TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. HOOKER 1 WASHINGTON, D. C., 1 May 6, 1863. 12.25 P. M. Major-General Hooker: We have through General Dix the contents of Richmond papers of the 5th. General Dix's despatch in full is going to you by Captain Fox of the navy. The substance is General Lee's despatch of the 3d (Sunday), claiming that he had beaten you, and that you were then retreating across the Rappahannock, distinctly stating that two of Longstreet's divisions fought you on Saturday, and that General [E. F.] Paxton was killed, Stonewall Jackson severely wounded, and Generals Heth and A. P. Hill slightly wounded. The Richmond papers also stated, upon what authority not mentioned, that our cavalry have been at Ashland, Hanover Court House, and other points, destroying several locomotives and a good deal of other property, and all the railroad bridges to within five miles of Richmond. A. LINCOLN. 1 When Lincoln read the telegram to the War Department from General Butterfield, Hooker's chief of staff, reporting the withdrawal of the army from the south side of the Rappahannock, he was for a moment in despair. This he quickly overcame. Ordering a steamer to be ready, he summoned General Halleck and in little over an hour was on his way to Hooker's headquarters. The next day he had the situation in hand, and was planning an advance upon Richmond, TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. HOOKER WASHINGTON, D. C., May 6, 1863. 12.30 P. M. General Hooker: Just as I had telegraphed you contents of Richmond papers showing that our cavalry has not failed, I received General Butterfield's of II A. M. yesterday. This, with the great rain of yesterday and last night securing your right flank, I think puts a new face upon your case; but you must be the judge. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO COLONEL R. INGALLS WASHINGTON, D. C., May 6, 1863. 1.45 P. M. Colonel Ingalls: News has gone to General Hooker which may change his plans. Act in view of such contingency. A. LINCOLN. LETTER TO GENERAL J. HOOKER HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, My dear Sir: The recent movement of your army is ended without effecting its object, except, perhaps, some important breakings of the enemy's communications. What next? If possible, I would be very glad of another movement early enough to give us some benefit from the fact of the enemy's communication being broken; but neither for this reason nor any other do I wish anything done in desperation or rashness. An early movement would also help to supersede the bad moral effect of the recent one, which is said to be considerably injurious. Have you already in your mind a plan wholly or partially formed? If you have, prosecute it without interference from me. If you have not, please inform me, so that I, incompetent as I may be, can try and assist in the formation of some plan for the army. Yours as ever, A. LINCOLN. PROCLAMATION CONCERNING ALIENS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF W AMERICA A PROCLAMATION. HEREAS, the Congress of the United States, at its last session, enacted a law entitled "An act for enrolling and calling out the national forces and for other purposes," which was approved on the third day of March last; and Whereas, it is recited in the said act that there now exists in the United States an insurrection and rebellion against the authority thereof, and it is, under the Constitution of the United States, the duty of the government to suppress insurrection and rebellion, to guarantee to each State a republican form of government, and to preserve the public tranquillity; and 1 The purport of this proclamation was to sustain and make effective the draft bill which, after bitter opposition in both houses, had been finally passed the previous February, and to define the position of aliens who had already declared their intention of becoming citizens. It was shortly after this that the draft riots broke out in New York City, largely due to its foreign-born population, Whereas, for these high purposes a military force is indispensable, to raise and support which all persons ought willingly to contribute; and Whereas, no service can be more praiseworthy and honorable than that which is rendered for the maintenance of the Constitution and Union, and the consequent preservation of free government; and Whereas, for the reasons thus recited, it was enacted by the said statute that all able-bodied male citizens of the United States, and persons of foreign birth who shall have declared on oath their intention to become citizens under and in pursuance of the laws thereof, between the ages of twenty and forty-five years (with certain exceptions not necessary to be here mentioned), are declared to constitute the national forces, and shall be liable to perform military duty in the service of the United States when called out by the President for that purpose; and Whereas, it is claimed by and in behalf of persons of foreign birth within the ages specified in said act, who have heretofore declared on oath their intentions to become citizens under and in pursuance of the laws of the United States, and who have not exercised the right of suffrage or any other political franchise under the laws of the United States, or of any of the |