Washington, August 27, 1863.

F. C. Sherman, Mayor, J. S. Haves, Comptroller,
Chicago, Ill.: 

Yours of the 24th, in relation to the draft, is received.  It seems to me the Government here will be overwhelmed if it undertakes to conduct these matters with the authorities of cities and counties.  They must be conducted with the governors of States, who will, of course, represent their cities and counties.  Meanwhile you need not be uneasy until you again hear from here.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL FOSTER.

War department, Washington, August 28, 1863.

Major-general Foster, Fort Monroe, Va.: 

Please notify, if you can, Senator Bowden, Mr. Segar, and Mr. Chandler, all or any of them, that I now have the record in Dr. Wright’s case, and am ready to hear them.  When you shall have got the notice to them, please let me know.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL CRAWFORD.

Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C., August 28, 1863.

General Crawford, Rappahannock Station, Va.: 

I regret that I cannot be present to witness the presentation of a sword by the gallant Pennsylvania Reserve Corps to one so worthy to receive it as General Meade.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO L. SWETT.

Washington, D. C., August 29, 1863.

Hon.  L. Swett, San Francisco, Cal.: 
If the Government’s rights are reserved, the Government will be
satisfied, and at all events it will consider.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO MRS. LINCOLN.

Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C.
August 29, 1863.

Mrs. A. Lincoln, Manchester, N. H.: 

All quite well.  Fort Sumter is certainly battered down and utterly useless to the enemy, and it is believed here, but not entirely certain, that both Sumter and Fort Wagner are occupied by our forces.  It is also certain that General Gilmore has thrown some shot into the city of Charleston.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO J. C. CONKLING.

Executive Mansion, Washington,
August 31, 1863.

Hon.  James C. Conkling, Springfield, Ill.: 

In my letter of the 26th insert between the sentence ending “since the issue of the Emancipation Proclamation as before” and the next, commencing “You say you will not fight, etc.,” what follows below my signature hereto.

A. Lincoln.