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Sir: I think Gen. Butler should go to New-Orleans again. He is unwilling to go, unless he is restored to the command of the Department. He should start by the first of February, and should take some force with him. The whole must be so managed as to not wrong, or wound the feelings of Gen. Banks. His original wish
was to go to Texas; and it must be arranged for him to do this now with a substantial force; and yet he must not go, to the endangering the opening of the Mississippi. I hope this may be done by the time Gen. Butler shall arrive there; but whether or not, I think we can not longer dispense with Gen. Butler's service. Yours truly A. LINCOLN
[1] ALS-P, ISLA. See also Lincoln to Banks, supra. General Butler never got back to New Orleans but was assigned to command of the Eighteenth Army Corps and Departments of Virginia and North Carolina on October 28, 1863. See Lincoln to Butler January 28, infra, and Lincoln to whom it may concern regarding Butler, February 11, infra.