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

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Title
Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862].
Author
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.
Publication
New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press
1953.
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"Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 5 [Oct. 24, 1861-Dec. 12, 1862]." In the digital collection Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/lincoln5. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 24, 2024.

Pages

Memorandum of Interviews Between Lincoln and Officers of the Army of the Potomac1Jump to section

July 8-9, 1862

Gen. McClellan July 8. 1862

What amount of force have you now?

About 80-000---cant vary much---certainly 75-000.

What is likely to be your condition as to health in this camp?

Better than in any encampment since landing at Fort Monroe.

Page 310

Where is the enemy now?

From four to 5. miles from us on all the roads---I think nearly the whole Army. Both Hills---Longstreet, Jackson, Magruder, Huger,

If you desired, could you remove the army safely?

It would be a delicate & very difficult matter.

Cavalry about 5000---

Gen. Summer---July 9. 1862

What is the whole amount of your corps with you now?

About 16,000

What is the agregate of your killed, wounded, and missing from the attack on the 26th. ult till now?

1175

In your present encampment what is the present and prospective condition as to health?

As good as any part of Eastern Va.

Where, & in what condition do you believe the enemy to now be I think they have retired from our front, were much damaged, especially in their best troops in the late actions from superiority of our arms

If it were desired to get the Army away, could it be safely effected?

I think we could, but I think we give up the cause if we do it.

Is the Army secure in it's present position?

Perfectly so, in my judgment.

Gen. Heintzelman---July 9, 1862

What is the whole amount of your corps now with you?

15-000 for duty

What is the agregate of your killed, wounded, and missing from the attack on the 26. ult. till now?

Not large. 745.

In your present encampment, what is the present and prospective condition as to health?

Excellent for health & present health improving.

Where, and in what condition do you believe the enemy to now be?

Dont think they are in force in our vicinity.

If it were desired to get the Army away from here could it be safely effected?

Perhaps we could, but think it would be ruinous to the country

Page 311

Is the Army secure in its present position?2Jump to section

I think it is safe.

Gen. Keyes---July 9. 1862

What is the whole amount of your corps with you now?

About 12-500

What is the agregate of your killed, wounded, and missing, from the attack on the 26th. till now?

Less than 500.

In your present encampment what is the present & prospective condition as to health?

A little improved, but think camp is getting worse

Where, and in what condition, do you believe the enemy to now be?

Think he has withdrawn & think preparing to go to Washington.

If it were desired to get the Army away, could it be safely effected?

I think it could if done quickly.

Is the Army, in its present position, secure?

With help of Gen B. can hold position.

Gen Porter3Jump to section

What is the amount of your corps now with you?

About 23,000

Fully 20-000 fit, for duty.

What is the aggregate of your killed wounded and missing from the attack on the 26th ult. until now?

Over 5000.

In your present encampment, what is the present and prospective condition as to health?

Very good.

Where and in what condition do you believe the enemy now to be?

Believe he is mainly near Richmond. He feels he dare not attack us here.

If it were desired to get the army away from here, could it be safely effected?

Impossible---move the Army & ruin the country.

Is the Army secure in its present position?

Perfectly so. Not only but, we are ready to begin moving forward.

Page 312

General Franklin.4Jump to section

What is the whole amount of your corps now with you?

About 15,000.

What is the aggregate of your killed, wounded, and missing, from the attack on the 26th ultimo till now?

Don't think whole will exceed 3,000 men.

In your present encampment what is the present and prospective condition as to health?

Not good.

Where and in what condition do you believe the enemy now to be?

I learn he has withdrawn from our front, and think that is probable.

If it were desired to get the army away from here, could it be safely effected?

I think we could, and think we better---think Rappahannock true line.

Is the army secure in its present position?

Unless we can be closer, it is.

General Sumner5Jump to section 1175

General Heintzelman 745.

General Keyes 500.

Fitz J Porter 5000

Franklin 3000

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10420

Annotation

[1]   AD, DLC-RTL. The interviews took place at Harrison's Landing. Except where noted otherwise, the document is in Lincoln's handwriting.

[2]   This question is not in Lincoln's handwriting.

[3]   The questions to Porter are not in Lincoln's handwriting, but the answers are.

[4]   The page containing the questions and answers of General Franklin is missing, and is reproduced as printed in the Complete Works (VII, 265-66).

[5]   The remainder is not in Lincoln's handwriting.

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