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are engaged； a war may ensue between the United States and one； two；
or even more European nations。 War in any case is as exceptionable
from the habits as it is revolting from the sentiments of the
American people。 But if it come； it will be fully seen that it
results from the action of Great Britain； not our own； that Great
Britain will have decided to fraternize with our domestic enemy；
either without waiting to hear from you our remonstrances and our
warnings； or after having heard them。 War in defense of national
life is not immoral； and war in defense of independence is an
inevitable part of the discipline of nations。
The dispute will be between the European and the American branches of
the British race。 All who belong to that race will especially
deprecate it； as they ought。 It may well be believed that men of
every race and kindred will deplore it。 A war not unlike it between
the same parties occurred at the close of the last century。 Europe
atoned by forty years of suffering for the error that Great Britain
committed in provoking that contest。 If that nation shall now repeat
the same great error； the social convulsions which will follow may
not be so long； but they will be more general。 When they shall have
ceased； it will； we think； be seen； whatever may have been the
fortunes of other nations； that it is not the United States that will
have come out of them with its precious Constitution altered or its
honestly obtained dominion in any degree abridged。 Great Britain has
but to wait a few months and all her present inconveniences will
cease with all our own troubles。 If she take a different course； she
will calculate for herself the ultimate as well as the immediate
consequences； and will consider what position she will hold when she
shall have forever lost the sympathies and the affections of the only
nation on whose sympathies and affections she has a natural claim。
In making that calculation she will do well to remember that in the
controversy she proposes to open we shall be actuated by neither
pride； nor passion； nor cupidity； nor ambition； but we shall stand
simply on the principle of self…preservation； and that our cause will
involve the independence of nations and the rights of human nature。
I am； Sir； respectfully your obedient servant；
W。 H。 S。
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS； Esq。； etc；
TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR；
EXECUTIVE MANSION； May 21； 1861。
HON。 SECRETARY OF WAR。
MY DEAR SIR：Why cannot Colonel Small's Philadelphia regiment be
received？ I sincerely wish it could。 There is something strange
about it。 Give these gentlemen an interview； and take their
regiment。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO GOVERNOR MORGAN。
WASHINGTON； May 12； 1861
GOVERNOR E。 D。 MORGAN； Albany； N。Y。
I wish to see you face to face to clear these difficulties about
forwarding troops from New York。
A。 LINCOLN。
TO CAPTAIN DAHLGREEN。
EXECUTIVE； MANSION； May 23； 1863。
CAPT。 DAHLGREEN。
MY DEAR SIR：Allow me to introduce Col。 J。 A。 McLernand； M。C。 of my
own district in Illinois。 If he should desire to visit Fortress
Monroe； please introduce him to the captain of one of the vessels in
our service； and pass him down and back。
Yours very truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
LETTER OF CONDOLENCE TO ONE OF FIRST CASUALTIES
TO COLONEL ELLSWORTH'S PARENTS；
WASHINGTON； D。C。； May 25； 1861
TO THE FATHER AND MOTHER
OF COL。 ELMER E。 ELLSWORTH。
MY DEAR SIR AND MADAME：In the untimely loss of your noble son； our
affliction here is scarcely less than your own。 So much of promised
usefulness to one's country； and of bright hopes for one's self and
friends； have never been so suddenly dashed as in his fall。 In size；
in years； and in youthful appearance a boy only； his power to command
men was surpassingly great。 This power； combined with a fine
intellectual and indomitable energy； and a taste altogether military；
constituted in him； as seemed to me； the best natural talent in that
department I ever knew。 And yet he was singularly modest and
deferential in social intercourse。 My acquaintance with him began
less than two years ago； yet； through the latter half of the
intervening period； it was as intense as the disparity of our ages
and my engrossing engagements would permit。 To me he appeared to
have no indulgences or pastimes； and I never heard him utter a
profane or an intemperate word。 What was conclusive of his good
heart； he never forgot his parents。 The honors he labored for so
laudably； and for which； in the sad end； he so gallantly gave his
life； he meant for them no less than for himself。
In the hope that it may be no intrusion upon the sacredness of your
sorrow； I have ventured to address you this tribute to the memory of
my young friend and your brave and early fallen son。
May God give you the consolation which is beyond all early power。
Sincerely your friend in common affliction；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO COLONEL BARTLETT。
WASHINGTON； May 27； 1861
COL。 W。 A。 BARTLETT； New York。
The Naval Brigade was to go to Fort Monroe without trouble to the
government； and must so go or not at all。
A。 LINCOLN。
MEMORANDUM ABOUT INDIANA REGIMENTS。
WASHINGTON； JUNE 11； 1861
The government has already accepted ten regiments from the State of
Indiana。 I think at least six more ought to be received from that
State； two to be those of Colonel James W。 McMillan and Colonel
William L。 Brown； and the other four to be designated by the Governor
of the State of Indiana； and to be received into the volunteer
service of the United States according to the 〃Plan of Organization〃
in the General Orders of the War Department； No。15。 When they report
to Major…General McClellan in condition to pass muster according to
that order； and with the approval of the Secretary of War to be
indorsed hereon； and left in his department； I direct that the whole
six； or any smaller number of such regiments； be received。
A。 LINCOLN。
TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； JUNE 13； 1861
HON。 SECRETARY OF WAR。
MY DEAR SIR：There is； it seems； a regiment in Massachusetts
commanded by Fletcher Webster； and which HON。 Daniel Webster's old
friends very much wish to get into the service。 If it can be
received with the approval of your department and the consent of the
Governor of Massachusetts I shall indeed be much gratified。 Give Mr。
Ashmun a chance to explain fully。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； JUNE 13； 1861
HON。 SECRETARY OF WAR。
MY DEAR SIR …I think it is entirely safe to accept a fifth regiment
from Michigan； and with your approbation I should say a regiment
presented by Col。 T。 B。 W。 Stockton； ready for service within two
weeks from now； will be received。 Look at Colonel Stockton's
testimonials。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； June 17； 1861
HON。 SECRETARY Of WAR。
MY DEAR SIR：With your concurrence； and that of the Governor of
Indiana； I am in favor of accepting into what we call the three
years' service any number not exceeding four additional regiments
from that State。 Probably they should come from the triangular
region between the Ohio and Wabash Rivers； including my own old
boyhood home。 Please see HON。 C。 M。 Allen； Speaker of the Indiana
House of Representatives； and unless you perceive good reason to the
contrary； draw up an order for him according to the above。
Yours truly；
A。 LINCOLN。
TO THE SECRETARY OF WAR。
EXECUTIVE MANSION； JUNE 17；1861
HON。 SECRETARY OF WAR。
MY DEAR SIR：With your concurrence； and that of the Governor of
Ohio； I am in favor of receiving into what we