To Robert A. Maxwell1Jump to section
Philadelphia, Pa. Nov. 17. 1862.
Your despatch of to-day received. I do not at all understand it.
A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB. Robert A. Maxwell's despatch of November 17 has not been found, but Anson Stager of the Military Telegraph wrote an undated note which seems to refer to it: ``I translate Maxwell's message as follows---`The Richmond campaign with General Franklin remaining is a foregone disaster. Persevere in the sanctification of your material aims.''' (DLC-RTL). Maxwell answered Lincoln's telegram the next day, ``Your telegraph is answered by our mail of this evening.'' (Ibid.). The letter has not been found. Maxwell was a resident of Philadelphia, several of whose somewhat incoherent letters are in the Lincoln Papers.