“That the President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall have the authority to detail from the retired list of the navy for the command of squadrons and single ships such officers as he may believe that the good of the service requires to be thus placed in command; and such officers may, if upon the recommendation of the President of the United States they shall receive a vote of thanks of Congress for their services and gallantry in action against an enemy, be restored to the active list, and not otherwise.”

In conformity with this law, Captain Louis M. Goldsborough, of the navy, was nominated to the Senate for continuance as the flag-officer in command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, which recently rendered such important service to the Union in the expedition to the coast of North Carolina.

Believing that no occasion could arise which would more fully correspond with the intention of the law or be more pregnant with happy influence as an example, I cordially recommend that Captain Louis M. Goldsborough receive a vote of thanks of Congress for his services and gallantry displayed in the combined attack of the forces commanded by him and Brigadier-General Burnside in the capture of Roanoke Island and the destruction of rebel gunboats On the 7th, 8th, and 10th of February, 1862.

Abraham Lincoln.

FIRST WRITTEN NOTICE OF GRANT

To general H. W. Halleck.

Executive Mansion, Washington,

February 16, 1862.

Major-general Halleck, St. Louis, Missouri: 

You have Fort Donelson safe, unless Grant shall be overwhelmed from outside; to prevent which latter will, I think, require all the vigilance, energy, and skill of yourself and Buell, acting in full co-operation.  Columbus will not get at Grant, but the force from Bowling Green will.  They hold the railroad from Bowling Green to within a few miles of Fort Donelson, with the bridge at Clarksville undisturbed.  It is unsafe to rely that they will not dare to expose Nashville to Buell.  A small part of their force can retire slowly toward Nashville, breaking up the railroad as they go, and keep Buell out of that city twenty days.  Meanwhile Nashville will be abundantly defended by forces from all South and perhaps from hers at Manassas.  Could not a cavalry force from General Thomas on the upper Cumberland dash across, almost unresisted, and cut the railroad at or near Knoxville, Tennessee?  In the midst of a bombardment at Fort Donelson, why could not a gunboat run up and destroy the bridge at Clarksville?  Our success or failure at Fort Donelson is vastly important, and I beg you to put your soul in the effort.  I send a copy of this to Buell.

A. Lincoln.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2.—­IN RELATION TO STATE PRISONERS.