Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-31
wAsHIsoros, April 9. 1902
10 sLaior-eaneral AleClsIlaa


MT DEAR SIR IOur dispatches, complaining thai
you not properly sustained while they do not offend
me, pain very much. Bienker's division with
drawn from you before you left here and you know tbs
pressure under which d5l it, and thought. scqu
sscad IN it--eertaiuiy not without reluctance.
Afrrr yo1i ieft zcarfaue1 ti-s res than twenty
thousand unoTganizsd men, without single ned bar
terry al yen designed be LEFT for the defeuse Of
Washington and Manassas Junction and party Of these
even was 70 so 90 Cisn H0okers old position General
Banks corps. once designed for Manassas Junction
divided aud ed up the line OF Winchester aud Slras
Dnrg and could not leave without again exposing the
upper Potomac and the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
Ths presented, or would present when Generals Ne
DoWeu OF sumner should be gone, CREST temptation
TO the enemy 10 turn back from the Rap2 2ahannoc and
sack Washington.
ny expiic, directions that Washington should by the
Judgment of al che commanders Of corps be LETT entire
y eure, had been entirely neglected It precise
ly this that drove me 20 dstsiu Mcdowell / do not
forget that satisfied with your rrangcment to
leave Banks at Manassas function but when that ar
tan cement was 0toAen up and nothing was substituted
t0r ir, of course lTss not satisfied almost con
strained to substitute something for Il myself
Ard now allow me to ask Do you really think I
should permit the lae from Richmond via Manassas
Junction this city be entirely opsn except what
reauca could be prevented By lees than 20 coo unOr-
gsnizsd troops This Il question which the country
! viii not allow me 10 evada.
There is cr-ons mystery aboat the number Of troops
now with you j tele1 aPhed you on the 9Th saying
that you htd over 100 0o0 with you had ust obtained
from The Secretary Of War statement taken as he said
Gom your own returns, naking 600 men then with
you sud en- route % you Ho1 now say thai you have
but 600 when Oh route TO you shall have reached
you how can this discrepancy of 5000 be accounted
fort
As to General yVooIs command understand it Is do
ing for you precisely what Ike number Of your own
would hsve 20 do If that command was away. sup
pcss She whole force which has gone forward to you is
with you by this time If tain Sc l. the precise
time for you strike blow. By desy the enemy viii
readily gain you that Is he viii gain faster By forti-
hcatans and rsu5rcenens than you can by reinforce
ments alone Ami once more let me tell YOU, It is in
5ispensable 20 y0a that you strike a blow.
Am powerless help ibis you will do me the justice
to remember always wished going down the bay in
search Of Sed, instead Of lighting Manassas
only shifting and not surnountns difficulty that
we would ins the same enemy on eQaal entrelchments
either plate. The country viii not fail 70 note Qs
nothing now that the present hesitation upon
an entrenched enemy but the story Of Manassas re-
peated
beg TO assure y0n that have never written or
spoken to you 10 greater kindness of feeling than now
with fuller purpose to sus. ala you, far in
my most anxious judgmeutI consistently But you
must act Yours, very truly
LSignsdl A. LINCOLN.