The life and public services of Abraham Lincoln ... together with his state papers, including his speeches, addresses, messages, letters, and proclamations, and the closing scenes connected with his life and death. By Henry J. Raymond. To which are added anecdotes and personal reminiscences of President Lincoln, by Frank B. Carpenter.

LETTERS TO GENERAL HOOKER. 769
EXCoUTIV MANSION, WASINOTOeN, May 14, 1808.
MY DEAR SI:-When I wrote on the 7th I had an impression that
possibly, by an early movement, you could get some advantage, from the
supposed facts that the enemy's communications were disturbed, and that
he was somewhat deranged in position. That idea has now passed away,
the enemy having re-established his communications, regained his positions, and actually received re-enforcements. It does not now appear to
me probable that you can gain any thing by an early renewal of the attempt to cross the Rappahannock. I therefore shall not complain if you
do no more for a time than to 'keep the enemy at bay, and out of other
mischief, by menaces and occasional cavalry raids, if practicable, and to
put your own army in good condition again. Still, if, in your own clear
judgment, you can renew the attack successfully, I do not mean to restrain you. Bearing upon this last point I must tell you I have some painful intimations that some of your corps and division commanders are not
giving you their entire confidence. This would be ruinous if true, and
you should, therefore, first of all, ascertain the real facts beyond all possibility of doubt. Yours truly,
A. LINCOLN.
Both armies remained inactive till the 58. if June, when General
Hooker wrote to the President that appearances indicated an advance by
General Lee. The President answered him as follows:June 5, 1863
MAJOU-GRNERRAL HOOKER -Yours of to-day was received an hour
ago. So much of professional military skill is requisite to answer it, that
I have turned the task over to General lIalleck. He promises to perform
it with his utmost care. I have but one idea which I think worth suggesting to you, and that is, in case you find Lee coming to the north of
the Rappahannock, I would by no means cross to the south of it. If he
should leave a rear force at Fredericksburg, tempting you to fall upon it, it
would fight in intrenchments and have you at advantage, and so, man for
man, worst you at that point, while his main force would in some way
be getting an advantage of you northward. In one word, I would not
take any risk of being entangled up on the river like an ox jumped half
over a fence and liable to be torn by dogs front and rear without a fair
chance to gore one way or to kick the other.
If Lee would come to my side of the river I would keep on the same
side and fight him, or act on the defensive, according as might be my estimate of his strength relatively to my own. But these are mere suggestions, which I desire to be controlled by the judgment of yourself and
General Halleck. A. LINCOLN.
By the 10th of June Lee's forward movement was well developed.
The President's views as to the proper course to be pursued by our army
remained as before, and he sent the following letter expressing them -
WAShINGtTON, D. C., June 10, 1863.
MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER:-Your long dispatch of to-day is just received. If left to me, I would not go south of the Rappahannock npor.
Lee's moving north of it. If you had Richmond invested to-day yon
would not be able to take it in twenty days; meanwhile your communications, and with them your army, would be ruined. I think Lee's army,
and not Richmond, is your true objective point. If he comes towards the
Upper Potomac, follow on his flank, and on the inside track, shortenim;

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