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.
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 April 19, 2024.

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To Robert A. Maxwell1Jump to section

Robert A. Maxwell Washington, D.C.,
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.

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