TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. C. FRÉMONT WASHINGTON, May 30, 1862. 11.30 A. M. Major General Frémont, Moorefield, Virginia: Yours of this morning from Moorefield just received. There cannot be more than 20,000, probably not more than 15,000, of the enemy at or about Winchester. Where is your force? It ought this minute to be near Strasburg. Answer at once. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I. MCDOWELL WASHINGTON, May 30, 1862. 12.40. Major-General McDowell, Rectortown: Your despatch of to-day received and is satisfactory. Frémont has nominally 22,000, really about 17,000. Blenker's division is part of it. I have a despatch from Frémont 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 evacuated and occupied by us. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. C. FRÉMONT Major-General Frémont, Moorefield, Virginia: Yours, saying you will reach Strasburg or vicinity at 5 p. m. Saturday, has been received and sent to General McDowell, and he directed to act in view of it. You must be up to time promised, if possible. you Corinth was evacuated last night, and is occupied by our troops to-day; the enemy gone south to Okolona, on the railroad to Mobile. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I. MCDOWELL WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D. C., I Major-General McDowell: Herewith send a telegram just received from General Fré mont. 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 Frémont to come to time as fixed by himself, and you will act your discretion, taking this information into your calculation. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I. MCDOWELL WAR DEPARTMENT, May 30, 1862. 9:30 P. M. Major-General McDowell, Rectortown, Va.: I send you a despatch just received from Saxton 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 intention of drawing us on. I shall act on the defensive, as my position is a strong one. In a skir mish 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 Frémont. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. A. MCCALL WASHINGTON, May 31, 1862. 3.35. Brigadier-General McCall, Fredericksburg: Are you about to withdraw from Fredericksburg; and if so, why, and by whose orders? A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. MCCLELLAN WASHINGTON, May 31, 1862. 10.20 P. M. Major-General McClellan: A CIRCLE whose circumference shall pass through Harper's Ferry, Front Royal, and Strasburg, and whose center shall be a little northeast of Winchester, almost certainly has within it this morning the forces of Jackson, Ewell, and Edward Johnson. Quite certainly they were within it two days ago. Some part of their forces attacked Harper's Ferry at dark last evening, and are still in sight this morning. Shields, with McDowell's advance, retook Front Royal at 11 a. m. yesterday, with a dozen of our own prisoners taken there a week ago, 150 of the enemy, two locomotives, and eleven cars, some other property and stores, and saved the bridge. General Frémont, from the direction of Moorefield, promises to be at or near Strasburg at 5 p. m. to-day. General Banks at Williamsport, with his old force and his new force at Harper's Ferry, is directed to coöperate. Shields at Front Royal reports a rumor of still an additional force of the enemy, supposed to be An derson's, having entered the valley of Virginia. This last may or may not be true. Corinth is certainly in the hands of General Halleck. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM FROM SECRETARY STANTON ΤΟ GENERAL G. A. MCCALL WASHINGTON, May 31, 1862. General McCall: The President directs me to say to you that there can be nothing to justify a panic at Fredericksburg. He expects you to maintain your position there as becomes a soldier and a general. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. MCCLELLAN WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., June 1, 1862. 9.30. Major-General McClellan: You are probably engaged with the enemy. I suppose he made the attack. Stand well on your guard, hold all your ground, or yield any only inch by inch and in good order. This morning we merge General Wool's department into yours, giving you command of the whole, and sending General Dix to Fort Monroe and General Wool to Fort McHenry. We also send General Sigel to report to you for duty. A. LINCOLN. |