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slowly than ever。 This； looked soberly in the face； is not very
satisfactory。 We have fewer troops in the field at the end of the
six days than we had at the beginningthe attrition among the old
outnumbering the addition by the new。 The North responds to the
proclamation sufficiently in breath； but breath alone kills no
rebels。
I wish I could write more cheerfully； nor do I thank you the less for
the kindness of your letter。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL HALLECK。
McCLELLAN'S HEADQUARTERS； October 3； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL HALLECK：
General Stuart； of the rebel army； has sent in a few of our prisoners
under a flag of truce； paroled with terms to prevent their fighting
the Indians； and evidently seeking to commit us to their right to
parole prisoners in that way。 My inclination is to send the
prisoners back with a definite notice that we will recognize no
paroles given to our prisoners by the rebels as extending beyond a
prohibition against fighting them； though I wish your opinion upon
it； based both upon the general law and our cartel。 I wish to avoid
violations of the law and bad faith。 Answer as quickly as possible；
as the thing； if done at all； should be done at once。
A。 LINCOLN； President
REMARKS TO THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC AT
FREDERICK； MARYLAND； OCTOBER； 4； 1862。
I am surrounded by soldiers and a little farther off by the citizens
of this good City of Frederick。 Nevertheless I can only say； as I
did five minutes ago； it is not proper for me to make speeches in my
present position。 I return thanks to our soldiers for the good
services they have rendered； the energy they have shown； the
hardships they have endured； and the blood they have shed for this
Union of ours； and I also return thanks； not only to the soldiers；
but to the good citizens of Frederick； and to the good men； women；
and children in this land of ours； for their devotion to this
glorious cause； and I say this with no malice in my heart towards
those who have done otherwise。 May our children and children's
children； for a thousand generations； continue to enjoy the benefits
conferred upon us by a united country； and have cause yet to rejoice
under these glorious institutions； bequeathed to us by WASHINGTON and
his compeers。 Now； my friends； soldiers and citizens； I can only say
once more…farewell。
TELEGRAM FROM GENERAL HALLECK
TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。；
WASHINGTON； D。 C。； October 6； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL McCLELLAN：
I am instructed to telegraph you as follows： The President directs
that you cross the Potomac and give battle to the enemy； or drive him
south。 Your army must move now； while the roads are good。 If you
cross the river between the enemy and Washington； and cover the
latter by your operation； you can be reinforced by thirty thousand
men。 If you move up the valley of the Shenandoah； not more than
twelve or fifteen thousand can be sent you。 The President advises
the interior line between Washington and the enemy； but does not
order it。 He is very desirous that your army move as soon as
possible。 You will immediately report what line you adopt； and when
you intend to cross the river； also to what point the reinforcements
are to be sent。 It is necessary that the plan of your operations be
positively determined on； before orders are given for building
bridges and repairing railroads。 I am directed to add that the
Secretary of War and the General…in…chief fully concur with the
President in these directions。
H。 W。 HALLECK； General…in…Chief。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL McCLELLAN。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON； October 7； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL McCLELLAN； Hdqs。 Army of the Potomac：
You wish to see your family and I wish to oblige you。 It might be
left to your own discretion； certainly so； if Mrs。 M。 could meet you
here at Washington。
A。 LINCOLN。
TO T。 H。 CLAY。
WAR DEPARTMENT； October 8； 1862。
THOMAS H。 CLAY； Cincinnati； Ohio：
You cannot have reflected seriously when you ask that I shall order
General Morgan's command to Kentucky as a favor because they have
marched from Cumberland Gap。 The precedent established by it would
evidently break up the whole army。 Buell's old troops； now in
pursuit of Bragg； have done more hard marching recently； and； in
fact； if you include marching and fighting； there are scarcely any
old troops east or west of the mountains that have not done as hard
service。 I sincerely wish war was an easier and pleasanter business
than it is； but it does not admit of holidays。 On Morgan's command；
where it is now sent； as I understand； depends the question whether
the enemy will get to the Ohio River in another place。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL U。 S。 GRANT。
WASHINGTON； D。C。； October 8； 1862
MAJOR…GENERAL GRANT：
I congratulate you and all concerned in your recent battles and
victories。 How does it all sum up？ I especially regret the death of
General Hackleman； and am very anxious to know the condition of
General Oglesby； who is an intimate personal friend。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J。 T。 BOYLE。
WAR DEPARTMENT； October 11；1862。 4 P。M。
GENERAL BOYLE； Louisville； Kentucky：
Please send any news you have from General Buell to…day。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J。 T。 BOYLE。
WAR DEPARTMENT； October 12； 1862。 4。10 P。M。
GENERAL BOYLE； Louisville； Kentucky：
We are anxious to hear from General Buell's army。 We have heard
nothing since day before yesterday。 Have you anything？
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL CURTIS。
WASHINGTON； D。 C。； October 12； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL CURTIS； Saint Louis； Missouri：
Would the completion of the railroad some distance further in the
direction of Springfield； Mo。； be of any military advantage to you？
Please answer。
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； WASHINGTON；
October 13； 1862。
MY DEAR SIR …You remember my speaking to you of what I called your
over…cautiousness。 Are you not over…cautious when you assume that
you cannot do what the enemy is constantly doing？ Should you not
claim to be at least his equal in prowess； and act upon the claim？
As I understand； you telegraphed General Halleck that you cannot
subsist your army at Winchester unless the railroad from Harper's
Ferry to that point be put in working order。 But the enemy does now
subsist his army at Winchester； at a distance nearly twice as great
from railroad transportation as you would have to do； without the
railroad last named。 He now wagons from Culpepper Court…House； which
is just about twice as far as you would have to do from Harper's
Ferry。 He is certainly not more than half as well provided with
wagons as you are。 I certainly should be pleased for you to have the
advantage of the railroad from Harper's Perry to Winchester； but it
wastes an the remainder of autumn to give it to you； and； in fact；
ignores the question of time； which cannot and must not be ignored。
Again； one of the standard maxims of war； as you know； is 〃to operate
upon the enemy's communications as much as possible； without exposing
your own。〃 You seem to act as if this applies against you； but
cannot apply in your favor。 Change positions with the enemy； and
think you not he would break your communication with Richmond within
the next twenty…four hours？ You dread his going into Pennsylvania。
But if he does so in full force； he gives up his communications to
you absolutely； and you have nothing to do but to follow and ruin
him； if he does so with less than full force； fall upon and beat what
is left behind all the easier。
Exclusive of the water line； you are now nearer to Richmond than the
enemy is； by the route that you can and he must take。 Why can you
not reach there before him； unless you admit that he is more than
your equal on a march？ His route is the arc of a circle； while yours
is the chord。 The roads are as good on yours as on his。
You know I desired； but did not order； you to cross the Potomac below
instead of above the Shenandoah and Blue Ridge。 My idea was； that
this would at once menace the enemy's communications； which I would
seize if he would permit。 If he should move northward； I would
follow him closely； holding his communications。 If he should prevent
our seizing his communications； and move toward Richmond； I would
press closely to him； fight him if a favorable opportunity should
present； and at least try to beat him to Richmond on the inside
track。 I say try；〃 if we never try； we shall never succeed。 If he
makes a stand at Winchester； moving neither north or south； I would
fight him there； on the idea that if we cannot beat