My dear Sir,—­The recent movement of your army is ended without effecting its object, except, perhaps, some important breakings of the enemy’s communications.  What next?  If possible I would be very glad of another movement early enough to give us some benefit from the fact of the enemy’s communication being broken; but neither for this reason or any other do I wish any thing done in desperation or rashness.  An early movement would also help to supersede the bad moral effect of the recent one, which is said to be considerably injurious.  Have you already in your mind a plan wholly or partially formed?  If you have, prosecute it without interference from me.  If you have not, please inform me, so that I, incompetent as I may be, can try and assist in the formation of some plan for the army.

Yours, as ever,
A. Lincoln.

Headquartersarmy of the Potomac,
camp near Falmouth, Va., May 7, 1863.

His Excellency, President of the United States.

I have the honor to acknowledge your communication of this date, and in answer have to state that I do not deem it expedient to suspend operations on this line, from the reverse we have experienced in endeavoring to extricate the army from its present position.  If in the first effort we failed, it was not for want of strength or conduct of the small number of troops actually engaged, but from a cause which could not be foreseen, and could not be provided against.  After its occurrence the chances of success were so much lessened, that I felt another plan might be adopted in place of that we were engaged in, which would be more certain in its results.  At all events, a failure would not involve a disaster, while in the other case it was certain to follow the absence of success.  I may add that this consideration almost wholly determined me in ordering the army to return to its old camp.  As to the best time for renewing our advance upon the enemy, I can only decide after an opportunity has been afforded to learn the feeling of the troops.  They should not be discouraged or depressed, for it is no fault of theirs (if I may except one corps) that our last efforts were not crowned with glorious victory.  I suppose details are not wanted of me at this time.  I have decided in my own mind the plan to be adopted in our next effort, if it should be your wish to have one made.  It has this to recommend it:  it will be one in which the operations of all the corps, unless it be a part of the cavalry, will be within my personal supervision.

Very respectfully, etc.,
Joseph Hooker,
Major-General Commanding.

Headquartersarmy of Northern Virginia,
May 7, 1863. 
Major-gen.  Hooker,
Commanding Army of the Potomac.

General,—­The reasons that prevented me from complying with your request with reference to your wounded no longer existing, I have the honor to inform you that you can extend to them such attentions as they may require.  All persons whom it may he necessary to send within my lines for this purpose will remain until the wounded are finally disposed of.  The burial of your dead has already been provided for.