Major Gen. Halleck Washington City, D.C.
Corinth, Miss--- July 6th. 1862
My dear Sir: This introduces, Gov. William Sprague, of RhodeIsland. He is now Governor for the third time, and Senator elect of the U.S.
I know the object of his visit to you. He has my cheerful consent to go, but not my direction. He wishes to get you and part of your force, one or both, to come here. You already know I should be exceedingly glad of this if, in your judgment, it could be, without endangering positions and operations in the South-West; and I now repeat what I have more than once said by Telegraph, ``Do not come, or send a man, if, in your judgment, it will endanger any point you deem important to hold, or endangers, or delays the Chattanooga expedition.['']
Still, please give my friend, Gov. Sprague, a full and fair hearing. Yours very truly A. LINCOLN.