Record Data
Source citation
Abraham Lincoln to Joseph Hooker, Wednesday, June 10, 1863 (Lee's army is Hooker's objective), Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress, http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/malhome.html.
Type
Letter
Date Certainty
Exact
Transcriber
Transcribed by the Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College, Galesburg, IL
Adapted by John Osborne, Dickinson College
Transcription date
Transcription
The following transcript has been adapted from the Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress.
"Cypher"
United States Military Telegraph
War Department--
Washington D.C. June 10, 1863.
Major General Hooker
Your long despatch of to-day is just received. If left to me, I would not go South of the Rappahannock, upon Lee's moving North of it. If you have Richmond invested to-day, you would not be able to take it in twenty days; meanwhile, your communications, and with them, your Army would be ruined-- I think Lee's Army, and not Richmond, is your true objective point-- If he comes towards the Upper Potomac, follow on his flank, and on the inside track, shortening your lines, whilst he lengthens his-- Fight him when oppertunity offers.-- If he stays where he is, fret him, and fret him--
A Lincoln
[ Endorsed by Lincoln:]
Gen. Hooker, June 10. 1863.
