Abraham Lincoln Papers

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Abraham Lincoln papers 1 From Adolph Von Steinwehr to Abraham Lincoln [With Endorsement by Lincoln] , January 30, 1863 1 General Von Steinwehr was a division commander in the 11th Corps. In his earlier letter to General Sigel, he complained of the appointment of Carl Schurz as commander of that Corps. According to Von Steinwehr, Schurz, his junior in seniority, lacked both military knowledge and experience as compared to his own. See Von Steinwehr to Franz Sigel, January 20, 1863. Washington Jan. 30th. 1863. Sir, 2 I herewith enclose a letter, which I addressed ten days ago to Major General Fr. Sigel.— Thus far I have not received a reply.— 2 The enclosure is apparently a copy of Von Steinwehr to Franz Sigel, January 20, 1863. The facts recited in this letter clearly show my relations with Gen'l Sigel, and that the latter always entertained the most favorable views of my capacity and faithfullness.— I am informed that General Schurz upon arriving in Camp with your ordre to take the Command of the Corps, assembled the Officers & men & made a speech, wherein he declined to take the command, and (as he expressed it) “waived his claims in favor of Gen'l Stahel, his brave comrade”.— General Schurz while he may decline to take the command, has of course no right to waive his claims in favor of any one of his selection.— General Schurz is expected to arrive in town shortly when he will exert himself in favor of General Stahel. I am ignorant of the motives of Gen'l Schurz, but I know of no better way of protecting my position, than by submitting the above facts together with the enclosed letter to your consideration.— I am the Senior Brig. Gen'l. of the Corps, have faithfully served from the beginning of the war & possess the full confidence of all those Officers of the Corps who are Soldiers by education and profession. — Neither Gen'l Schurz nor Gen'l Stahel are educated Soldiers.— I have commanded a Regiment, a Brigade and a Division longer, than either.— Abraham Lincoln papers http://www.loc.gov/resource/mal.2143400 As General Schurz has declined the Command, I trust, that your Excellency will confer it upon me, as 3 the one entitled to it by Seniority, ability and experience.— 3 Von Steinwehr did command the 11th Corps, but only from February 22 to March 5, 1863. I have the honor to be Your most obedient Servant A. von Steinwehr, Brig. Gen'l. Comd Division [Endorsed on Envelope by Lincoln:] Gen. Steinwehr. Abraham Lincoln papers http://www.loc.gov/resource/mal.2143400.

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Episode 210: Prelude to Cedar Creek Week of October 12-October 18
Episode 210: Prelude to Cedar Creek Week of October 12-October 18, 1864 When Ulysses Grant took over command of all United States armies, he devised a plan to totally annihilate the Confederacy from multiple directions. While Grant and George Meade attacked Robert E. Lee and pushed him back toward Richmond, William Tecumseh Sherman would invade Georgia, Nathaniel Banks would attack Mobile, Alabama and Franz Sigel would invade the Shenandoah Valley, the Confederacy’s “breadbasket”. The Valley Campaign did not start well for the Union as Sigel’s troops were defeated at New Market in May by a Confederate army that included VMI cadets. Sigel was replaced by David Hunter. Hunter resumed the offensive in early June and pushed the Confederates all the way up the valley to Lexington, where Hunter burned most of the VMI campus. Hunter then turned his sites on Lynchburg, but he was headed off there by reinforced Confederate troops under Jubal Early. On June 18, Hunter withdrew into West Virginia. Robert E. Lee, concerned about the lack of supplies and food that would result from Union control of the valley, ordered Early to go on the offensive. He also wanted Early to provide a diversion to relieve the pressure Lee was feeling from Grant’s offensive. Early moved down the valley with little Union opposition and in early July moved into Maryland, defeating a Union force at Frederick. From there he actually reached the outskirts of Washington, DC, fighting a battle that concerned Abraham Lincoln so much that he watched it in person. Not being able to make more progress, Early withdrew back into Virginia, where he defeated the Union again near Winchester at the Second Battle of Kernstown.
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