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

Call for Troops1Jump to section

New York, June 30. 1862.

To the Governors of the several States: The capture of New Orleans, Norfolk, and Corinth by the national forces has enabled the insurgents to concentrate a large force at and about Richmond, which place we must take with the least possible delay; in fact, there will soon be no formidable insurgent force except at Richmond. With so large an army there, the enemy can threaten us on the Potomac and elsewhere. Until we have re-established the national authority, all these places must be held, and we must keep

a respectable force in front of Washington. But this, from the diminished strength of our Army by sickness and casualties, renders an addition to it necessary in order to close the struggle which has been prosecuted for the last three months with energy and success. Rather than hazard the misapprehension of our military condition and of groundless alarm by a call for troops by proclamation, I have deemed it best to address you in this form. To accomplish the object stated we require without delay 150,000 men, including those recently called for by the Secretary of War. Thus re-enforced, our gallant Army will be enabled to realize the hopes and expectations of the Government and the people.

A. LINCOLN

Annotation

[1]   OR, III, II, 183. This call was drafted by Seward at the New York conference (see Lincoln to Seward, June 28, supra) and telegraphed to Lincoln for approval, but was not issued. Governor Morgan and Governor Curtin attended the conference and Seward communicated with the others by telegraph. At 5 P.M. on June 30, Seward telegraphed Lincoln of a new suggestion---a memorial to the president from the governors, asking that a call be made, and a circular from the president in reply, making a call for 150,000 men. Copies of both memorial and circular were telegraphed to Lincoln for approval (ibid., p. 181). Stanton answered at 9 P.M. that the president had ``gone to the country very tired. In the morning you shall have his answer.'' (Ibid., pp. 181-82). On July 1 Stanton telegraphed that Lincoln approved but suggested 200,000 men (ibid., p. 186). Seward replied at 4 P.M., ``The Governors respond, and the Union Committee approve. . . . The number of troops to be called is left to the President to fix. . . .'' (Ibid., p. 187). Lincoln issued the call on July 1, specifying 300,000 men (vide infra).

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