Order taking military possession of railroads. 
War department, May 25, 1862.

Ordered:  By virtue of the authority vested by act of Congress, the President takes military possession of all the railroads in the United States from and after this date until further order, and directs that the respective railroad companies, their officers and servants, shall hold themselves in readiness for the transportation of such troops and munitions of war as may be ordered by the military authorities, to the exclusion of all other business.

By order of the Secretary of War. 
M. C. Meigs

TELEGRAM TO SECRETARY CHASE.

War department, May 25, 1862.

Secretary Chase, Fredericksburg, Virginia: 

It now appears that Banks got safely into Winchester last night, and is this morning retreating on Harper’s Ferry.  This justifies the inference that he is pressed by numbers superior to his own.  I think it not improbable that Ewell, Jackson, and Johnson are pouring through the gap they made day before yesterday at Front Royal, making a dash northward.  It will be a very valuable and very honorable service for General McDowell to cut them off.  I hope he will put all possible energy and speed into the effort.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R. SAXTON.

War department, May 25, 1862.

General Saxton, Harper’s Ferry: 

If Banks reaches Martinsburg, is he any the better for it?  Will not the enemy cut him from thence to Harper’s Ferry?  Have you sent anything to meet him and assist him at Martinsburg?  This is an inquiry, not an order.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R. SAXTON.

War department, May 25, 1862. 6.30 P.M.

General Saxton, Harper’s Ferry: 

One good six-gun battery, complete in its men and appointments, is now on its way to you from Baltimore.  Eleven other guns, of different sorts, are on their way to you from here.  Hope they will all reach you before morning.  As you have but 2500 men at Harper’s Ferry, where are the rest which were in that vicinity and which we have sent forward?  Have any of them been cut off?

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R. SAXTON.

War department, May 25, 1862.

General Saxton, Harper’s Ferry: 

I fear you have mistaken me.  I did not mean to question the correctness of your conduct; on the contrary!  I approve what you have done.  As the 2500 reported by you seemed small to me, I feared some had got to Banks and been cut off with him.  Please tell me the exact number you now have in hand.