Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 6 [Dec. 13, 1862-Nov. 3, 1863].

To Joseph Hooker2Open page

(Private.)
Executive Mansion, Washington, D.C., June 16, 1863.

My dear General: I send you this by the hand of Captain Dahlgren.2Jump to section FOOTNOTES}>(2) Your despatch of 11:30 A.M. to-day is just received. When you say I have long been aware that you do not enjoy the confidence of the major-general commanding, you state the case much too strongly.

You do not lack his confidence in any degree to do you any harm. On seeing him, after telegraphing you this morning, I found him more nearly agreeing with you than I was myself. Surely you do not mean to understand that I am withholding my confidence from you when I happen to express an opinion (certainly never discourteously) differing from one of your own.

I believe Halleck is dissatisfied with you to this extent only, that he knows that you write and telegraph (``report,'' as he calls it) to me. I think he is wrong to find fault with this; but I do not think he withholds any support from you on account of it. If you and he would use the same frankness to one another, and to me, that I use to both of you, there would be no difficulty. I need and must have the professional skill of both, and yet these suspicions tend to deprive me of both.

I believe you are aware that since you took command of the army I have not believed you had any chance to effect anything till now. As it looks to me, Lee's now returning toward Harper's Ferry gives you back the chance that I thought McClellan lost last fall. Quite possibly I was wrong both then and now; but, in the great responsibility resting upon me, I cannot be entirely silent. Now, all I ask is that you will be in such mood that we can get into our action the best cordial judgment of yourself and General Halleck, with my poor mite added, if indeed he and you shall think it entitled to any consideration at all. Yours as ever,

A. LINCOLN.

Annotation

[1]   NH, VIII, 320-21. Hooker's telegram of 11 A.M., received at 11:30, is as follows:

``Please accept my suggestions in regard to what should be done in the spirit with which they were given.

``They were suggestions merely, for I have not the data necessary to form an enlightened opinion in the case. Upon general principles, I thought those were the movements to make. You have long been aware Mr President that I have

not enjoyed the confidence of the Major General Commanding the Army & I can assure you so long as this continues we may look in vain for success. Especially as future operations will require our relations to be more dependent upon each other than heretofore.

``It may be possible now to move to prevent a junction of A P Hills Corps with those of Ewell & Longstreet.

``If so please let instructions to that effect be given me. As will appear to you the chances for my doing this are much smaller than when I was on the Rappahannock for if he should hold the passes stoutly he can cause delay. Your may depend upon it we can never discover the whereabouts of the enemy or divine his intentions so long as he fills the country with a cloud of cavalry. We must break through that to find him.'' (DLC-RTL).

[2]   Ulric Dahlgren.

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