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.
Rights/Permissions: The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes, with permission from their copyright holder. If you decide to use any of these materials, you are responsible for making your own legal assessment and securing any necessary permission.
Link to this Item: http://name.umdl.umich.edu/lincoln5
Cite this Item: "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 June 4, 2024.

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To Andrew G. Curtin1Jump to section

Hon. A. G. Curtin Washington, D.C.,
Harrisburg, Penn. Sep. 12. 10/35 [A.M.] 1862.

Your despatch asking for eighty thousand disciplined troops to be sent to Pennsylvania is received. Please consider. We have not to exceed eighty thousand disciplined troops, properly so called, this side of the mountains, and most of them, with many of the new regiments, are now close in the rear of the enemy supposed to be invading Pennsylvania. Start half of them to Harrisburg, and the enemy will turn upon and beat the remaining half, and then reach Harrisburg before the part going there, and beat it too when it comes. The best possible security for Pennsylvania is putting the strongest force possible into the enemies rear. A. LINCOLN

Annotation

[1] ALS, RPB. Governor Curtin's telegram of September 11, 8 P.M., asked for 80,000 troops and estimated enemy forces as not less than 120,000. His reply to Lincoln's telegram was received at 4:15 P.M., ``Your message received Reasons for not sending force entirely satisfactory. We are doing all that is possible to throw forces into the Valley to check any movement the Rebels may attempt in this direction. I have advices that Jackson is crossing Potomac at Williamsport & probably the whole Rebel army will be drawn from Maryland'' (DLC-RTL).

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