EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, July 13,
1862.
Major-General McCLELLAN:
MY DEAR SIR: I am told that over 160,000 men have gone into
your army on the Peninsula. When I was with you the other day we made out
86,500 remaining, leaving 73,500 to be accounted for. I believe 23,500 will
cover all the killed, wounded, and missing in all your battles and skirmishes,
leaving 50,000 who have left otherwise. Not more than 5,000 of these have died,
leaving 45,000 of your army still alive and not with it. I believe half or
two-thirds of them are fit for duty to-day. Have you any more perfect knowledge
of this than I have? If I am right, and you had these men with you, you could
go into Richmond in the next three days. How can they be got to you, and how
can they be prevented from getting away in such numbers for the future?
A. LINCOLN.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
11, Part 3 (Serial No. 14), p. 319
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