, 1879-05-16
stockmcn from Missouri, Indiana. and Illinois.
About forty head wero sold at pticc6 ruugNg
from f25U to $40,
LINCOLN.
A Letter from !" Old Abe" to Gen, Hooker.
Es,p Frrk ~tm<s

A Letter from "Otd Abe" to Gen. Hooker.
Ft'p Fork .tm<s,
In the Providence Journal Of Mny Q Is printed
letter from Lincoln TO Gen. Hooker, writton
Just after the latter had taken command Of the
Army Of tho Potomac. The letter Waa pennca
In JANUARY, 1868, asl, willis the President sot
retained It In hts possession, An ultimate friend
chanccI 10 he In his cabinet one night, and tho
President rca'l Il to him, rcmarkln4, II shall not
read ths to anybody else, but want to know
how It strikes you" During the following
April or May, whils the Army OF the
Potomac lay opposite Frederteksburo, this
friend accompanied the Prestdent to Gen.
liUokes'h Headquarters on visit. One night
ucu. Hooker, alone In bis tent with this gen
tie,nan, said: "'rhe President snys that be
showed you this letter" and he then took out
that document, which was closely written on
ucnvral's bright Blue eyes as be ad,led: ut Is
such letter as father might have vrston to
his son. And ret 1t hurt me-" Then. dasting
the water from hts eyes, be said: "When ]
hare been to Richmond, ah.il have this letter
ago, mid the letter has 1ust now seen the light
OF day, There are In It certain sharp passages
which, after thss long lapse Of time, cannot ee
verified by " se memory Of any who heard Il
misalng. Nevertheless, the letter, which Is
herewith reprinted, must have been written BY
Lincoln:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON. D. c.. Jan.
~, 1868. .--Maj. Gen. No9ker-1ENrnAL: have
placed you at the head Of the Army Of the Foto-
tnne. OF course hare dono this uppn what Ap.
pears 10 to be su!lcent reasons and Jet think Il
beat Tor to know that there some things I1
regard 10 which am not quite satisfied with ron.
believe yUu to ho brave and sxilful soldier. =
which. ur cnurac, like. | also believe you do not
mix politics with yonr profession. lin which ynu
arc right. You !Iavt confidence In yourself. =
which ia valuable, II not MI ndspenssb1e. gnkl-
lty. You are hrbItloua,-wnich. within EcasUnn.
bic bounds, dues good rather thau BARN; but I
think that during Ue1. Dutnsido's command Of
the army. you have taken counsel OF your
ambition and thwartcd him ~ much ~ you
could, In which you did great wrpnr 10 thu
country, anu to must nerttoriuus and honorable
bsothes.of!1ccr. l hayo heard, In such way ~ to
oc.1ove It. OF your recently saying that both the
army and the government needed q Dictator
n eour1e., It, VAS not for tl,!<, hut 10
command. only those Generals who gain que:
yon ts military SUCCESS, and will risk tho Dicta-
forship. The Government will support you to the
utmost Of !ts ability, Ia neither more nor less
than It has Ions nnd will do for all commanders.
nch frar that ttle splris which you hare aided 10
infuue into the srY. of etistclslnn their
aud Withholding confidence from him, will now
turn upon you. a,at, ashst you faf "a can to
put It down. Neither you nor Napoleon. II he
were ave again. could Ret eny good out Of m army
while such sptslt prevails In II. Ausi now beware
Of rnshness. t5ewafe Of Easbnrss. but, with cnosRy
AID slrepiesa vigilance, " forward and give ua
victories. YH0F4. vGfy truly, 4. LINCOLN.