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count upon much assistance from him； but may even have to release
him。 Reports received this moment are that Banks is fighting with
Ewell eight miles from Winchester。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL McDOWELL。
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON CITY； D。C。； May 24； 1862
MAJOR…GENERAL I。 McDOWELL：
I am highly gratified by your alacrity in obeying my order。 The
change was as painful to me as it can possibly be to you or to any
one。 Everything now depends upon the celerity and vigor of your
movement。
A。 LINCOLN
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J。 W。 GEARY。
WAR DEPARTMENT； May 25； 1862 1。45 P。M。
GENERAL GEARY； White Plains：
Please give us your best present impression as to the number of the
enemy's forces north of Strasburg and Front Royal。 Are the forces
still moving north through the gap at Front Royal and between you and
there？
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。
WASHINGTON； May 25； 1862。 2 P。M。
MAJOR…GENERAL McCLELLAN：
The enemy is moving north in sufficient force to drive General Banks
before himprecisely in what force we cannot tell。 He is also
threatening Leesburg and Geary； on the Manassas Gap railroad； from
both north and southin precisely what force we cannot tell。 I
think the movement is a general and concerted one； such as would not
be if he was acting upon the purpose of a very desperate defense of
Richmond。 I think the time is near when you must either attack
Richmond or give up the job and come to the defense of Washington。
Let me hear from you instantly。
A。 LINCOLN； President。
ORDER TAKING MILITARY POSSESSION OF RAILROADS。
WAR DEPARTMENT； May 25； 1862。
Ordered： By virtue of the authority vested by act of Congress； the
President takes military possession of all the railroads in the
United States from and after this date until further order； and
directs that the respective railroad companies； their officers and
servants； shall hold themselves in readiness for the transportation
of such troops and munitions of war as may be ordered by the military
authorities； to the exclusion of all other business。
By order of the Secretary of War。
M。 C。 MEIGS
TELEGRAM TO SECRETARY CHASE。
WAR DEPARTMENT； May 25； 1862。
SECRETARY CHASE； Fredericksburg； Virginia：
It now appears that Banks got safely into Winchester last night； and
is this morning retreating on Harper's Ferry。 This justifies the
inference that he is pressed by numbers superior to his own。 I think
it not improbable that Ewell； Jackson； and Johnson are pouring
through the gap they made day before yesterday at Front Royal； making
a dash northward。 It will be a very valuable and very honorable
service for General McDowell to cut them off。 I hope he will put all
possible energy and speed into the effort。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R。 SAXTON。
WAR DEPARTMENT； May 25； 1862。
GENERAL SAXTON； Harper's Ferry：
If Banks reaches Martinsburg； is he any the better for it？ Will not
the enemy cut him from thence to Harper's Ferry？ Have you sent
anything to meet him and assist him at Martinsburg？ This is an
inquiry； not an order。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R。 SAXTON。
WAR DEPARTMENT； May 25； 1862。 6。30 P。M。
GENERAL SAXTON； Harper's Ferry：
One good six…gun battery； complete in its men and appointments； is
now on its way to you from Baltimore。 Eleven other guns； of
different sorts； are on their way to you from here。 Hope they will
all reach you before morning。 As you have but 2500 men at Harper's
Ferry； where are the rest which were in that vicinity and which we
have sent forward？ Have any of them been cut off？
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL R。 SAXTON。
WAR DEPARTMENT； May 25； 1862。
GENERAL SAXTON； Harper's Ferry：
I fear you have mistaken me。 I did not mean to question the
correctness of your conduct； on the contrary1 I approve what you have
done。 As the 2500 reported by you seemed small to me； I feared some
had got to Banks and been cut off with him。 Please tell me the exact
number you now have in hand。
A。 LINCOLN。
TELEGRAM TO GENERAL G。 B。 McCLELLAN。
＇Sent in cipher。＇
WAR DEPARTMENT； WASHINGTON CITY； D。 C。； May 25；1862。 8。30 P。M。
MAJOR…GENERAL McCLELLAN：
Your despatch received。 General Banks was at Strasburg； with about
6；000 men； Shields having been taken from him to swell a column for
McDowell to aid you at Richmond； and the rest of his force scattered
at various places。 On the 23d a rebel force of 7000 to 10；000 fell
upon one regiment and two companies guarding the bridge at Front
Royal； destroying it entirely； crossed the Shenandoah； and on the
24th （yesterday） pushed to get north of Banks； on the road to
Winchester。 Banks ran a race with them； beating them into Winchester
yesterday evening。 This morning a battle ensued between the two
forces； in which Banks was beaten back into full retreat toward
Martinsburg； and probably is broken up into a total rout。 Geary； on
the Manassas Gap railroad； just now reports that Jackson is now near
Front Royal； With 10；000； following up and supporting； as I
understand； the forces now pursuing Banks； also that another force of
10；000 is near Orleans； following on in the same direction。 Stripped
here； as we are here； it will be all we can do to prevent them
crossing the Potomac at Harper's Ferry or above。 We have about
20；000 of McDowell's force moving back to the vicinity of Front
Royal； and General Fremont； who was at Franklin； is moving to
Harrisonburg； both these movements intended to get in the enemy's
rear。
One more of McDowell's brigades is ordered through here to Harper's
Ferry； the rest of his force remains for the present at
Fredericksburg。 We are sending such regiments and dribs from here
and Baltimore as we can spare to Harper's Ferry； supplying their
places in some sort by calling in militia from the adjacent States。
We also have eighteen cannon on the road to Harper's Ferry； of which
arm there is not a single one yet at that point。 This is now our
situation。
If McDowell's force was now beyond our reach； we should be utterly
helpless。 Apprehension of something like this； and no unwillingness
to sustain you； has always been my reason for withholding McDowell's
force from you。 Please understand this； and do the best you can with
the force you have。
A。 LINCOLN。
HISTORY OF CONSPIRACY OF REBELLION
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS。
MAY 16； 1862
TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES：
The insurrection which is yet existing in the United States and aims
at the overthrow of the Federal Constitution and the Union； was
clandestinely prepared during the Winter of 1860 and 1861； and
assumed an open organization in the form of a treas