ordinates of as important an officer as Adjutant General Thomas?” I must say “no” so far as my knowledge extends. And I add that if you can give any tangible evidence upon that subject, I will thank you to come to the City and do so.
Very truly your friend
A. Lincoln
TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN
Army of the Potomac,
Stafford C. H., Va., Jan. 24, 1863.
⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅⋅[1]
Permit me a few words about the recent occurrences on the Rappahannock. I have spent several days there and feel compelled to say to you that I have seen and heard a great many things, which deeply distressed me. Let me say to you that from what I have seen and heard I am convinced the spirit of the men is systematically demoralized and the confidence in their chief systematically broken by several of the commanding-generals. I have heard generals, subordinate officers and men say that they expect to be whipped anyhow, “that all these fatigues and hardships are for nothing, and that they might as well go home.” Add to this, that the immense army is closely packed together in the mud, that sickness is spreading at a frightful rate, that in consequence of all these causes of discouragement desertion increases every day—and you will not be surprised if you see the army melt away with distressing rapidity. Let us spread out our wings, especially the right; let the cavalry be made efficient and give the enemy no rest, and let every favorable moment be improved for making expeditions with corps or grand divisions around the enemy's flanks.
- ↑ Two paragraphs about giving Gen. Stahel a cavalry-reserve corps. See the next letter.
