into the United States service, on the usual terms, shall be pro tanto an abatement of your quota of the draft.  That quota I can now state at eight thousand seven hundred and eighty-three (8783).  No draft from New Jersey, other than for the above quota, will be made before an additional draft, common to [all] the States, shall be required; and I may add that if we get well through with this draft, I entertain a strong hope that any further one may never be needed.  This expression of hope, however, must not be construed into a promise.

As to conducting the draft by townships, I find it would require such a waste of labor already done, and such an additional amount of it, and such a loss of time, as to make it, I fear, inadmissible.

Your obedient servant,

A. Lincoln.

P. S.—­Since writing the above, getting additional information, I am enabled to say that the draft may be made in subdistricts, as the enrolment has been made, or is in process of making.  This will amount practically to drafting by townships, as the enrollment subdistricts are generally about the extent of townships.  A.L.

To GENERAL G. G. MEADE.  (Private.)

Executive Mansion, Washington,
July 27, 1863.

Major-general Meade: 

I have not thrown General Hooker away; and therefore I would like to know whether it would be agreeable to you, all things considered, for him to take a corps under you, if he himself is willing to do so.  Write me in perfect freedom, with the assurance that I will not subject you to any embarrassment by making your letter or its contents known to any one.  I wish to know your wishes before I decide whether to break the subject to him.  Do not lean a hair’s breadth against your own feelings, or your judgment of the public service, on the idea of gratifying me.

Yours truly,

A. LINCOLN

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A. B. BURNSIDE.

War department, Washington, July 27, 1863.

Major-general Burnside, Cincinnati, O.: 

Let me explain.  In General Grant’s first despatch after the fall of Vicksburg, he said, among other things, he would send the Ninth Corps to you.  Thinking it would be pleasant to you, I asked the Secretary of War to telegraph you the news.  For some reasons never mentioned to us by General Grant, they have not been sent, though we have seen outside intimations that they took part in the expedition against Jackson.  General Grant is a copious worker and fighter, but a very meager writer or telegrapher.  No doubt he changed his purpose in regard to the Ninth Corps for some sufficient reason, but has forgotten to notify us of it.

A. Lincoln.

TO GENERAL H. W. HALLECK.