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

Annotation

[1]   ADfS, DLC-RTL. See Lincoln's letters to Schofield, May 27, July 13 and 20, supra. Governor Gamble's ``cross'' letter of July 13 is as follows:

``Your letter to Major General Schofield of the 27th of May was published in the newspapers of this city on the 27th of June last and but for my engagements in the State Convention in aiding in the passage of an ordinance of emancipation, and other pressing official duties I would sooner have attended to that most extraordinary publication.

``As a paper written by the President . . . concerning the Governor of a loyal state it is a most remarkable production and its publication is a most wanton and unmerited insult. . . . I have borne in silence the attacks . . . by newspaper writers, but when the President . . . in an official communication undertakes to characterise me, the Governor of a loyal state, as the head of a faction in that state, an answer is demanded. . . .

``I take leave to say . . . that the language of your letter . . . is in my judgment unbecoming your position. . . . But there is in your accusation . . . this further wrong, that the charge is not true. . . .

``I have earnestly desired that the military might be restrained from all wanton violence and cruelty. . . . When my views of the policy necessary to the restoration of peace and civil government have been disregarded, I have caused the facts to be made known to you in order that you might apply the remedy. . . . If making to you the proper representation of facts constituted me the head of a faction then I have been such; but if I was performing a simple duty to you, upon whom rests the ultimate responsibility for the government of the military, then my conduct was necessary for the country, and just to you, and furnished no ground for your attack upon me. . . .

``Mr President, I have disapproved of acts of your administration, but I have carefully abstained from denouncing you . . . and this because there is nothing of a `factional' spirit in me. . . .

``You can then judge sir how grossly offensive the language of your letter is, when you say `as' (that is, because) `I could not remove Gov Gamble I had to remove General Curtis' distinctly intimating that you would have removed me if you could. . . .

``Occupying the position which I reluctantly accepted at the call of my State . . . I am obliged to say to you that your insult published over the land was most undeserved, and in our relations most unbecoming your station.

``I will not address this to you through the newspapers as I would be justified in doing at once after the publication of your letter, but will leave its publication for future consideration.'' (DLC-RTL).