The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-12-26
IRWIN MCDOWELL.
Maj. Gen. Commanding Department.
THE PRESIDENT TO GEN M'DowELL.

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=. THE PRESIDENT TO GEN M'DOWELL.
81 WASHINGTON, May "a, 1862.
Major General Mcdowell:
20 Gen. Fremont has been ordered, by tel
egraph to move to Franklin and Harrison
burgh, to relieve Gen. Banks and capture
or destroy jackson and Ewell's forces.
You are instructed, laying aside, for the
present, the movement on Richmond, to
put twenty thousand men in motion at
once for the Shenandoah, moving on the
line, or in advance of the line, of the Ma
nassas Gap Railroad. Your object will be
to capture the force of jackson and Ewell,
either in cooperation with Gen. Fremont,
or, in case want Of supplies or transporta-.
ton interfered with his movement, it is
believed that the force which you move
will be sufficient to accomplish the object
alone The information thus far received
here makes it probable that, if the enemy
operates actively against Gen Banks, you
will not be able to count much upon assis-
lance from him, but may have even to re-
lease him. Reports received this moment
are that Banks is fighting with Ewell, eight
miles from Harpers Ferry. t,A 'N f3's'
81 ABRAHAM LINCOLN. .
lt5.3fr $500 49, -lttiia -
GEN. MCDOWELL TO THE PRESIDENT. a.'
HEAD'QRs. DEPT. OF THE RAPPAIIANNoCK(
Opposite Fredericksburgh, May "a, 62. sH
His Excellency the President: isi a.drnofi-
IObeyed your order Immediately, for it
was positive and urgent, and, perhaps, as
a subordinate, there l ought to STOP But
I trust may be allowed to say something
in relation to. the subject, especially in
view of your remark that everything de-
ponds upon the celebrity and vigor of my
movements. l beg to say that co-opera-
ton between General Fremont and myself
to cut off Jackson and Ewell, is not to be
counted upon, even if it is not practical
impossibility next, that am entirely be-
yond helping distance of General Banks,
and no celebrity or vigor will be available
as far as he is concerned: next, that by
glance at the map it will be seen that the
line of retreat of the enemy up the val
ley is shorter than mine to go against him.
1t will take a week or ten days for the
force to get to the valley by the route
which will give it food and forage, and by
that time the enemy will have retreated.
/ shall gain nothing for you there and lose
much for you here 1t is therefore not
only on personal grounds that l have a
heavy heart in the matter, but feel that
it throws us all back, and from Richmond
north we shall have all our large mass
paralyzed, and shall have to repeat what
we have just accomplished. s7si'
have ordered General Shields to COM
rnence the movement tomorrow morning.
A second division will follow in the after
noon. Did / understand you Alright that
you wish me personally to accompany the
expedition? l.'9 'Sll2l..,'' p
Very respectfully, IRWIN MCDOWELL.
THE PRESIDENT TO GEN. M'DowELL.
Major General Mcdowell:
/ am highly gratified by your alacrity in
obeying my orders. The change was as
painful to me as it can possibly be to you
or to any one. ~ go
Everything now depends upon the
celebrity and vigor of your movements.
A. LINCOLN.
GEN. MDowELL 10 SECRETARY STANTON.
HEADQRs. Dept OF THE RAPPAHANNocK,l
May H. 1862. {
hon. ~. M. CtautOn, cecIeGary Oh war: -
The Presidents order has been received,
and is in process of execution. This is a
crushing blow to us. .
IRWIN MCDOWELL. Mai. Gen.
SECRETARY STANTON TO GEN. N D0wEIL.
WAsuusaron, May "a, 1862.
Major General Mcdowell:
In view ef the operations Of the enemy
on the line Of Gen. Banks, the President
thinks that the whole force You designate
to move from Fredericksburg should not be
taken away and he therefore directs that
one brigade, 10 addition to the one dAsig-
mated to leayes at Fredericksbufg, should