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PROPERTY FROM THE FORBES COLLECTION
LINCOLN, Abraham. Autograph telegram signed ("A.Lincoln") as President, TO GENERAL GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Washington, D.C., 10 September 1862. 1 page, oblong 8vo, one line with signature and accomplished date line, on partly printed Washington City stationery, signature and one word slightly pale, minor traces of mounting on verso.
Details
LINCOLN, Abraham. Autograph telegram signed ("A.Lincoln") as President, TO GENERAL GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Washington, D.C., 10 September 1862. 1 page, oblong 8vo, one line with signature and accomplished date line, on partly printed Washington City stationery, signature and one word slightly pale, minor traces of mounting on verso.
"HOW DOES IT LOOK NOW?": ACT I OF THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM
On 10 September 1862, at 10:15 in the morning, President Lincoln telegraphs a short, terse query to General McClellan, commanding the Army of the Potomac in Rocksville, Maryland: "How does it look now?"
"It" was McClellan's probing movements into Maryland, trying to find Robert E. Lee, who after a string of victories, was making his boldest move yet by taking the fight north of the Mason-Dixon line. Lee hoped to inflame anti-war sentiment and perhaps bring about the recognition of Southern Independence by Washington. His tactical moves were as bold as his political goals. The day before this telegram, on 9 September, he took the dangerous step of dividing his army into two parts: six divisions led by General "Stonewall" Jackson moved on Harper's Ferry, while three divisions commanded by General Longstreet moved on Hagerstown.
McClellan, not yet aware of Lee's vulnerable condition, or even his location, promptly responded to Lincoln's telegram with a rambling letter that again demonstrated his penchant to overestimate his enemy and his focus on scraps of intelligence. "I have the honor to state that Gen[era]l Pleasonton at Barnesville reports that a movement of the enemy last night is said to have been made across the Potomac...We shall know the truth of this rumour soon...Gen[era]l Burnside had his scouts out last night at Ridgeville & within (3) three miles of Newmarket, &....the main Rebel forces under Jackson were still at Frederick. Burnside has sent a strong reconnaissance today to the mountain pass at Ridgeville. I propose if the information I have rec[eive]d proves reliable regarding the natural strength of this position, to occupy it with a sufficient force to resist an advance of the enemy in that direction. I have scouts and spies pushed forward in every direction and shall soon be in possession of reliable & definite information. The statements I get regarding the enemy's forces that have crossed to this side range from eighty (80) to one hundred & fifty (150) thousand...I was informed last night by Gen[era]l Pleasonton that his information rendered it probable that Jackson's force had advanced to Newmarket with Stuart's cavalry...But the information subsequently obtained from Gen[era]l Burnside's scouts that the mass of the enemy was still at Frederick induced to suspend the movement of the right wing until I could verify the truth of the reports by means of Burnside's reconnaissances in force today....Despatch this instant rec[eive]d from Gen[era]l Pleasonton... says 'my scouts occupy the ferry at the mouth of the Monocacy...At Licksville about (3) three miles from that stream it was reported there was a force of six thousand (6000) men...'" (Sears, ed. Civil War Papers of George B. McClellan, pp.443-444).
An astounding piece of intelligence fell into Union hands three days later. McClellan's men made their famous discovery of Lee's "Lost Order," battle plans for the entire Antietam campaign, wrapped around some cigars. McClellan refused to believe them genuine; using them as yet another excuse for not taking aggressive action. Lee's total force was nowhere near "80,000 - 150,000," and probably not much more than 50,000 total. In fact, the Confederate troops at hand when McClellan finally found Lee at Antietam on 17 September numbered only about 19,000. And they had their backs to the river. McClellan still thought he was outnumbered, and over a full day of savage fighting could not crush Lee (who was soon reinforced), or even drive him across the Potomac. Some 24,000 of Little Mac's troops never even got into the fight at all. Lee slipped back across the Potomac on 18 September and McClellan had no stomach for chasing him. Once again Lincoln felt bitter disappointment at the hands of his over cautious commander. He relieved him on 7 November 1862. But the partial success of Antietam gave Lincoln just enough political momentum to announce the Emancipation Proclamation on Monday 22 September (to take effect on 1 January 1863), freeing the slaves in the rebellious states.
"HOW DOES IT LOOK NOW?": ACT I OF THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM
On 10 September 1862, at 10:15 in the morning, President Lincoln telegraphs a short, terse query to General McClellan, commanding the Army of the Potomac in Rocksville, Maryland: "How does it look now?"
"It" was McClellan's probing movements into Maryland, trying to find Robert E. Lee, who after a string of victories, was making his boldest move yet by taking the fight north of the Mason-Dixon line. Lee hoped to inflame anti-war sentiment and perhaps bring about the recognition of Southern Independence by Washington. His tactical moves were as bold as his political goals. The day before this telegram, on 9 September, he took the dangerous step of dividing his army into two parts: six divisions led by General "Stonewall" Jackson moved on Harper's Ferry, while three divisions commanded by General Longstreet moved on Hagerstown.
McClellan, not yet aware of Lee's vulnerable condition, or even his location, promptly responded to Lincoln's telegram with a rambling letter that again demonstrated his penchant to overestimate his enemy and his focus on scraps of intelligence. "I have the honor to state that Gen[era]l Pleasonton at Barnesville reports that a movement of the enemy last night is said to have been made across the Potomac...We shall know the truth of this rumour soon...Gen[era]l Burnside had his scouts out last night at Ridgeville & within (3) three miles of Newmarket, &....the main Rebel forces under Jackson were still at Frederick. Burnside has sent a strong reconnaissance today to the mountain pass at Ridgeville. I propose if the information I have rec[eive]d proves reliable regarding the natural strength of this position, to occupy it with a sufficient force to resist an advance of the enemy in that direction. I have scouts and spies pushed forward in every direction and shall soon be in possession of reliable & definite information. The statements I get regarding the enemy's forces that have crossed to this side range from eighty (80) to one hundred & fifty (150) thousand...I was informed last night by Gen[era]l Pleasonton that his information rendered it probable that Jackson's force had advanced to Newmarket with Stuart's cavalry...But the information subsequently obtained from Gen[era]l Burnside's scouts that the mass of the enemy was still at Frederick induced to suspend the movement of the right wing until I could verify the truth of the reports by means of Burnside's reconnaissances in force today....Despatch this instant rec[eive]d from Gen[era]l Pleasonton... says 'my scouts occupy the ferry at the mouth of the Monocacy...At Licksville about (3) three miles from that stream it was reported there was a force of six thousand (6000) men...'" (Sears, ed. Civil War Papers of George B. McClellan, pp.443-444).
An astounding piece of intelligence fell into Union hands three days later. McClellan's men made their famous discovery of Lee's "Lost Order," battle plans for the entire Antietam campaign, wrapped around some cigars. McClellan refused to believe them genuine; using them as yet another excuse for not taking aggressive action. Lee's total force was nowhere near "80,000 - 150,000," and probably not much more than 50,000 total. In fact, the Confederate troops at hand when McClellan finally found Lee at Antietam on 17 September numbered only about 19,000. And they had their backs to the river. McClellan still thought he was outnumbered, and over a full day of savage fighting could not crush Lee (who was soon reinforced), or even drive him across the Potomac. Some 24,000 of Little Mac's troops never even got into the fight at all. Lee slipped back across the Potomac on 18 September and McClellan had no stomach for chasing him. Once again Lincoln felt bitter disappointment at the hands of his over cautious commander. He relieved him on 7 November 1862. But the partial success of Antietam gave Lincoln just enough political momentum to announce the Emancipation Proclamation on Monday 22 September (to take effect on 1 January 1863), freeing the slaves in the rebellious states.