Already I have given you discretion to occupy Mount Jackson instead, if, on full consideration, you think best.  I do not believe Jackson will attack you, but certainly he cannot attack you by surprise; and if he comes upon you in superior force, you have but to notify us, fall back cautiously, and Banks will join you in due time.  But while we know not whether Jackson will move at all, or by what route, we cannot safely put you and Banks both on the Strasburg line, and leave no force on the Front Royal line—­the very line upon which he prosecuted his late raid.  The true policy is to place one of you on one line and the other on the other in such positions that you can unite once you actually find Jackson moving upon it.  And this is precisely what we are doing.  This protects that part of our frontier, so to speak, and liberates McDowell to go to the assistance of McClellan.  I have arranged this, and am very unwilling to have it deranged.  While you have only asked for Sigel, I have spoken only of Banks, and this because Sigel’s force is now the principal part of Bank’s force.

About transferring General Schenck’s commands, the purchase of supplies, and the promotion and appointment of officers, mentioned in your letter, I will consult with the Secretary of War to-morrow.

Yours truly,

A. Lincoln.

TO GENERAL J. C. FREMONT.

Washington, June 16, 1862

Major-general Fremont, Mount Jackson, Virginia: 

Your despatch of yesterday, reminding me of a supposed understanding that I would furnish you a corps of 35,000 men, and asking of me the “fulfilment of this understanding,” is received.  I am ready to come to a fair settlement of accounts with you on the fulfilment of understandings.

Early in March last, when I assigned you to the command of the Mountain Department, I did tell you I would give you all the force I could, and that I hoped to make it reach 35,000.  You at the same time told me that within a reasonable time you would seize the railroad at or east of Knoxville, Tenn., if you could.  There was then in the department a force supposed to be 25,000, the exact number as well known to you as to me.  After looking about two or three days, you called and distinctly told me that if I would add the Blenker division to the force already in the department, you would undertake the job.  The Blenker division contained 10,000, and at the expense of great dissatisfaction to General McClellan I took it from his army and gave it to you.  My promise was literally fulfilled.  I have given you all I could, and I have given you very nearly, if not quite, 35,000.