LETTER TO GENERAL G. B. MCCLELLAN 1
EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 3, 1862.

Μ'

Y DEAR SIR: You and I have distinct and different plans for a movement of the Army of the Potomacyours to be down the Chesapeake, up the Rappahannock to Urbana, and across land to the terminus of the railroad on the York River; mine to move directly to a point on the railroad southwest of Manassas.

If you will give me satisfactory answers to the following questions, I shall gladly yield my plan to yours.

First. Does not your plan involve a greatly larger expenditure of time and money than mine?

Second. Wherein is a victory more certain by your plan than mine?

Third. Wherein is a victory more valuable by your plan than mine?

Fourth. In fact, would it not be less valuable in this, that it would break no great line of

'The plan of campaign as given here has been highly praised by military critics. McClellan would not agree to this plan and Lincoln let him have his own way, an action which brought down bitter criticism upon him.

the enemy's communications, while mine would?

Fifth. In case of disaster, would not a retreat be more difficult by your plan than mine? Yours truly,

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Memorandum accompanying Letter of President Lincoln to General McClellan, dated February 3, 1862

First. Suppose the enemy should attack us in force before we reach the Occoquan, what?

Second. Suppose the enemy in force shall dispute the crossing of the Occoquan, what? In view of this, might it not be safest for us to cross the Occoquan at Colchester, rather than at the village of Occoquan? This would cost the enemy two miles more of travel to meet us but would, on the contrary, leave us two miles farther from our ultimate destination.

Third. Suppose we reach Maple Valley without an attack, will we not be attacked there in force by the enemy marching by the several roads from Manassas; and if so, what?

LETTER TO WILLIAM H. HERNDON

EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 3, 1862.

Dear William: Yours of January 30th just received. Do just as you say about the money

matter. As you well know, I have not time to write a letter of respectable length. God bless you, says

Your friend,

A. LINCOLN.

LETTER TO L. W. POWELL

EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 4, 1862.

My dear Sir: I herewith return the letters and printed paper submitted by you in behalf of Mr. Samuel B. Churchill. While I would be glad to oblige you, I cannot now interfere with the case. Yours truly,

A. LINCOLN.

RESPITE FOR NATHANIEL GORDON,
February 4, 1862

ABRAHAM LINCOLN,

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting:

Whereas it appears that at a term of the Circuit Court of the United States of America for the southern district of New York, held in the month of November, A. D. 1861, Nathaniel Gordon was indicted and convicted for being engaged in the slave-trade, and was by the said court sentenced to be put to death by hanging

by the neck on Friday the 7th day of February, A. D. 1862;

And whereas a large number of respectable citizens have earnestly besought me to commute the said sentence of the said Nathaniel Gordon to a term of imprisonment for life, which application I have felt it to be my duty to refuse;

And whereas it has seemed to me probable that the unsuccessful application made for the commutation of his sentence may have prevented the said Nathaniel Gordon from making the necessary preparation for the awful change which awaits him:

Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States of America, have granted and do hereby grant unto him, the said Nathaniel Gordon, a respite of the above-recited sentence until Friday, the 21st day of February, A. D. 1862, between the hours of twelve o'clock at noon and three o'clock in the afternoon of the said day, when the said sentence shall be executed.

In granting this respite it becomes my painful duty to admonish the prisoner that, relinquishing all expectation of pardon by human authority, he refer himself alone to the mercy of the common God and Father of all men.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed

my name and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

[L. S.]

Done at the city of Washington, this 4th day of February, A. D. 1862, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-sixth.

By the President:

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

W. H. SEWARD,
Secretary of State.

MESSAGE TO CONGRESS, February 4, 1862

To the Senate and House of Representatives: The third section of the "Act further to promote the efficiency of the navy," approved December 21, 1861, provides:

That the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall have the authority to detail from the retired list of the navy, for the command of squadrons and single ships, such officers as he may believe that the good of the service requires to be thus placed in command; and such officers may, if upon the recommendation of the President of the United States they shall receive a vote of thanks of Congress for their services and gallantry in action against an enemy, be restored to the active list, and not otherwise.

In conformity with this law, Captain Samuel F. Du Pont, of the navy, was nominated to the Senate for continuance as the flag-officer in com