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Fredericksburg。 We are sending such regiments and dribs from here
and Baltimore as we can spare to Harper's Ferry； supplying their
places in some sort by calling in militia from the adjacent States。
We also have eighteen cannon on the road to Harper's Ferry； of which
arm there is not a single one yet at that point。 This is now our
situation。
If McDowell's force was now beyond our reach； we should be utterly
helpless。 Apprehension of something like this； and no unwillingness
to sustain you； has always been my reason for withholding McDowell's
force from you。 Please understand this； and do the best you can with
the force you have。
A。 LINCOLN。
HISTORY OF CONSPIRACY OF REBELLION
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS。
MAY 16； 1862
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES：
The insurrection which is yet existing in the United States and aims
at the overthrow of the Federal Constitution and the Union； was
clandestinely prepared during the Winter of 1860 and 1861； and
assumed an open organization in the form of a treasonable provisional
government at Montgomery； in Alabama on the 18th day of February；
1861。 On the 12th day of April； 1861； the insurgents committed the
flagrant act of civil war by the bombardment and the capture of Fort
Sumter； Which cut off the hope of immediate conciliation。
Immediately afterward all the roads and avenues to this city were
obstructed； and the capital was put into the condition of a siege。
The mails in every direction were stopped and the lines of telegraph
cut off by the insurgents； and military and naval forces which had
been called out by the government for the defense of Washington were
prevented from reaching the city by organized and combined
treasonable resistance in the State of Maryland。 There was no
adequate and effective organization for the public defense。 Congress
had indefinitely adjourned。 There was no time to convene them。 It
became necessary for me to choose whether； using only the existing
means； agencies； and processes which Congress had provided； I should
let the government fall at once into ruin or whether； availing myself
of the broader powers conferred by the Constitution in cases of
insurrection； I would make an effort to save it； with all its
blessings； for the present age and for posterity。
I thereupon summoned my constitutional advisers； the heads of all the
departments； to meet on Sunday； the 20th day of April； 1861； at the
office of the Navy Department； and then and there； with their
unanimous concurrence； I directed that an armed revenue cutter should
proceed to sea to afford protection to the commercial marine； and
especially the California treasure ships then on their way to this
coast。 I also directed the commandant of the navy…yard at Boston to
purchase or charter and arm as quickly as possible five steamships
for purposes of public defense。 I directed the commandant of the
navy…yard at Philadelphia to purchase or charter and arm an equal
number for the same purpose。 I directed the commandant at New York
to purchase or charter and arm an equal number。 I directed Commander
Gillis to purchase or charter and arm and put to sea two other
vessels。 Similar directions were given to Commodore Dupont； with a
view to the opening of passages by water to and from the capital。 I
directed the several officers to take the advice and obtain the aid
and efficient services； in the matter； of his Excellency Edwin D。
Morgan； the Governor of New York； or in his absence George D。 Morgan；
William M。 Evarts； R。 M。 Blatchford； and Moses H。 Grinnell； who were
by my directions especially empowered by the Secretary of the Navy to
act for his department in that crisis in matters pertaining to the
forwarding of troops and supplies for the public defense。
The several departments of the government at that time contained so
large a number of disloyal persons that it would have been impossible
to provide safely through official agents only for the performance of
the duties thus confided to citizens favorably known for their
ability； loyalty； and patriotism。
The several orders issued upon these occurrences were transmitted by
private messengers； who pursued a circuitous way to the seaboard
cities； inland across the States of Pennsylvania and Ohio and the
northern lakes。 I believe by these and other similar measures taken
in that crisis； some of which were without any authority of law； the
government was saved from overthrow。 I am not aware that a dollar of
the public funds thus confided without authority of law to unofficial
persons was either lost or wasted； although apprehensions of such
misdirection occurred to me as objections to those extraordinary
proceedings； and were necessarily overruled。
I recall these transactions now because my attention has been
directed to a resolution which was passed by the House of
Representatives on the 30th day of last month； which is in these
words：
〃Resolved； That Simon Cameron； late Secretary of War by investing
Alexander Cummings with the control of large sums of the public money
and authority to purchase military supplies without restriction；
without requiring from him any guaranty for the faithful performance
of his duties； when the services of competent public officers were
available； and by involving the government in a vast number of
contracts with persons not legitimately engaged in the business
pertaining to the subject…matter of such contracts； especially in the
purchase of arms for future delivery； has adopted a policy highly
injurious to the public service； and deserves the censure of the
House。〃
Congress will see that I should be wanting equally in candor and in
justice if I should leave the censure expressed in this resolution to
rest exclusively or chiefly upon Mr。 Cameron。 The same sentiment is
unanimously entertained by the heads of department who participated
in the proceedings which the House of Representatives have censured。
It is due to Mr。 Cameron to say that although he fully approved the
proceedings they were not moved nor suggested by himself； and that
not only the President； but all the other heads of departments； were
at least equally responsible with him for whatever error； wrong； or
fault was committed in the premises。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。
WASHINGTON； May 26； 1862。 12。40
MAJOR…GENERAL McCLELLAN：
We have General Banks's official report。 He has saved his army and
baggage； and has made a safe retreat to the river； and is probably
safe at Williamsport。 He reports the attacking force at 15；000。
A。 LINCOLN； President。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I。 McDOWELL。
WAR DEPARTMENT； May 26； 1862。 1 P。M。
MAJOR…GENERAL McDOWELL； Falmouth； Virginia：
Despatches from Geary just received have been sent you。 Should not
the remainder of your forces； except sufficient to hold the point at
Fredericksburg； move this wayto Manassas Junction or Alexandria？
As commander of this department； should you not be here？ I ask these
questions。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL McCLELLAN。
WASHINGTON； May 26； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL GEORGE B。 McCLELLAN：
Can you not cut the Alula Creek railroad？ Also； what impression have
you as to intrenched works for you to contend with in front of
Richmond？ Can you get near enough to throw shells into the city？
A。 LINCOLN； President。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J。 C。 FREMONT。
May 27。1862。 9。58 P。M。
MAJOR…GENERAL FREMONT：
I see that you are at Moorefield。 You were expressly ordered to
march to Harrisonburg。 What does this mean？
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM FROM SECRETARY STANTON
TO GOVERNOR ANDREW。
WASHINGTON； May 27； 1862。
GOVERNOR ANDREW； Boston：
The President directs that the militia be relieved； and the
enlistments made for three years； or during the war。 This； I think；
will practically not be longer than for a year。 The latest
intelligence from General Banks states that he has saved nearly his
whole command with small loss。
Concentrations of our force have been made； which it is hoped will
capture the enemy。
EDWIN M。 STANTON； Secretary of War。
TELEGRAM FROM SECRETARY STANTON
TO GENERAL J。 C。 FREMONT；
WASHINGTON； May 28； 1862
MAJOR…GENERAL FREMONT； Moorefield
The President directs you to halt at Moorefield and await orders；
unless you hear of the enemy being in the general direction of
Rodney； in which case you will move upon him。 Acknowledge the
receipt of this order； and the hour it is received。
EDWIN M。 STANTON； Secretary of War。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL I。 McDOWELL。
WASHINGTON； May 28； 1862。
GENERAL McDOWELL； Manassas Junction：
General McClellan at 6。30 P。M。 yesterday telegraphed that Fi
