Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-01-23
WASHINGTON. Friday. Jan. l6 1863.

WASHINGTON, Friday, Jan. l6. 1868.
In the Mcdowell Court of Inquiry to-day Gen.
Ricketts, was examined, testifying that the road
by which he was ordered to march by Gen. Nc
DoWell on the 2Sth of August was so DISTRACTED
by wagons iu his trout as greatly to impede the
progress of his command.
Major.Gen. Hitchcock was next called lie
testified at length relative to the force left for the
protection Of Washington when Geu. McClellan's
army started for the Peninsula. In the course
Of his testimony the following letter from tn,
President was laid bfore the Court
wAsHISGroH, April o, 1862
10 Mnj.-Geu. McCLELLAE: Ny Dear Sir
Your dispatches, complaining that you are not
properly sustained, while they do not offend me,
pain me very much. BltnAers division was
Withdrawn before you left here, and you know
the pressure under which l did it, aud as |
thought, ncquiesced iu it certainly not with
out reluctance. After you left | ascertain
ed that less than 10000 unorgainsed men, with
out field battery, we're all you designed should
be lett for the defence Of Washington and Ma
masses Junction, aud palt of this even wa to 60
to Gen. Hooker's old position. Gen. Banks's
corps, once designated for Manassas Junction,
was divided and tied up on the line of Winches-
ter and Strasburg, and could not leave that posi-.
hon without again exposing the Upper Potomac
and the Baltimore and Chic Railroad.
This presented, or would present, when Nc
Dowell and Sumner should be gone, great
temptation for the enemy to turn back from the
Rappahannock aud sack Washington. My ex-
plict directions that Washington, sustained By
the judgment Of all the commanders of corps
should be left secure, had been entirely
neglected. 1t was precisely this that drove me
to detain Mcdowell do not forget that was
Satisfied with your arrangement to leave Banks
at Manassas Junction. But when that arrange
ment wns broken up, and nothing was substitu-
ted for IL, of course was not satisfied. was
constrained to substitute something for it myself
And now allow me to ask you, do you really
think could permit the line from Richmond via
Manassea Junction to this city to be entirely
open, except what resistance could be presented
BY less than 1000 unOrganiEed troops2 This
is a question which the country will not allow me
To eVade.
There is curious mystery about the number
OF troops now with you l telegraphed you on
the 9th, saying that you had over 100 900 with
you had just obtained from the Secretary Of
War statement taken, as he said, from your
own returns, making 100000 then with you
and en- route To you. You now say you
will have but $1,000 when oil en- route to
you shall have reached you How can this dis
erepancy OF $4,000 be accounted for? As to
Ten. Wool's command, l understand that it is
doing precisely what like number Of your own
mOulu nave To TO II that command was away.
suppose the whole force which has gone forward
to you is with you by this ;ime aud if 80, |
think it is the precise time for you to strike
blow.
BY delay, the enemy will readily gain on you .
that is, be will gain faster by iortlfcatons and
re-enforcemens than ou eau by re-eniorcemenis
alone. And once more let ME tell you, it is in
dispensable to you that you strike blow. am
powerless to help. This you will do me the
Justice to remember, was always opposed to
going down the Bay in search of IA field, instead
OF lighting at or near Manassas, as only shifting
and not surmouniing difficulty that we would
mud the same enemy and the same or equal in
trenchments at either place. The oOuntry will
not fail TO note-is noting now-that the present
hesitation to move upon an ntrenched enemy is
but the story Of Manassas repeated
beg leave 10 assure you that have never
written or spoken to you in greater kindness Of
feeling than do now, nor with fuller purpose
to sustain you so far as in my most anxious iudg.
ment consistently eau. But you must ACT.
Yours, very truly. A. LINCOLN.