicksburg. I hope, however, that they will do
still better and be able to join you.
It may be proper to give you some explanation of the
revocation of your order expelling all Jews from your
department. The President has no objection to your
expelling traitors and Jew peddlers, which I suppose,
20
LETTERS
was the object of your orders; but as it in terms pro-
scribed an entire religious class, some of whom are
fighting in our ranks, the President deemed it necessary
to revoke it.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. W. Halleck, General-in-Chief.
[Mar. 20, 1863, See Knox, Thomas.]
[Telegram.]
War Department, June 2, 1863.
Major-General Grant,
Vicksburg, via Memphis :
Are you in communication with General
Banks? Is he coming toward you or going
farther off? Is there or has there been anything
to hinder his coming directly to you by water
from Alexandria ?
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, July 13, 1863.
Major-General Grant.
My dear General : I do not remember that you
and I ever met personally. I write this now as
a grateful acknowledgment for the almost in-
estimable service you have done the country. I
wish to say a word further. When you first
reached the vicinity of Vicksburg, I thought you
should do what you finally did — march the
troops across the neck, run the batteries with the
transports, and thus go below; and I never had
any faith, except a general hope that you knew
better than I, that the Yazoo Pass expedition
and the like could succeed. When you got be-
low and took Port Gibson, Grand Gulf, and
vicinity, I thought you should go down the river
and join General Banks, and when you turned
GRANT, ULYSSES S. 21
northward, east of the Big Black, I feared it was
a mistake. I now wish to make the personal
acknowledgment that you were right and I was
wrong.
Yours very truly,
A. Lincoln.
[July 27, 1863. See Burnside, Ambrose K]
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 Mo-
bile. This would appear tempting to me also,
were it not that in view of recent events in
Mexico I am greatly impressed with the impor-
tance of reestablishing 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 about another subject. General
Thomas has gone again to the Mississippi Val-
ley, 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 ap-
plied 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.
22 LETTERS
Did you receive a short letter from me dated
the thirteenth of July?
Yours very truly,
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram.]
Washington, December 8, 1863.
Major-General Grant :
Understanding that your lodgment at Chat-
tanooga and Knoxville is now secure, I wish to
tender you, and all under your command, my
more than thanks, my profoundest gratitude, for
the skill, courage, and perseverance with which
you and they, over so great difficulties, have
effected that important object. God bless you
all!
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram.']
War Department,
Washington, December 19, 1863.
General Grant, Chattanooga, Tennessee:
The Indiana delegation in Congress, or at
least a large part of them, are very anxious that
General Milroy shall enter active service again,
and I share in this feeling. He is not a difficult
man to satisfy — sincerity and courage being his
strong traits. Believing in our cause, and want-
ing to fight for it, is the whole matter with him.
Could you, without embarrassment, assign him a
place, if directed to report to you?
A. Lincoln.
[Jan. 6, 1864; Jan. 17, 1864. See Bramlette, Thomas
E.]
GRANT, ULYSSES S. 23
[Order.]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, D. C, March 10, 1864.
Under the authority of an act of Congress to
revive the grade of lieutenant-general in the
United States Army, approved February 29,
1864, Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant,
United States Army, is assigned to the command
of the Armies of the United States.
Abraham Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, March 10, 1864.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
Army of the Potomac :
Mrs. Lincoln invites yourself and General
Meade to dine with us Saturday evening.
Please notify him, and answer whether you can
be with us at that time.
A. Lincoln.
[Private Telegram.']
Executive Mansion,
Washington, D. C., March 15, 1864.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
Nashville, Tenn. :
General McPherson having been assigned to
the command of a department, could not General
Frank Blair, without difficulty or detriment to
the service, he assigned to command the corps he
commanded a while last autumn?
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, April 30, 1864.
Lieutenant-General Grant :
Not expecting to see you again before the
24 LETTERS
spring campaign opens, I wish to express in this
way my entire satisfaction with what you have
done up to this time, so far as I understand it.
The particulars of your plans I neither know nor
seek to know. You are vigilant and self-reliant;
and, pleased with this, I wish not to obtrude any
constraints or restraints upon you. While I am
very anxious that any great disaster or capture
of our men in great numbers shall be avoided, I
know these points are less likely to escape your
attention than they would be mine. If there is
anything wanting which is within my power to
give, do not fail to let me know it. And now,
with a brave army and a just cause, may God
sustain you.
Yours very truly,
A. Lincoln.
[June 3, 1864. See Conkling, F. A.]
[Telegram,.]
Washington, June 15, 1864. 7 a. m.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
Headquarters Army of the Potomac :
I have just received your despatch of 1 p. m.
yesterday. I begin to see it : you will succeed.
God bless you all.
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram.]
Washington City, July 10, 1864. 2 p. m.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
City Point, Virginia :
Your despatch to General Halleck, referring
to what I may think in the present emergency,
GRANT, ULYSSES S. 25
is shown me. General Halleck says we have
absolutely no force here fit to go to the field.
He thinks that with the hundred-day men and
invalids we have here we can defend Washing-
ton, and, scarcely, Baltimore. Besides these there
are about 8000, not very reliable, under Howe, at
Harper's Ferry, with Hunter approaching that
point very slowly, with what number I suppose
you know better than I. Wallace, with some
odds and ends, and part of what came up with
Ricketts, was so badly beaten yesterday at
Monocacy, that what is left can attempt no more
than to defend Baltimore. What we shall get in
from Pennsylvania and New York will scarcely
be worth counting, I fear. Now, what I think
is, that you should provide to retain your hold
where you are, certainly, and bring the rest with
you personally, and make a vigorous effort to
destroy the enemy's forces in this vicinity. I
think there is really a fair chance to do this, if
the movement is prompt. This is what I think
upon your suggestion, and is not an order.
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram.']
Washington, July 11, 1864. 8 a. m.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
City Point, Virginia :
Yours of 10.30 p. m. yesterday received, and
very satisfactory. The enemy will learn of
Wright's arrival, and then the difficulty will be
to unite Wright and Hunter south of the enemy
before he will recross the Potomac. Some firing
between Rockville and here now.
A. Lincoln.
26 LETTERS
[Telegram.]
Washington, D. C.
July 12, 1864. 11.30 a. m.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
City Point, Virginia :
Vague rumors have been reaching us for two
or three days that Longstreet's corps is also on
its way [to] this vicinity. Look out for its
absence from your front.
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram.]
[Washington], July 17, 1864. 12.25 a. m.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
City Point, Virginia :
In your despatch of yesterday to General
Sherman, I find the following, to wit :
"I shall make a desperate effort to get a position here,
which will hold the enemy without the necessity of so
many men."
Pressed as we are by lapse of time I am glad
to hear you say this ; and yet I do hope you may
find a way that the effort shall not be desperate
in the sense of great loss of life.
Abraham Lincoln, President.
[Telegram.]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, July 20, 1864. 4.30 p. m.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
City Point, Virginia :
Yours of yesterday, about a call for 300,000,
is received. I suppose you had not seen the call
for 500,000, made the day before, and which, I
GRANT, ULYSSES S. 27
suppose, covers the case. Always glad to have
your suggestions.
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram.]
Washington, D. C, July 26, 1864.
Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant,
City Point, Virginia :
General Rawlins arrived this morning. The
President desires you to name, if you can, a time
when it would be convenient for you to meet
him in person at Fortress Monroe after Thurs-
day morning.
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.
[Telegram.]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, July 28, 1864.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
City Point, Virginia :
Will meet you at Fort Monroe, at 8 p. m., on
Saturday, the 30th, unless you shall notify me
that it will be inconvenient to you.
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram.]
Washington, July 29, 1864.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
City Point, Virginia :
I have changed my purpose, so that now I ex-
pect to reach Fort Monroe at 10 a. m., Sunday
the 31st.
A. Lincoln.
/ /«/ VERS
I / 1 Ugram ( iphei \
W.r Inn:-!. .11, I I I , Anvil I ',, [864.
1 .1. -111. n. mi I ri i" 1 al 1 .1 ant,
< it y Point , \ 11 vim 1
1 ii.i « ■< 1 11 -/"in di spat) ii in which you say,
"l w.ini ' ih< 1 idan pul in < ommand oi .ill the
1 roopi in \\\< field, with insl i m I ioni i ( » i*" 1 I
.11 south "i the 1 ii« in and follow him i<> the
>i« ath When • < i th m\ got li I oui I roops
go also 1 in 1 thinl ii < acth i ighl as to
how oui forci hould move , i x it please look
ovei th< dei pati hi ou may ha^ i reci ived from
heri evei ini i you made thai order, and dii
cover, ii you 1 an, thai thei < i am id< a in the
hi ad "i any one hi r< oi "putl ing oui ai my south
-.1 Mi. em my," "i "i following him to the
".1. .iiii in .in .in. < linn 1 repeal i«> you, it
w ill 11. 1 1 ii> 1 be -i" -I attempted, unless you
w.ii. h ii evei v day and houi , and fon e ii
\. Lincoln.
I / 't-lryitilll. I
Washington, I » <
. \ 1 1 : ' 1 r . I I |, i.".«. 1 1 30 p I"
I i.iih 11. ml < ,< 11. 1 al < â– ' .ml ,
City 1 '"mi \ 11 vim. 1
id. Secretary oi w r ai and I i oni ui thai you
had bettei c< mfei w ith < renei al Lei and i Ipulate
ioi .1 mutual disi ontinuani e oi houi i bui mng
.im.i ..ii.. 1 desti mi tion oi pi h ati property I he
time and mannei <>i confen m e and pai ticulai s
< >i tipulal ion w e iea> e, on i »ui part, to j oui
convenienc( and (udgmenl
A. I Mil dill.
GRANT, ULYSSES S. 29
[Telegram.]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, August 17, 1864. 10.30 a. m.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
City Point, Virginia :
I have seen your despatch expressing your un-
willingness to break your hold where you are.
Neither am I willing. Hold on with a bulldog
grip, and chew and choke as much as possible.
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram.]
Washington City, August 28, 1864.
Lieutenant-General Grant :
There appears to be doubt whether the report
of Fort Morgan being in our possession is in the
Richmond papers. Did you see the Richmond
paper containing the statement ?
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, September 12, 1864.
Lieutenant-General Grant :
Sheridan and Early are facing each other at a
dead-lock. Could we not pick up a regiment
here and there, to the number of say ten thou-
sand men, and quietly but suddenly concentrate
them at Sheridan's camp and enable him to make
a strike?
This is but a suggestion.
Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, September 22, 1864.
Lieutenant-General Grant :
I send this as an explanation to you, and to do
â– ,"
LETTERS
justice i" iii«- Secretary of War. I was induced,
ii|kjii pressing application, to authorize the
agents oi one of the disl ricts of I 'ennsylvania to
i < < 1 1 1 1 1 in one of the prison depots in [llinois;
and the thing wenl bo fai before il < ame to the
knowledge oi the Secretary that, in my judg
ment, ii could nol l><- abandoned without greater
evil than would follow its going through. I did
not I. now al the time thai you had protested
againsl thai « lass oi thing being done ; and I now
say thai while this pai ti< ular job musl I"- < om
pleted, no other of the soi I will be authoi ized,
without .in understanding with you, ii al all,
The ! >e< retai y oJ W.u i i w holly free of any part
in this blundei .
Your, truly,
A. I incoln.
| Telegram. \
Washington, I >. ( '.,
Septembej 29, [864. eo a. m.
I ieutenanl ( reneral 1 Irant,
< it v Point, Virginia :
I hope it will have no com 1 rainl on you, nor
do harm any way, foi me to say I am a little
afraid lesl I •< e 1 .« rids 1 einf< u 1 ements to Eai ly,
and Mm', enables him to I ui n upon Sheridan.
A. Lincoln.
E â– ecutive Mansion,
Washington, ( h tober 5, [864.
1 ieutenanl ( reneral ( Irani 1
1 1 ii< li >se you .1 copy of a correspondence in
regard to a contemplated exchange of naval
pi tsonei s i In « >ugh youi hue , and nol vei y dis
tanl from yow headquarters, it onl) came to
GRANT, ULYSSES S. 31
the knowledge of the War Department and of
myself yesterday, and it gives us some uneasi-
ness. I therefore send it to you with the state-
ment that, as the numbers to be exchanged under
it are small, and so much has already been done
to effect the exchange, I hope you may find it
consistent to let it go forward under the general
supervision of General Butler, and particularly
in reference to the points he holds vital in ex-
changes. Still, you are at liberty to arrest the
whole operation if in your judgment the public
good requires it. Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram.]
Washington, D. C, October 12, 1864.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
City Point, Virginia:
Secretary of War not being in, I answer yours
about election. Pennsylvania very close, and
still in doubt on home vote. Ohio largely for
us, with all the members of Congress but two or
three. Indiana largely for us, — governor, it is
said, by 15,000, and eight of the eleven members
of Congress. Send us what you may know of
your army vote.
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram.]
Washington, D. C,
December 28, 1864. 5.30 p. m.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
City Point, Virginia :
If there be no objection, please tell me what
you now understand of the Wilmington expedi-
tion, present and prospective.
A. Lincoln.
32 LETTERS
[Telegram.]
Washington, D. C, January 14, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
City Point, Virginia :
You have perhaps seen in the papers that ex-
Senator Foote, with his family, attempted to es-
cape from Richmond to Washington, and that he
was pursued and taken back. His wife and
child are now here. Please give me the earliest
information you may receive concerning him,
what is likely to be done with him, etc.
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 19, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant :
Please read and answer this letter as though
I was not President, but only a friend. My son,
now in his twenty-second year, having graduated
at Harvard, wishes to see something of the war
before it ends. I do not wish to put him in the
ranks, nor yet to give him a commission, to which
those who have already served long are better
entitled and better qualified to hold. Could he,
without embarrassment to you or detriment to
the service, go into your military family with
some nominal rank, I, and not the public, fur-
nishing his necessary means? If no, say so with-
out the least hesitation, because I am as anxious
and as deeply interested that you shall not be
encumbered as you can be yourself.
Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.
GRANT, ULYSSES S.
33
[Telegram.]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, January 31, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
City Point, Virginia :
A messenger is coining to you on the business
contained in your despatch. Detain the gentle-
men in comfortable quarters until he arrives, and
then act upon the message he brings, as far as
applicable, it having been made up to pass
through General Ord's hands, and when the
gentlemen were supposed to be beyond our lines.
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram.]
Washington, February 1, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
City Point:
Let nothing which is transpiring change, hin-
der, or delay your military movements or plans.
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, about February 1, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant :
Some time ago you telegraphed that you had
stopped a Mr. Laws from passing our lines with
a boat and cargo; and I directed you to be in-
formed that you must be allowed to do as you
please in such matters. To-night Mr. Laws
calls on me, and I have told him, and now tell
you, that the matter as to his passing the lines is
under your control absolutely; and that he can
have any relaxation you choose to give him and
none other. Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.
34 LETTERS
[Telegram.]
Washington, D. C, February 2, 1865.
Lieutenant General Grant,
City Point, Virginia :
' iy to the gentlemen I will meet them person-
ally at Fortress Monroe as soon as I can get
there.
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 7, 1865.
Lieutenant-General ( rranl ,
( "\\y Point, Virginia :
General Singleton, who hens you this, claims
that he already has arrangements made, if you
consent, to bring a large amount of Southern
produce through your lines. For its bearing on
our finances I would be glad for this to be done
if it can be without injuriously disturbing your
military operations, or supplying the enemy. I
wish you to be judge and mai ter on these points.
Please see and hear him fully, and d< < ide
whether anything, and if anything what, can be
done in the premil 1
Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.
j 7 elegram, \
Washington, D. C, March 2, 1805.
1 .iruii ii.iui ( General ( irant,
( iiy Point, Virginia:
You have not sent content! "I Richmond
papers h>i '! uesday or Wednesday. Did you not
receive them? li not, «l<« )i indicate anything?
A. Liurolu.
GRANT, ULYSSES S. 35
[Telegram.]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, February 8, 1865.
Lieutenant-General Grant,
City Point, Virginia:
I am called on by the House of Representatives
to give an account of my interview with Messrs.