To guard against misapprehension it is proper to state that this proclamation does not apply to prisoners of war.

MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.

Washington, January 2, 1862

To the Senate and house of representatives

I transmit to Congress a copy of a letter to the Secretary of State from James R. Partridge, secretary to the executive committee to the in exhibition to be held in London in the course present year, and a copy of the correspond which it refers, relative to a vessel for the of taking such articles as persons in this country may wish to exhibit on that occasion.  As it appears no naval vessel can be spared for the purpose, I recommend that authority be given to charter a suitable merchant vessel, in order that facilities similar to those afforded by the government exhibition of 1851 may also be extended to citizens of the United States who may desire to contribute to the exhibition of this year.  Abraham Lincoln

MESSAGES OF DISAPPOINTMENT WITH HIS GENERALS

Telegram to general D. C. Buell.

Washington, January 4, 1862.

General Buell: 

Have arms gone forward for East Tennessee?  Please tell me the progress and condition of the movement in that direction.  Answer.

A. Lincoln.

TO GENERAL D. C. BUELL.

Executive Mansion, Washington,

January 6, 1862.

Brigadier-general Buell.

My dear sir:—­Your despatch of yesterday has been received, and it disappoints and distresses me.  I have shown it to General McClellan, who says he will write you to-day.  I am not competent to criticize your views, and therefore what I offer is in justification of myself.  Of the two, I would rather have a point on the railroad south of Cumberland Gap than Nashville.  First, because it cuts a great artery of the enemy’s communication, which Nashville does not; and secondly, because it is in the midst of loyal people who would rally around it, while Nashville is not.  Again, I cannot see why the movement on East Tennessee would not be a diversion in your favor rather than a disadvantage, assuming that a movement toward Nashville is the main object.  But my distress is that our friends in East Tennessee are being hanged and driven to despair, and even now, I fear, are thinking of taking rebel arms for the sake of personal protection.  In this we lose the most valuable stake we have in the South.  My despatch, to which yours is an answer, was sent with the knowledge of Senator Johnson and Representative Maynard of East Tennessee, and they will be upon me to know the answer, which I cannot safely show them.  They would despair, possibly resign to go and save their families somehow, or die with them.  I do not intend this to be an order in any sense, but merely, as intimated before, to show you the grounds of my anxiety.