sirable, and one in the farther West undesirable, had never occurred to me. You constantly speak of being placed in command of only 3,000. Now tell me, is this not mere impatience? Have you not known all the while that you are to command four or five times that many? I have been, and am sincerely your friend; and if, as such, I dare to make a suggestion, I would say you are adopting the best possible way to ruin yourself. "Act well your part, there all the honor lies." He who does something at the head of one Regiment, will eclipse him who does nothing at the head of a hundred. Your friend, as ever, A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL D. C. BUELL WASHINGTON CITY, January 1, 1862. Brigadier-General Buell, Louisville: General McClellan should not be disturbed with business. I think you better get in concert with General Halleck at once. I write you tonight. I also telegraph and write Halleck. 'A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK Major-General Halleck, St. Louis, Mo.: General McClellan should not yet be disturbed with business. I think General Buell and your self should be in communication and concert at once. I write you to-night and also telegraph and write him. A. LINCOLN. LETTER TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, January 1, 1862. My dear General Halleck: General McClellan is not dangerously ill, as I hope, but would better not be disturbed with business. I am very anxious that, in case of General Buell's moving toward Nashville, the enemy shall not be greatly reinforced, and I think there is danger he will be from Columbus. It seems to me that a real or feigned attack on Columbus from up-river at the same time would either prevent this or compensate for it by throwing Columbus into our hands. I wrote General Buell a letter similar to this, meaning that he and you shall communicate and act in concert, unless it be your judgment and his that there is no necessity for it. You and he will understand much better than I how to do it. Please do not lose time in this matter. Yours very truly, A. LINCOLN. NOTE TO SECRETARY CHASE, January 2, 1862 I have just been with General McClellan; and he is very much better. A. LINCOLN. MESSAGE TO CONGRESS, January 2, 1862 To the Senate and House of Representatives: I transmit to Congress a copy of a letter to the Secretary of State from James R. Partridge, secretary to the executive committee of the industrial exhibition to be held in London in the course of the present year, and a copy of the correspondence to which it refers relative to a vessel for the purpose of taking such articles as persons in this country may wish to exhibit on that occasion. As it appears that no naval vessel can be spared for the purpose, I recommend that authority be given to charter a suitable merchant vessel, in order that facilities similar to those afforded by the government for the exhibition of 1851 may also be extended to those citizens of the United States who may desire to contribute to the exhibition of this year. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL D. C. BUELL General Buell: WASHINGTON, January 4, 1862. Have arms gone forward for East Tennessee? Please tell me the progress and condition of the movement in that direction. Answer. A. LINCOLN. LETTER TO GENERAL D. C. BUELL EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 6, 1862. My dear Sir: Your despatch of yesterday has been received, and it disappoints and distresses me. I have shown it to General McClellan, who says he will write you to-day. I am not competent to criticize your views, and therefore what I offer is in justification of myself. Of the two, I would rather have a point on the railroad south of Cumberland Gap than Nashville. First, because it cuts a great artery of the enemy's communication, which Nashville does not; and secondly, because it is in the midst of loyal people who would rally around it, while Nashville is not. Again, I cannot see why the movement on East Tennessee would not be a diversion in your favor rather than a disadvantage, assuming that a movement toward Nashville is the main object. But my distress is that our friends in East Tennessee are being hanged and driven to despair, and even now, I fear, are thinking of taking rebel arms for the sake of personal protection. In this we lose the most valuable stake we have in the South. My despatch, to which yours is an answer, was sent with the knowledge of Senator Johnson and Representative Maynard of East Tennessee, and they will be upon me to know the answer, which I cannot safely show them. They would despair, possibly resign to go and save their families somehow, or die with them. I do not intend this to be an order in any sense, but merely, as intimated before, to show you the grounds of my anxiety. Yours very truly, A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL D. C. BUELL WASHINGTON, January 7, 1862. Brigadier-General Buell, Louisville: Please name as early a day as you safely can on or before which you can be ready to move southward in concert with Major-General Halleck. Delay is ruining us, and it is indispensable for me to have something definite. I send a like despatch to Major-General Halleck. A. LINCOLN. INDORSEMENT ABOUT ALLOTMENT COMMISSIONERS FOR IOWA, January 9, 1862 It would afford me great pleasure to oblige Mr. Vandever in the within matter, if I knew it would not be disagreeable to the other Iowa members. Will he please procure their names with his own and send them to me? A. LINCOLN. |