With this high honor, devolves on you an additional responsibility.  As the country herein trusts you, so, under God, it win sustain you.  I scarcely need add, that with what I here speak for the country, goes my own hearty personal concurrence.

GENERAL GRANT’S REPLY.

Mr. President:—­I accept this commission, with gratitude for the high honor conferred.

With the aid of the noble armies that have fought on so many fields for our common country, it will be my earnest endeavor not to disappoint your expectations.

I feel the full weight of the responsibilities now devolving on me, and I know that if they are met, it will be due to those armies; and above all, to the favor of that Providence which leads both nations and men.

ORDER ASSIGNING U. S. GRANT TO THE COMMAND OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES.

Executive Mansion,
Washington, D. C., March 10, 1864.

Under the authority of an act of Congress to revive the grade of lieutenant-General in the United States Army, approved February 29, 1864, Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant, United States Army, is assigned to the command of the Armies of the United States.

Abraham Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR MURPHY.

Washington, D. C., March 12, 1864.

Governor Murphy, Little Rock, Arkansas: 

I am not appointing officers for Arkansas now, and I will try to remember your request.  Do your best to get out the largest vote possible, and of course as much of it as possible on the right side.

A. Lincoln.

TO GENERAL HAHN.  (Private.)

Executive Mansion,
Washington, March 13, 1864

Hon.  Michael Hahn.

My Dear sir:—­I congratulate you on having fixed your name in history as the first free-state governor of Louisiana.  Now, you are about to have a convention, which among other things will probably define the elective franchise.  I barely suggest for your private consideration, whether some of the colored people may not be let in,—­as, for instance, the very intelligent, and especially those who have fought gallantly in our ranks.  They would probably help, in some trying time to come, to keep the jewel of liberty within the family of freedom.  But this is only a suggestion,—­not to the public, but to you alone.

Yours truly,

A. Lincoln.

CALL FOR TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND MEN.

Executive Mansion
Washington, march 14, 1864.

In order to supply the force required to be drafted for the Navy and to provide an adequate reserve force for all contingencies, in addition to the five hundred thousand men called for February 1, 1864, a call is hereby made and a draft ordered for two hundred thousand men for the military service (Army, Navy, and Marine Corps) of the United States.