I am very truly,

Your obedient servant,

John Hay.

TO COLONEL, FIRST N. Y. VETERAN CAVALRY.

Executive Mansion,
Washington, July 25, 1864.

Thomas Connor, a private in the First Veteran New York Cavalry, is now imprisoned at hard labor for desertion.  If the Colonel of said Regiment will say in writing on this sheets that he is willing to receive him back to the Regiment, I will pardon, and send him.

A. Lincoln.

Telegram to general W. T. Sherman. 
Washington, July 26, 1864. 2.30 P.M.

Major-general Sherman, near Atlanta: 

I have just seen yours complaining of the appointment of Hovey and Osterhaus.  The point you make is unquestionably a good one, and yet please hear a word from us.  My recollection is that both General Grant and yourself recommended both H [ovey] and O [sterhaus] for promotion, and these, with other strong recommendations, drew committals from us which we could neither honorably or safely disregard.  We blamed H [ovey] for coming away in the manner in which he did, but he knew he had apparent reason to feel disappointed and mortified, and we felt it was not best to crush one who certainly had been a good soldier.  As to [Osterhaus], we did not know of his leaving at the time we made the appointment, and do not now know the terms on which he left.  Not to have appointed him, as the case appeared to us at the time, would have been almost, if not quite, a violation of our word.  The word was given on what we thought was high merit and somewhat on his nationality.  I beg you to believe we do not act in a spirit of disregarding merit.  We expect to await your programme for further changes and promotions in your army.  My profoundest thanks to you and your whole army for the present campaign so far.

A. Lincoln.

FROM SECRETARY STANTON TO GENERAL HALLECK.

Washington city,
July 27, 1864

Major-general Halleck,
Chief of Staff of the Army: 

General:—­Lieutenant-General Grant having signified that, owing to the difficulties and delay of communication between his headquarters and Washington, it is necessary that in the present emergency military orders must be issued directly from Washington, the President directs me to instruct you that all the military operations for the defense of the Middle Department, the Department of the Susquehanna, the Department of Washington, and the Department of West Virginia, and all the forces in those departments, are placed under your general command, and that you will be expected to take all military measures necessary for defense against any attack of the enemy and for his capture and destruction.  You will issue from time to time such orders to the commanders of the respective departments and to the military authorities therein as may be proper.