To Philip H. Sheridan1Jump to section
Major General Sheridan Washington,
Winchester, Va Sep. 20. 1864.
Have just heard of your great victory. God bless you all, officers and men. Strongly inclined to come up and see you. A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, DLC (on deposit). The original manuscript of this telegram was removed from the file of presidential telegrams and presented to General Sheridan on January 20, 1877, a certified copy replacing it (DNA WR RG 107, Presidential Telegrams, I, 174). Now on deposit in the Library of Congress, the autograph telegram is owned by the Sheridan heirs. On September 19 Sheridan had telegraphed Grant: ``I have the honor to report that I attacked the forces of Genl Early over the Berryville Pike at the crossing of Opequan Creek, and after a most stubborn and sanguinary engagement . . . completely defeated him . . . driving him through Winchester, capturing about twenty five hundred (2500) prisoners---five (5) of artillery, nine (9) Army flags and most of their wounded. . . .'' (DLC-RTL).