Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862].

About this Item

Title: Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862].
Author: Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.
Publication: New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press; 1953.
Rights/Permissions: The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes, with permission from their copyright holder. If you decide to use any of these materials, you are responsible for making your own legal assessment and securing any necessary permission.
Link to this Item: http://name.umdl.umich.edu/lincoln5
Cite this Item: "Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862]." In the digital collection Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/lincoln5. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 3, 2024.

Pages

Page 467

To William A. Hammond1Jump to section

Surgeon General. Executive Mansion,
Sir. Washington, Oct. 18. 1862.

A Baltimore Committee call on me this morning saying that City is full of straggling soldiers half sick, half well, who profess to have been turned from the hospitals with no definite directions where to go. Is this true? Are men turned from the hospitals without knowing where to go. Yours truly A. LINCOLN

Annotation

[1] ALS, DLC-RTL. Hammond replied on the same day:

``I am sure there is no blame to be attached to the Military Authorities in Baltimore. I have however referred your communication to Surg Simpson the Medical Director for report.

``The orders of this Bureau are that all soldiers fit for duty shall be turned over to the Military Authorities and I have heard of no instances in which this has not been done.

``The fault lies probably with the men themselves who neglected to obey their orders.'' (DLC-RTL).

On October 22, 1862, Lincoln's letter was ``Respectfully returned, with the accompanying Report'' by Surgeon Josiah Simpson: ``In reply, I would state that the allegation made by the Committee of Baltimore Citizens is entirely without foundation. . . .'' (DLC-RTL).

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