storm and mud will not damage our pros

pects.

Very respectfully, etc.,

JOSEPH HOOKER,

Major-General Commanding.

Executive Mansion,

Washington, D. C., April 15, 1863. Major-General Hooker:

It is now 10.15 P. M. An hour ago I received your letter of this morning, and a few hours later your dispatch of this evening. The rain and mud, of course, were to be calculated upon. General S. is not moving rapidly enough to make the expedition come to anything. He has now been out three days, two of which were unusually fair weather, and all three without hindrance from the enemy, and yet he is not twenty-five miles from where he started. To reach his point he still has sixty to go, another river (the Rapidan) to cross, and will be hindered by the enemy. By arithmetic, how many days Iwill it take him to do it?

I do not know that any better can be done, but I greatly fear it is another failure already. Write me often, I am very anxious.

Yours truly,

A. LINCOLN.

Headquarters Army of the Potomac, April 17, 1863—9 A. M. His Excellency the President of the United States.

MR. PRESIDENT: I have the honor to acknowledge your communication of the night of the 15th instant, and, in compliance with your request, transmit herewith a letter from General Stoneman, dated the 16th instant.

His failure to accomplish speedily the objects of his expedition is a source of deep regret to me, but I can find nothing in his conduct of it requiring my animadversion or censure. We cannot control the elements.

I do not regard him out of position, as, in case of an advance of so large an army, it would be necessary to throw the main portion of his forces well on to my right flank. It would take until doomsday to pass all this army over one or two lines. No one, Mr. President, can be more anxious than myself to relieve your cares and anxieties. We have no reason to suppose that the enemy have any knowledge of the design of General Stoneman's movement.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

JOSEPH HOOKER,

Major-General.

Headquarters Army of the Potomac,

Major-General Stoneman,

April 22, 1863.

Commanding Cavalry Corps,

Warrenton Junction, Va.:

Your telegram of this date received. It is hoped the arrival of the trains has enabled you to replenish your supplies, both of subsistence and forage, and it is expected that you are again prepared for a forward movement. The Commanding General therefore directs that you proceed across the river tomorrow morning, if the fords are practicable. The General does not look for one moment's delay in your advance from any cause that human effort can obviate, and directs me to add that this army is awaiting your movement. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Camp near Falmouth, Va., April 26, 1863. Commanding Officers, Eleventh and Twelfth Corps:

near

I am directed by the Major-General commanding to inform you that the Eleventh and Twelfth Corps, in the order named, will begin their march at sunrise to-morrow morning, the former to encamp as Kelly's Ford as practicable without discovering itself to the enemy, and the latter as nearly in its rear as circumstances will permit. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Camp near Falmouth, Va., April 27, 1863-1 A. M. The Commanding Officer, Fifth Corps: The Major-General commanding directs me to inform you that your corps is to march to-morrow, so as to reach the vicinity of Kelly's Ford by Tuesday at 4 o'clock. The corps of Generals Slocum and Howard take the same direction (and will be on the same route, probably) from Hartwood.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, DAN'L BUTTERFIELD,

Major-General, Chief of Staff.

Camp near Falmouth, Va., April 27, 1863.
Commanding Officer, Second Corps.

GENERAL: The Major-General commanding directs that you move at sunrise to-morrow morning two divisions of your corps, to encamp as near as practicable to Banks' Ford without exposing your camps to the view of the enemy; that one brigade and one battery of one of these divisions take position at United States Ford; the movement to be made quietly. The division left in camp should be the one whose camps are most exposed to the view of the enemy.

S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

I am not sufficiently advanced to give an opinion. We are busy. Will tell you all soon as I can, and have it satisfactory.

JOSEPH HOOKER,
Major-General Commanding.

Camp near Falmouth, Va., April 27, 1863. Major-General Sedgwick, Commanding, etc.: The Major-General commanding directs that the Sixth Corps, Major-General Sedgwick; First Corps, Major-General Reynolds, and Third Corps, Major-General Sickles, put themselves in position to cross the river as follows: Sixth Corps at Franklin's Crossing; First Corps at the crossing below at Pollock's Mill Creek, and the Third Corps as a support to cross at either point. These movements to be made so that the respective corps are in position-the First and Sixth on or before 3.30 A. M. of the 29th and the Third Corps on or before 4.30 A. M. of the 29th.

General Sedgwick, pending the operation, will be charged with the command of the three corps mentioned, and will make a dem