To William S. Rosecrans2Open page
My Dear General Rosecrans Washington, September 28, 1863.
We are sending you two small corps, one under General Howard, and one under General Slocum, and the whole under General Hooker. Unfortunately the relations between Generals Hooker and Slocum are not such as to promise good, if their present relative positions remain. Therefore let me beg,---almost enjoin upon you---that on their reaching you, you will make a transposition by which Gen. Slocum with his corps, may pass from under the command of Gen. Hooker, and Gen. Hooker, in turn, receive some other equal force. It is important for this to be done, though we could not well arrange it here. Please do it. Yours very truly A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] Copy, DLC-RTL. On September 25, General Henry W. Slocum telegraphed Lincoln, ``I have just been informed that I have again been placed under command of Maj Gen Jos. Hooker. My opinion of Gen Hooker both as an Officer & a gentleman is too well known to make it necessary for me to refer to it in this communication. The public service cannot be promoted by placing under his command an Officer who has so little confidence in his ability as I have. Our relations are such that it would be degrading in me to accept any position under him. I have the honor therefore to respectfully tender the resignation of my commission as Maj Genl of volunteers'' (DLC-RTL).
On October 12 Hooker telegraphed Lincoln from Stevenson, Alabama, suggesting that ``Gen'l Slocum may be tendered a command in Missouri, or somewhere else'' (DLC-RTL), and on October 13 Rosecrans replied to Lincoln's communication of September 28, that any attempt to mingle his troops with ``Potomac troops by placing them under Potomac Generals would kindle a flame . . . where, by care, and judgement, we shall soon have only a spirit of courageous emulation.'' (Ibid.). Slocum remained with the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps until April 4, 1864, when he was placed in command of the District of Vicksburg, Mississippi, under William T. Sherman's command (AGO General Orders No. 144, April 4, 1864).