General Fremont has been ordered by telegraph to move from Franklin on Harrisonburg to relieve General Banks, and capture or destroy Jackson’s and Ewell’s forces.  You are instructed, laying aside for the present the movement on Richmond, to put 20,000 men in motion at once for the Shenandoah, moving on the line or in advance of the line of the Manassas Gap railroad.  Your object will be to capture the forces of Jackson and Ewell, either in co-operation with General Fremont, or, in case want of supplies or of transportation, interferes with his movements, it is believed that the force which you move will be sufficient to accomplish this object alone.  The information thus far received here makes it probable that if the enemy operate actively against General Banks, you will not be able to count upon much assistance from him, but may even have to release him.  Reports received this moment are that Banks is fighting with Ewell eight miles from Winchester.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL McDOWELL.

War department, Washington city, D.C., May 24, 1862

Major-general I. McDOWELL: 

I am highly gratified by your alacrity in obeying my order.  The change was as painful to me as it can possibly be to you or to any one.  Everything now depends upon the celerity and vigor of your movement.

A. LINCOLN

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. W. GEARY.

War department, May 25, 1862 1.45 P.M.

General Geary, White Plains: 

Please give us your best present impression as to the number of the enemy’s forces north of Strasburg and Front Royal.  Are the forces still moving north through the gap at Front Royal and between you and there?

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G. B. McCLELLAN.

Washington, May 25, 1862. 2 P.M.

Major-general McCLELLAN: 

The enemy is moving north in sufficient force to drive General Banks before him—­precisely in what force we cannot tell.  He is also threatening Leesburg and Geary, on the Manassas Gap railroad, from both north and south—­in precisely what force we cannot tell.  I think the movement is a general and concerted one, such as would not be if he was acting upon the purpose of a very desperate defense of Richmond.  I think the time is near when you must either attack Richmond or give up the job and come to the defense of Washington.  Let me hear from you instantly.

A. Lincoln, President.

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.