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

To William H. Seward1Jump to section

Hon. W. H. Seward. Washington City, D.C.
Astor-House---N.Y. June 29, 1862 6 oclock PM2Jump to section

Not much more than when you left. ``Fulton''3Jump to section of Baltimore American, is now with us. He left White House at 11. A.M. yesterday. He conversed fully with a Pay-Master who was with Porter's force during the fight of Friday and fell back to near McClellan's Quarters, just a little sooner that [sic] Porter did, seeing the whole of it; staid on the Richmond side of the Chickahominy over night and left for White House at 5. AM. Saturday. He says Porter retired in perfect order, under protection of guns, arranged for the purpose, under orders, and not from necessity, and, with all other of our forces, except what was left on purpose to go to White House, was safely in position over the Chickahominy before morning;

and that there was heavy firing on the Richmond side began at 5 and ceased at 7 AM. Saturday On the whole, I think we had the better of it up to that point of time. What has happened since we still know not, as we have no communication with Gen. McClellan. A despatch from Col. Ingalls4Jump to section shows that he thinks McClellan is fighting with the enemy at Richmond to-day, and will be tomorrow. We have no means of knowing upon what Col Ingalls' founds, his opinion. All confirmed about our saving all property. Not a single unwounded straggler came back to the White-House from the field; and the number of wounded reaching there up to 11. A.M. Saturday was not large.

A. LINCOLN

Annotation

[1]   ALS, RPB. Seward telegraphed from New York on June 29, ``Have you any later news from McClellan.'' (DLC-RTL). To Lincoln's reply as given above, Stanton added at the end as follows: ``To what the President has above stated I will only add one or two points that may be satisfactory for you to know.

``1st. All the sick and wounded were safely removed from the White House not a man left behind.

``2d A despatch from Burnside shows that he is in condition to afford efficient support and is probably doing so.

``3d The despatch from Col Ingalls impresses me with the conviction that the movement was made by General McClellan to concentrate on Richmond, and was successful to the latest point of which we have any information.

``4th. Mr Fulton says that on Friday night between twelve and one oclock General McClellan telegraphed Commodore Goldsborough that the result of the movement was satisfactory to him.

``5th. From these and the facts stated by the President my inference is, that General McClellan will probably be in Richmond within two days.

``EDWIN M STANTON''

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[2]   ``6 oclock PM'' was added by Stanton.

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[3]   Charles C. Fulton.

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[4]   Rufus Ingalls telegraphed Montgomery C. Meigs from Fort Monroe, 2:45 P.M., June 29, ``The White House depot was abandoned by me last night at sunset. . . . moving out from the narrow and tortuous Pamunkey some four hundred vessels laden with supplies, quite all of which I now have with me, en route to James River by Fort Monroe, if our arms are successful to-day and to-morrow at Richmond. . . .'' (OR, I, XI, III, 273).

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