the writings-6-第3章
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putting General Banks in some peril。
The enemy's forces under General Anderson now opposing General
McDowell's advance have as their line of supply and retreat the road
to Richmond。
If; in conjunction with McDowell's movement against Anderson; you
could send a force from your right to cut off the enemy's supplies
from Richmond; preserve the railroad bridges across the two forks of
the Pamunkey; and intercept the enemy's retreat; you will prevent the
army now opposed to you from receiving an accession of numbers of
nearly 15;000 men; and if you succeed in saving the bridges you will
secure a line of railroad for supplies in addition to the one you now
have。 Can you not do this almost as well as not while you are
building the Chickahominy bridges? McDowell and Shields both say
they can; and positively will; move Monday morning。 I wish you to
move cautiously and safely。
You will have command of McDowell; after he joins you; precisely as
you indicated in your long despatch to us of the 21st。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL RUFUS SAXTON。
WAR DEPARTMENT; May; 24 1862。 2 P。M。
GENERAL SAXTON:
Geary reports Jackson with 20;000 moving from Ashby's Gap by the
Little River turnpike; through Aldie; toward Centreville。 This he
says is reliable。 He is also informed of large forces south of him。
We know a force of some 15;000 broke up Saturday night from in front
of Fredericksburg and went we know not where。 Please inform us; if
possible; what has become of the force which pursued Banks yesterday;
also any other information you have。
A。 LINCOLN
TELEGRAM TO COLONEL D。 S。 MILES。
WAR DEPARTMENT; May 24; 1862。 1。30 P。M。
COLONEL MILES; Harper's Ferry; Virginia
Could you not send scouts from Winchester who would tell whether
enemy are north of Banks; moving on Winchester? What is the latest
you have?
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J。 C。 FREMONT。
WAR DEPARTMENT; May 24; 1862。 4 P。M。
MAJOR…GENERAL FREMONT; Franklin:
You are authorized to purchase the 400 horses; or take them wherever
or however you can get them。 The exposed condition of General Banks
makes his immediate relief a point of paramount importance。 You are
therefore directed by the President to move against Jackson at
Harrisonburg and operate against the enemy in such way as to relieve
Banks。 This movement must be made immediately。 You will acknowledge
the receipt of this order; and specify the hour it is received by
you。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J。 C。 FREMONT。
WAR DEPARTMENT; May 24; 1862。 7。15 P。M。
MAJOR…GENERAL FREMONT; Franklin; Virginia:
Many thanks for the promptness with which you have answered that you
will execute the order。 Muchperhaps alldepends upon the celerity
with which you can execute it。 Put the utmost speed into it。 Do not
lose a minute。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL H。 W。 HALLECK。
WAR DEPARTMENT; May 24; 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL HALLECK; near Corinth; Mississippi:
Several despatches from Assistant Secretary Scott and one from
Governor Morton asking reinforcements for you have been received。 I
beg you to be assured we do the best we can。 I mean to cast no blame
where I tell you each of our commanders along our line from Richmond
to Corinth supposes himself to be confronted by numbers superior to
his own。 Under this pressure We thinned the line on the upper
Potomac; until yesterday it was broken with heavy loss to us; and
General Banks put in great peril; out of which he is not yet
extricated; and may be actually captured。 We need men to repair this
breach; and have them not at hand。 My dear General; I feel justified
to rely very much on you。 I believe you and the brave officers and
men with you can and will get the victory at Corinth。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I。 McDOWELL
WAR DEPARTMENT; May 24; 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL McDOWELL; Fredricksburg:
General Fremont has been ordered by telegraph to move from Franklin
on Harrisonburg to relieve General Banks; and capture or destroy
Jackson's and Ewell's forces。 You are instructed; laying aside for
the present the movement on Richmond; to put 20;000 men in motion at
once for the Shenandoah; moving on the line or in advance of the line
of the Manassas Gap railroad。 Your object will be to capture the
forces of Jackson and Ewell; either in co…operation with General
Fremont; or; in case want of supplies or of transportation;
interferes with his movements; it is believed that the force which
you move will be sufficient to accomplish this object alone。 The
information thus far received here makes it probable that if the
enemy operate actively against General Banks; you will not be able to
count upon much assistance from him; but may even have to release
him。 Reports received this moment are that Banks is fighting with
Ewell eight miles from Winchester。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL McDOWELL。
WAR DEPARTMENT; WASHINGTON CITY; D。C。; May 24; 1862
MAJOR…GENERAL I。 McDOWELL:
I am highly gratified by your alacrity in obeying my order。 The
change was as painful to me as it can possibly be to you or to any
one。 Everything now depends upon the celerity and vigor of your
movement。
A。 LINCOLN
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J。 W。 GEARY。
WAR DEPARTMENT; May 25; 1862 1。45 P。M。
GENERAL GEARY; White Plains:
Please give us your best present impression as to the number of the
enemy's forces north of Strasburg and Front Royal。 Are the forces
still moving north through the gap at Front Royal and between you and
there?
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。
WASHINGTON; May 25; 1862。 2 P。M。
MAJOR…GENERAL McCLELLAN:
The enemy is moving north in sufficient force to drive General Banks
before himprecisely in what force we cannot tell。 He is also
threatening Leesburg and Geary; on the Manassas Gap railroad; from
both north and southin precisely what force we cannot tell。 I
think the movement is a general and concerted one; such as would not
be if he was acting upon the purpose of a very desperate defense of
Richmond。 I think the time is near when you must either attack
Richmond or give up the job and come to the defense of Washington。
Let me hear from you instantly。
A。 LINCOLN; President。
ORDER TAKING MILITARY POSSESSION OF RAILROADS。
WAR DEPARTMENT; May 25; 1862。
Ordered: By virtue of the authority vested by act of Congress; the
President takes military possession of all the railroads in the
United States from and after this date until further order; and
directs that the respective railroad companies; their officers and
servants; shall hold themselves in readiness for the transportation
of such troops and munitions of war as may be ordered by the military
authorities; to the exclusion of all other business。
By order of the Secretary of War。
M。 C。 MEIGS
TELEGRAM TO SECRETARY CHASE。
WAR DEPARTMENT; May 25; 1862。
SECRETARY CHASE; Fredericksburg; Virginia:
It now appears that Banks got safely into Winchester last night; and
is this morning retreating on Harper's Ferry。 This justifies the
inference that he is pressed by numbers superior to his own。 I think
it not improbable that Ewell; Jackson; and Johnson are pouring
through the gap they made day before yesterday at Front Royal; making
a dash northward。 It will be a very valuable and very honorable
service for General McDowell to cut them off。 I hope he will put all
possible energy and speed into the effort。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R。 SAXTON。
WAR DEPARTMENT; May 25; 1862。
GENERAL SAXTON; Harper's Ferry:
If Banks reaches Martinsburg; is he any the better fo