Potomac; the Army of Western Virginia; the army near Munfordville, Kentucky; the army and flotilla at Cairo, and a naval force in the Gulf of Mexico, be ready to move on that day.

That all other forces, both land and naval, with their respective commanders, obey existing orders for the time, and be ready to obey additional orders when duly given.

That the heads of departments, and especially the Secretaries of War and of the Navy, with all their subordinates, and the general-in-chief, with all other commanders and subordinates of land and naval forces, will severally be held to their strict and full responsibilities for prompt execution of this order.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

LETTER TO SECRETARY STANTON

EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 31, 1862.

My dear Sir: It is my wish that the expedition commonly called the "Lane Expedition" shall be, as much as has been promised at the adjutant-general's office, under the supervision of General McClellan, and not any more. I have not intended, and do not now intend, that it shall be a great, exhausting affair, but a snug, sober column of 10,000 or 15,000. General Lane has been told by me many times that he is under the command of General Hunter, and

assented to it as often as told. It was the distinct agreement between him and me, when I appointed him, that he was to be under Hunter Yours truly,

A. LINCOLN.

PRESIDENT'S SPECIAL WAR ORDER No. 1.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 31, 1862.

Ordered, That all the disposable force of the Army of the Potomac, after providing safely for the defense of Washington, be formed into an expedition for the immediate object of seizing and occupying a point upon the railroad southwestward of what is known as Manassas Junction, all details to be in the discretion of the commander-in-chief, and the expedition to move before or on the 22d day of February

next.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

MESSAGE TO CONGRESS, January 31, 1862

EXECUTIVE MANSION, January 31, 1862.

To the Senate and House of Representatives: As a sequel to the correspondence on the subject previously communicated, I transmit to Congress extracts from a despatch of the 20th ultimo from Mr. Adams, United States minister at London, to the Secretary of State, and a copy of an instruction from Earl Russell to Lord

Lyons, of the 10th instant, relative to the removal of certain citizens of the United States from the British mail-steamer Trent by order of the commander of the United States warsteamer San Jacinto.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

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

M

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