The Writings of Abraham Lincoln, vol 6 | Page 8

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 him--precisely in what force we cannot tell. He is also
threatening Leesburg and Geary, on the Manassas Gap railroad, from
both north and south--in 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 for it? Will not the
enemy cut him from thence to Harper's Ferry? Have you sent anything
to meet him and assist him at Martinsburg? This is an inquiry, not an
order.
A. LINCOLN.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R. SAXTON.
WAR DEPARTMENT, May 25, 1862. 6.30 P.M.
GENERAL SAXTON, Harper's Ferry:

One good six-gun battery, complete in its men and appointments, is
now on its way to you from Baltimore. Eleven other guns, of different
sorts, are on their way to you from here. Hope they will all reach you
before morning. As you have but 2500 men at Harper's Ferry, where
are the rest which were in that vicinity and which we have sent forward?
Have any of them been cut off?
A. LINCOLN.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R. SAXTON.
WAR DEPARTMENT, May 25, 1862.
GENERAL SAXTON, Harper's Ferry:
I fear you have mistaken me. I did not mean to question the correctness
of your conduct; on the contrary! I approve what you have done. As the
2500 reported by you seemed small to me, I feared some had got to
Banks and been cut off with him. Please tell me the exact number you
now have in hand.
A. LINCOLN.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN. [Sent in cipher.]
WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON CITY, D. C., May 25,1862.
8.30 P.M.
MAJOR-GENERAL McCLELLAN:
Your despatch received. General Banks was at Strasburg, with about
6,000 men, Shields having been taken from him to swell a column for
McDowell to aid you at Richmond, and the rest of his force scattered at
various places. On the 23d a rebel force of 7000 to 10,000 fell upon one
regiment and two companies guarding the bridge at Front Royal,
destroying it entirely; crossed the Shenandoah, and on the 24th
(yesterday) pushed to get