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Late last night Fuller telegraphed you, as you say, that ``the stars and stripes float over Vicksburg, and the victory is complete''
Did he know what he said, or did he say it without knowing it? Your despatch of this afternoon throws doubt upon it.
A. LINCOLN
[1] ALS, RPB. Stager's telegram quoting from a telegram sent by William G. Fuller at Memphis on May 23 has not been located, but Stager's answer to Lincoln's query, received at 9:25 A.M. on May 25, reads: ``Fullers message to his wife was no doubt based upon the hopeful feeling expressed in the despatches from Below and also at Head Quarters in Memphis. He would have sent me the information direct if it had been based upon later advices---that was my reason for holding for confirmation'' (DLC-RTL).