Hon.  E. B. WASHBURNE.

My dear sir:—­Yours of the 12th has been in my hands several days.  Inclosed I send the leave of absence for your brother, in as good form as I think I can safely put it.  Without knowing whether he would accept it.  I have tendered the collectorship at Portland, Maine, to your other brother, the governor.

Thanks to both you and our friend Campbell for your kind words and intentions.  A second term would be a great honor and a great labor, which, together, perhaps I would not decline if tendered.

Yours truly,

A. Lincoln.

TO SECRETARY CHASE.

Executive Mansion, Washington,
October 26, 1863.

Hon.  Secretary of the treasury.

My dear sir:—­The writer of the accompanying letter is one of Mrs. Lincoln’s numerous cousins.  He is a grandson of “Milliken’s Bend,” near Vicksburg—­that is, a grandson of the man who gave name to Milliken’s Bend.  His father was a brother to Mrs. Lincoln’s mother.  I know not a thing about his loyalty beyond what he says.  Supposing he is loyal, can any of his requests be granted, and if any, which of them?

Yours truly,

A. Lincoln.

THE WRITINGS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Volume Seven

1863-1865

CONSTITUTIONAL EDITION

OPINION ON THE LOSS OF GENERAL R. H. MILROY’S DIVISION.

October 27, 1863.

In June last a division was substantially lost at or near Winchester, Va.  At the time, it was under General Milroy as immediate commander in the field, General Schenck as department commander at Baltimore, and General Halleck as general-in-chief at Washington.

General Milroy, as immediate commander, was put in arrest, and subsequently a court of inquiry examined chiefly with reference to disobedience of orders, and reported the evidence.

The foregoing is a synoptical statement of the evidence, together with the judge-advocate-general’s conclusions.  The disaster, when it came, was a surprise to all.  It was very well known to Generals Shenck and Milroy for some time before, that General Halleck thought the division was in great danger of a surprise at Winchester; that it was of no service commensurate with the risk it incurred, and that it ought to be withdrawn; but, although he more than once advised its withdrawal, he never positively ordered it.  General Schenck, on the contrary, believed the service of the force at Winchester was worth the hazard, and so did not positively order its withdrawal until it was so late that the enemy cut the wire and prevented the order reaching General Milroy.

General Milroy seems to have concurred with General Schenck in the opinion that the force should be kept at Winchester at least until the approach of danger, but he disobeyed no order upon the subject.