Abraham Lincoln papers

From John C. Frémont to Abraham Lincoln, June 15, 1862

Cipher

Washington D C

June 15 62

3 PM

Head Qrs Mountain

Department—

Mt Jackson 15th

I respectfully remind the President that when assigned to this command I was informed that I should have a Corps of thirty five thousand men I now ask from the President the fulfillment of this understanding and ask it only because under the conditions of the War here I should be able to render good and immediate service Such a force would enable me to take Staunton — hold the Rail road there — go down through Lexington seize the Rail Road between Lynchburg and Newburne and 1 hold it for Genl Banks troops or destroy it according to circumstances

1 Lincoln responded to Fremont's request for 35,000 men by informing the general that no reinforcements could be sent. See Collected Works, V, 273-74.

Whether from Richmond or elsewhere forces of Enemy are certainly coming into this region which the great wheat crops make a granary for him and which he will not abandon without a struggle — casualities have reduced my force to such numbers in many of the Regiments as one hundred seventy six Two hundred and fifty Three hundred and so on This makes me very weak and the small corps scattered about the country not being within supporting distances of each other as the topography of the country will show, are exposed to sudden attack by greatly superior force of an Enemy to whom intimate knowledge of country and universal friendship of inhabitants give the advantages of rapidity and secrecy of movements I respectfully submit this representation to the President taking it for granted that it is the duty of his Generals to offer for his consideration such impressions as are made by knowledge obtained on operations on the ground

Abraham Lincoln papers http://www.loc.gov/resource/mal.1649500 J C Fremont

Maj Genl

Abraham Lincoln papers http://www.loc.gov/resource/mal.1649500