500,000 men, made July 18, 1864, the number of men to be obtained under that call was reduced to 280,000; and whereas the operations of the enemy in certain States have rendered it impracticable to procure from them their full quotas of troops under said call; and whereas, from the foregoing causes but 240,000 men have been put into the army, navy, and marine corps under the said call of July 18, 1864, leaving a deficiency on that call of 260,000; Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincon, President of the United States of America, in order to supply the aforesaid deficiency, and to provide for casualties in the military and naval service of the United States, do issue this my call for 300,000 volunteers to serve for one, two, or three years. The quotas of the States, districts, and subdistricts, under this call, will be assigned by the War Department, through the Bureau of the Provost-Marshal-General of the United States, and "in case the quota, or any part thereof, of any town, township, ward of a city, precinct, or election district, or of any county not so subdivided, shall not be filled" before the fifteenth day of February, 1865, then a draft shall be made to fill such quota, or any part thereof, under this call, which may be unfilled on said fifteenth day of February, 1865. In testimony 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 December, in the year [L. S.] of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-ninth. ABRAHAM LINCOLN. By the President: WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. TELEGRAMS TO GENERAL LEW WALLACE EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., I Major-General Wallace: Several days ago sent you a despatch directing that one Waters and two others should not be sent away immediately, and asking you to send me a statement of the cause or causes of your action in regard to them. I have received nothing from you on the subject. May I again ask for such a statement, and also where the men now are? A. LINCOLN. EXECUTIVE MANSION, December 19, 1864. Major-General Wallace, Baltimore, Md.: To whom were the reports sent? I have not received them. A. LINCOLN. LETTER TO SOLDIERS' FAIR AT SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., December 19, 1864. The Ladies Managing the Soldiers' Fair: Your kind invitation to be present at the opening of your fair is duly received by the hand of Mr. Ashmun. Grateful for the compliment, and ever anxious to aid the good cause in which you are engaged, I yet am compelled, by public duties here, to decline. The recent good news from Generals Sherman, Thomas, and, indeed, from nearly all quarters, will be far better than my presence, and will afford all the impulse and enthusiasm you will need. Your obedient servant, A. LINCOLN. LETTER TO JOSEPH H. CHOATE EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., My dear Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the reception of your kind invitation to be present at the annual festival of the New England Society to commemorate the landing of the Pilgrims, on Thursday, the 22d of this month. My duties will not allow me to avail myself of your kindness. I cannot but congratulate you and the coun try, however, upon the spectacle of devoted unanimity presented by the people at home, the citizens that form our marching columns, and the citizens that fill our squadrons on the sea, all animated by the same determination to complete the work our fathers began and transmitted. The work of the Plymouth emigrants was the glory of their age. While we reverence their memory, let us not forget how vastly greater is our opportunity. I am, very truly, A. LINCOLN. Your obedient servant, LETTERS TO GENERAL B. F. BUTLER EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., Major-General Butler: On the 9th of August last, I began to write you a letter, the inclosed being a copy of so much as I then wrote. So far as it goes it embraces the views I then entertained and still entertain. A little relaxation of complaints made to me on the subject, occurring about that time, the letter was not finished and sent. I now learn, correctly I suppose, that you have ordered an election, similar to the one mentioned, to take place on the eastern shore of Virginia. Let this be suspended at least until conference with me and obtaining my approval. Yours truly, A. LINCOLN. [Inclosure.] EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., August 9, 1864. Major-General Butler: Your paper of the about Norfolk matters, is received, as also was your other, on the same general subject, dated, I believe, some time in February last. This subject has caused considerable trouble, forcing me to give a good deal of time and reflection to it. I regret that crimination and recrimination are mingled in it. I surely need not to assure you that I have no doubt of your loyalty and devoted patriotism; and I must tell you that I have no less confidence in those of Governor Pierpoint and the Attorney-General. The former at first as the loyal governor of all Virgina, including that which is now West Virginia, in organizing and furnishing troops, and in all other proper matters-was as earnest, honest, and efficient to the extent of his means as any other loyal governor. The inauguration of West Virginia as a new State left to him, as he assumed, the remainder of the old State; and the insignificance of the parts which are outside of the rebel lines, and consequently within his reach, certainly gives a somewhat farcical air to his dominion, and I suppose he, as well as I, has considered that it could be useful for little else than as a nucleus |