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Gen Fremont has been ordered by Telegraph to move from Franklin on Harrisonburg to relieve Gen Banks and capture or destroy Jackson & Ewell's force.
You are instructed laying aside for the present the movement
on Richmond to put twenty thousand men (20000) in motion at once for the Shenandoah moving on the line or in advance of the line of the Manassas Gap R Road. Your object will be to capture the forces of Jackson & Ewell, either in cooperation with Gen Fremont or in case want of supplies or of transportation interferes with his movement, it is believed that the force with which you move will be sufficient to accomplish the object alone.
The information thus far received here makes it probable that if the enemy operates actively against Gen Banks you will not be able to count upon much assistance from him but may even have to release him.
Reports received this moment are that Banks is fighting with Ewell (8) Eight miles from Winchester.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
[1] LS, RPB. At 11:12 A.M., Stanton telegraphed McDowell, ``In view of the operations of the enemy on the line of General Banks the President thinks the whole force you designed to move from Fredericksburg should not be taken away, and he therefore directs that one brigade in addition to what you designed to leave at Fredericksburg should be left there; this brigade to be the least effective of your command.'' (OR, I, XII, III, 219). McDowell replied: ``Your order to leave an additional brigade at Fredericksburg has been received. Shield's ammunition has been landed and will be up this afternoon or evening. The enemy, attracted by the movement of our troops yesterday, drew in his right to the railroad. . . .'' (Ibid). In reply to Lincoln's telegram of 5 P.M. McDowell telegraphed Stanton, ``The President's order has been received and is in process of execution. This is a crushing blow to us.''(Ibid., p. 220).