Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) [Lincoln endorsement on Rosecrans telegram]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00409 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Abraham (1809-1865) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph endorsement signed Date: 10 August 1861 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 21 x 14 cm. Order a Copy
Lincoln autograph endorsement signed to Union General George B. McClellan, 10 August 1861, on verso of Union General William S. Rosecrans telegram [clerical copy for recipient] (Clarksburg, Virginia) to Abraham Lincoln, 10 August 1861. Written on Magnetic Telegraph Company, Printing and Morse Lines form. Telegram informs Lincoln about the Virginia troops and gives Rosecrans's opinion on how the troops should be organized. Rosecrans notes that he has only 13 men with military education and remarks, "I stand here to cover two hundred miles of frontier with a small command of raw levies against some of the most skilled men in the Confederate service." Lincoln's note reads, "Can Gen. McClellan suggest what is to be done in the within case?" Written on stationery of the Magnetic Telegraph Company, Printing and Morse Lines, 432 Pennsylvania Avenue.
42 Dated Clarksburg Aug 10th 1861.
Rec'd, Washington, ______ 1861, ____ o'clock, ____ min. M.
To His Excy Presdt of the U. S._____
The virginia Troops are a rabble material good no instructive officers over them the
Gov & Council have urged the secretary of war to give them army officers for field officers &
have been told they could not be spared next to this they have asked for authority to spare drill
masters Mr Harrison is now here & says your excellency has been pleased to refer this matter in
some measure at least to my judgment which gives me permission to Telegraph you directly
my Judgment expressed in Teleghs to the secretary of war & Ge[text loss] [text loss]ott is first
one [2] army officer as a field officer would inside of week add one third to the military power of a regt & therefore save one third of the cost of a given military force not to speak consequences more momentous. Secondly that authority be given to appoint army officers as inspectors General say two or three assistants & one chief & to have one or two qualified Drill masters for each regt to be employed under the thirteenth first in instructing their command & non commissioned officers this would accomplish a great work in a short time
[3] no material was ever better than ours without this measure or something as effective promptly adopted the Good men will still remain material & little else until years of war have hammered into the shape if the high hand of authority can be applied here in the name of our Country let it be done. In all my command so far as I know there are but thirteen officers including myself that have had military education & I stand here to cover two hundred miles of frontier with a small command of raw levies against some of the most skilled men in the Confederate [4] service
W. S. Rosecrans
Brig. Genl. U.SA
301/ 607
EdG
[docket]
Washington Aug 10 1861
Lincoln, A.
Presdt U.S.
Asking advice as to written
dispatch from Gen Rosecrans
as regards organizing troops
in Wn Virginia
[Lincoln's endorsement]
Can Gen McClel
lan suggest what
is to be done in
the within case?
A. Lincoln
Augt 10. 1861
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