My dear sir:—­The Germans are true and patriotic and so far as they have got cross in Missouri it is upon mistake and misunderstanding.  Without a knowledge of its contents, Governor Koerner, of Illinois, will hand you this letter.  He is an educated and talented German gentleman, as true a man as lives.  With his assistance you can set everything right with the Germans. . . .  My clear judgment is that, with reference to the German element in your command, you should have Governor Koerner with you; and if agreeable to you and him, I will make him a brigadier-general, so that he can afford to give his time.  He does not wish to command in the field, though he has more military knowledge than some who do.  If he goes into the place, he will simply be an efficient, zealous, and unselfish assistant to you.  I say all this upon intimate personal acquaintance with Governor Koerner.

Yours very truly,

A. LINCOLN

MESSAGE TO CONGRESS.

Washington, January 17, 1862

To the Senate and house of representatives: 

I transmit to Congress a translation of an instruction to the minister of his Majesty the King of Prussia accredited to this government, and a copy of a note to that minister from the Secretary of State relating to the capture and detention of certain citizens of the United States, passengers on board the British steamer Trent, by order of Captain Wilkes of the United States Navy.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

TO GENERAL McCLELLAN.

Department of state, Washington.

January 20, 1862.

Major-general George B. McCLELLAN,

Commanding Armies of the United States: 

You or any officer you may designate will in your discretion suspend the writ of habeas corpus so far as may relate to Major Chase, lately of the Engineer Corps of the Army of the United States, now alleged to be guilty of treasonable practices against this government.

Abraham Lincoln.

By the President: 
William H. Seward.

PRESIDENT’S GENERAL WAR ORDER NO. 1

Executive Mansion, Washington, January 27, 1862.

Ordered, That the 22d day of February, 1862, be the day for a general movement of the land and the naval forces of the United States against the insurgent forces.

That especially the army at and about Fortress Monroe, the Army of the Potomac, the Army of Western Virginia, the army near Munfordville, Kentucky, the army and flotilla at Cairo, and a naval force in the Gulf of Mexico, be ready for a movement on that day.

That all other forces, both land and naval, with their respective commanders, obey existing orders for the time, and be ready to obey additional orders when duly given.