Yours of to-day was received an hour ago.  So much of professional military skill is requisite to answer it that I have turned the task over to General Halleck.  He promises to perform it with his utmost care.  I have but one idea which I think worth suggesting to you, and that is, in case you find Lee coming to the north of the Rappahannock, I would by no means cross to the south of it.  If he should leave a rear force at Fredericksburg, tempting you to fall upon it, it would fight in entrenchments and have you at advantage, and so, man for man, worst you at that point, While his main force would in some way be getting an advantage of you northward.  In one word, I would not take any risk of being entangled up on the river like an ox jumped half over a fence and liable to be torn by dogs front and rear without a fair chance to gore one way or to kick the other.

If Lee would come to my side of the river I would keep on the same side and fight him, or act on the defensive, according as might be my estimate of his strength relatively to my own.  But these are mere suggestions, which I desire to be controlled by the judgment of yourself and General Halleck.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO MRS. GRIMSLEY.

Washington, D. C., June 6, 1863.

Mrs. Elizabeth J. Grimsley, Springfield, Ill.: 

Is your John ready to enter the naval school?  If he is, telegraph me his full name.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX,

War department, Washington, D.C., June 6, 1863.

Major-general Dix, Fort Monroe, Va.: 

By noticing the news you send from the Richmond Dispatch of this morning you will see one of the very latest despatches says they have nothing reliable from Vicksburg since Sunday.  Now we here have a despatch from there Sunday and others of almost every day preceding since the investment, and while they show the siege progressing they do not show any general fighting since the 21st and 22d.  We have nothing from Port Hudson later than the 29th when things looked reasonably well for us.  I have thought this might be of some interest to you.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX.

Executive Mansion, Washington, June 8, 1863.

Major-general Dix, Fort Monroe: 

We have despatches from Vicksburg of the 3d.  Siege progressing.  No general fighting recently.  All well.  Nothing new from Port Hudson.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL DIX.

War department, Washington, D.C.  June 8, 1863.

Major-general Dix, Fort Monroe: