Selected Correspondance of Abraham Lincoln 1863 To General H. W. Halleck
by Abraham Lincoln
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
July 29, 1863
MAJOR-GENERAL HALLECK:
Seeing General Meade's despatch of yesterday to yourself causes me to
fear that he supposes the Government here is demanding of him to
bring on a general engagement with Lee as soon as possible. I am
claiming no such thing of him. In fact, my judgment is against it;
which judgment, of course, I will yield if yours and his are the
contrary. If he could not safely engage Lee at Williamsport, it
seems absurd to suppose he can safely engage him now, when he has
scarcely more than two thirds of the force he had at Williamsport,
while it must be that Lee has been reinforced. True, I desired
General Meade to pursue Lee across the Potomac, hoping, as has proved
true, that he would thereby clear the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
and get some advantages by harassing him on his retreat. These being
past, I am unwilling he should now get into a general engagement on
the impression that we here are pressing him, and I shall be glad for
you to so inform him, unless your own judgment is against it.
