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without consulting me。
A。 LINCOLN。
FROM SECRETARY STANTON TO GENERAL McCLELLAN。
WASHINGTON； May 18； 1862。
GENERAL：
Your despatch to the President； asking reinforcements； has been
received and carefully considered。
The President is not willing to uncover the capital entirely； and it
is believed that； even if this were prudent； it would require more
time to effect a junction between your army and that of the
Rappahannock by the way of the Potomac and York rivers than by a land
march。 In order； therefore； to increase the strength of the attack
upon Richmond at the earliest moment； General McDowell has been
ordered to march upon that city by the shortest route。 He is
ordered； keeping himself always in position to save the capital from
all possible attack； so to operate as to put his left wing in
communication with your right wing； and you are instructed to co…
operate so as to establish this communication as soon as possible by
extending your right…wing to the north of Richmond。
It is believed that this communication can be safely established
either north or south of the Pamunkey River。
In any event； you will be able to prevent the main body of the
enemy's forces from leaving Richmond and falling in overwhelming
force upon General McDowell。 He will move with between thirty…five
and forty thousand men。
A copy of the instructions to General McDowell are with this。 The
specific task assigned to his command has been to provide against any
danger to the capital of the nation。
At your earnest call for reinforcements； he is sent forward to co…
operate in the reduction of Richmond； but charged； in attempting
this； not to uncover the city of Washington； and you will give no
order； either before or after your junction； which can put him out of
position to cover this city。 You and he will communicate with each
other by telegraph or otherwise as frequently as may be necessary for
efficient cooperation。 When General McDowell is in position on your
right； his supplies must be drawn from West Point； and you will
instruct your staff…officers to be prepared to supply him by that
route。
The President desires that General McDowell retain the command of the
Department of the Rappahannock and of the forces with which he moves
forward。
By order of the President：
EDWIN M。 STANTON； Secretary of War。
MAJOR…GENERAL GEORGE B。 McCLELLAN；
Commanding Army of the Potomac； before Richmond。
PROCLAMATION REVOKING
GENERAL HUNTER'S ORDER
OF MILITARY EMANCIPATION； MAY 19； 1862。
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA：
A Proclamation
Whereas there appears in the public prints what purports to be a
proclamation of Major general Hunter； in the words and figures
following； to wit：
（General Orders No。 11）
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH； HILTON HEAD； PORT ROYAL； S。 C。；
May 9； 1862。
〃The three States of Georgia； Florida； and South Carolina； comprising
the military department of the South； having deliberately declared
themselves no longer under the protection of the United States of
America； and having taken up arms against the said United States； it
became a military necessity to declare martial law。 This was
accordingly done on the 25th day of April； 1862。 Slavery and martial
law in a free country are altogether incompatible。 The persons in
these three States： Georgia Florida； and South Carolinaheretofore
held as slaves are therefore declared forever free。
〃By command of Major…General D。 Hunter：
〃（Official。）ED。 W。 SMITH；
〃Acting Assistant Adjutant…General。〃
And whereas the same is producing some excitement and
misunderstanding： therefore；
I； Abraham Lincoln； President of the United States； proclaim and
declare that the Government of the United States； had no knowledge；
information； or belief of an intention on the part of General Hunter
to issue such a proclamation； nor has it yet any authentic
information that the document is genuine。 And further； that neither
General Hunter nor any other commander or person has been authorized
by the Government of the United States to make a proclamation
declaring the slaves of any State free； and that the supposed
proclamation now in question； whether genuine or false； is altogether
void so far as respects such a declaration。
I further make known that whether it be competent for me； as
commander…in…chief of the army and navy； to declare the slaves of any
State or States free； and whether； at any time； in any case； it shall
have become a necessity indispensable to the maintenance of the
government to exercise such supposed power； are questions which under
my responsibility I reserve to myself； and which I cannot feel
justified in leaving to the decision of commanders in the field。
These are totally different questions from those of police
regulations in armies and camps。
On the sixth day of March last； by special message； I recommended to
Congress the adoption of a joint resolution； to be substantially as
follows：
Resolved； That the United States ought to co…operate with any State
which may adopt gradual abolishment of slavery； giving to such State
pecuniary aid； to be used by such State； in its discretion； to
compensate for the inconvenience； public and private； produced by
such change of system。
The resolution in the language above quoted was adopted by large
majorities in both branches of Congress； and now stands an authentic；
definite； and solemn proposal of the nation to the States and people
most immediately interested in the subject…matter。 To the people of
those States I now earnestly appeal。 I do not argueI beseech you
to make arguments for yourselves。 You cannot； if you would； be blind
to the signs of the times。 I beg of you a calm and enlarged
consideration of them； ranging； if it may be； far above personal and
partisan politics。 This proposal makes common cause for a common
object； casting no reproaches upon any。 It acts not the Pharisee。
The change it contemplates would come gently as the dews of heaven；
not rending or wrecking anything。 Will you not embrace it？ So much
good has not been done； by one effort； in all past time； as in the
providence of God it is now your high privilege to do。 May the vast
future not have to lament that you have neglected it。
In witness whereof； I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal
of the United States to be affixed。
Done at the city of Washington； this nineteenth day of May； in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty…two； and of
the independence of the United States the eighty…sixth。
ABRAHAM LINCOLN。
By the President：
WILLIAM H。 SEWARD； Secretary of State。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G。 E。 McCLELLAN。
WASHINGTON； May 21； 1862。
MAJOR…GENERAL McCLELLAN：
I have just been waited on by a large committee who present a