soldiers remaining in the ranks to increased hardships and danger: I do therefore call upon all patriotic and faithful citizens to oppose and resist the aforementioned dangerous and treasonable crimes, and to aid in restoring to their regiments all soldiers absent without leave, and to assist in the execution of the act of Congress "for enrolling and calling out the national forces, and for other purposes," and to support the proper authorities in the prosecution and punishment of offenders against said act and in suppressing the insurrection and rebellion. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. Done at the city of Washington, this tenth day of March, A.D. 1863, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-seventh. By the President: EDWIN M. Stanton, Secretary of War. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL HOOKER. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, MAJOR-GENERAL HOOKER: General Stahel wishes to be assigned to General Heintzelman and General Heintzelman also desires it. I would like to oblige both if it would not injure the service in your army, or incommode you. What say you? A. LINCOLN. TO SECRETARY SEWARD. WASHINGTON, March 15, 1863. I am very glad of your note saying "recent despatches from him are able, judicious, and loyal," and that if I agree, we will leave him there. I am glad to agree, so long as the public interest does not seem to require his removal. TELEGRAM TO J. O. MORTON. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, HON. J. O. MORTON, Joliet, Ill.: William Chumasero is proposed for provostmarshal of your district. What think you of it? I understand he is a good man. A. LINCOLN. REVOCATION OF SENTENCE OF T. W. KNOX. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:-Whereas, it appears to my satisfaction that Thomas W. Knox, a correspondent of the New York Herald, has been by the sentence of a court-martial excluded from the military department under command of Major-General Grant, and also that General Thayer, president of the court-martial which rendered the sentence, and Major-General McClernand, in command of a corps of that department, and many other respectable persons, are of opinion that Mr. Knox's offense was technical rather than wilfully wrong, and that the sentence should be revoked: now, therefore, said sentence is hereby so far revoked as to allow Mr. Knox to return to General Grant's headquarters, and to remain if General Grant shall give his express assent, and to again leave the department if General Grant shall refuse such assent. A. LINCOLN. TO BENJAMIN GRATZ. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, MR. BENJAMIN GRATZ, Lexington, Ky.: Show this to whom it may concern as your authority for allowing Mrs. Selby to remain at your house, so long as you choose to be responsible for what she may do. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL ROSECRANS. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, MAJOR-GENERAL ROSECRANS, Murfreesborough, Tenn.: Your dispatches about General Davis and General Mitchell are received. General Davis' case is not particular, being simply one of a great many recommended and not nominated because they would transcend the number allowed by law. General Mitchell [was] nominated and rejected by the Senate and I do not think it proper for me to renominate him without a change of circumstances such as the performance of additional service, or an expressed change of purpose on the part of at least some senators who opposed him. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL S. A. HURLBUT. MAJOR-GENERAL HURLBUT, Memphis: What news have you? What from Yazoo Pass? dence? What generally? WASHINGTON, March 25, 1863. What from Vicksburg? What from Lake Provi A. LINCOLN. TO GOVERNOR JOHNSON. (Private.) EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, HON. ANDREW JOHNSON. MY DEAR SIR:-I am told you have at least thought of raising a negro military force. In my opinion the country now needs no specific thing so much as some man of your ability and position to go to this work. When I speak of your position, I mean that of an eminent citizen of a slave State and himself a slaveholder. The colored population is the great available and yet unavailed-of force for restoring the Union. The bare sight of fifty thousand armed and drilled black soldiers upon the banks of the Mississippi would end the rebellion at once; and who doubts that we can present that sight if we but take hold in earnest? If you have been thinking of it, please do not dismiss the thought. Yours very truly, A. LINCOLN. PROCLAMATION APPOINTING A NATIONAL FAST-DAY. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A Proclamation. March 30, 1863. Whereas the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the supreme authority and just government of Almighty God in all the affairs of men and of nations, has by a resolution requested the President to designate and set apart a day for national prayer and humiliation: And whereas it is the duty of nations as well as men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God; to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord: And insomuch as we know that by His divine law nations, like individuals, are subjected to punish |