Military

Ordered, That Major-General Henry W. Halleck be assigned to command the whole land forces of the United States as General in Chief, and that he repair to this capital as soon as he can with safety to the positions and operations within the…

I recommend that the thanks of Congress be given to the following officers of the United States Navy

If you desired could you remove the army safely?

Is the army secure in its present position?

I have decided to call into the service an additional force of 300,000 men.

I suggest and recommend that the troops should be chiefly of infantry.

Thus reenforced our gallant Army will be enabled to realize the hopes and expectations of the Government and the people.

To accomplish the object stated we require without delay 150,000 men, including those recently called for by the Secretary of War.

Rather than hazard the misapprehension of our military condition and of groundless alarm by a call for troops by proclamation, I have deemed it best to address you in this form.

The forces under Major-Generals Fremont, Banks, and McDowell, including the troops now under Brigadier-General Sturgis at Washington, shall be consolidated and form one army, to be called the Army of Virginia.

Under the call for three-years' volunteers 50,000 men will be accepted as raised and reported by the respective State governors.

You are also authorized to take possession of and use all railroads, engines, cars, buildings, machinery, and appurtenances within the geographical limits of the Department of the Rappahannock.

You are authorized to do whatever you may deem expedient to open for use in the shortest possible time all military railroads now or hereafter required in said department;

You are hereby appointed chief of construction and transportation in the Department of the Rappahannock, with the rank of colonel, and attached to the staff of Major-General McDowell.

You are also authorized to form a permanent corps of artificers, organized, officered, and equipped in such manner as you may prescribe;

It has not been customary heretofore, nor will it be hereafter, for me to say something to every regiment passing in review.

Believing that no occasion could arise which would more fully correspond with the intention of the law or be more pregnant with happy influence as an example, I cordially recommend that Captain D. G. Farragut receive a vote of thanks of…

He has not been tried because in the state of military operations at the time of his arrest and since the officers to constitute a court-martial and for witnesses could not be withdrawn from duty without serious injury to the service.