To Irvin McDowell1Jump to section
Falmouth, Va. May 26, 1862 1. P.M.
Despatchs from Geary, just received, have been sent you.2Jump to section Should not the remainder of your force except sufficient to hold the point at Frederick'sburg, move this way---to Manassas junction, or to Alexandria? As commander of this Department should you not be here? I ask these questions. A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB. General Geary telegraphed Stanton from White Plains at 12:10 P.M. that Stonewall Jackson was advancing with a large force through Middleburg, and again from Broad Run at 12:30 which confirmed the information. McDowell replied that he thought the available forces sufficient and added, ``I have not thought my presence needed elsewhere as much as here, but since there is a sufficient doubt to cause you to ask the question I will immediately leave here to go to Washington and will arrive early to-morrow morning, but will not move my headquarters till I have seen you. . . .'' (OR, I, XII, III, 243).
[2] This sentence was revised by Stanton from Lincoln's, ``I send you a despatch from Geary, just received.''