against invasion and domestic violence.  It is something on the question of time to remember that it cannot be known who is next to occupy the position I now hold, nor what he will do.  I see that you have declared in favor of emancipation in Tennessee, for which may God bless you.  Get emancipation into your new State government constitution and there will be no such word as fail for your cause.  The raising of colored troops, I think, will greatly help every way.

Yours very truly,

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE.

Washington, September 11, 1863.

Major-general Burnside, Cumberland Gap: 

Yours received.  A thousand thanks for the late successes you have given us.  We cannot allow you to resign until things shall be a little more settled in East Tennessee.  If then, purely on your own account, you wish to resign, we will not further refuse you.

A. LINCOLN

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE.

Executive Mansion, Washington, September 11, 1863.

Major-general Meade, Warrenton, Va.: 

It is represented to me that Thomas Edds, in your army, is under sentence of death for desertion, to be executed next Monday.  It is also said his supposed desertion is comprised in an absence commencing with his falling behind last winter, being captured and paroled by the enemy, and then going home.  If this be near the truth, please suspend the execution till further order and send in the record of the trial.

A. LINCOLN

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE.

Washington, D.C., September 12, 1863.

Major-general Mead, Warrenton, Va.: 

The name is “Thomas Edds” not “Eddies” as in your despatch.  The papers left with me do not designate the regiment to which he belongs.  The man who gave me the papers, I do not know how to find again.  He only told me that Edds is in the Army of the Potomac, and that he fell out of the ranks during Burnside’s mud march last winter.  If I get further information I will telegraph again.

A. LINCOLN

TELEGRAM TO H. H. SCOTT.

Executive Mansion, Washington, September 13, 1863.

Dr. William H. H. Scott, Danville, Ill.: 

Your niece, Mrs. Kate Sharp, can now have no difficulty in going to
Knoxville, Tenn., as that place is within our military lines.

A. Lincoln.

TELEGRAM TO J. G. BLAINE.

War department, Washington, D. C.,
September 25, 1863.

J. G. Blaine, Augusta, Me.: 
Thanks both for the good news you send and for the sending of it.