Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 June 1880 — Characteristic. [ARTICLE]

Characteristic.

Some one has brought to light a private letter from Lincoln to Hooker, when the latter was entrusted with the command of the Army of the Potomac. The letter is so characteristic that we give it in full, as follows:‘ General—l have placed you at the head of the Army of the Potomac. Of course, I liave done this upon what appears to me to lie sufficient reasons, and yet I think it best for you to*know that there are some things in regard to which lam not quite satisfied with you. I believe yon to be a brave and skillful soldier, which, of course, I like. I also believe that you do not mix in politics with your profession, in which you are right. You have confidence in yourself, which is a valuable, if not an indispensible, quality. Yon are ambitious, which within reasonable bounds, does good rather than harm ; but I think that during Gen. Burnside’s command of the army you liave taken counsel of your ambition and thwarted hi in as much as you could, in which you did a great wrong to the country and to a most meritorious and honorable brother officer. I have heard, in such a way as to believe it, of your r.*Cently saying that both the army and the government needed a dictator. Of course, it was not for this, but in spite of it, that I have given you the command. Only those Generals who gain success can set up as dictators. What I now ask of yon is military success, and I will risk the dictatorship. The government will support you to the utmost of its ability, which is neither more nor less than it has done and will do for all commanders. I much fear that the spirit which you have aided to infuse into the anny, of criticising its commander and withholding confidence from him, will now turn upon you. I shall assist you as far as I can Is put it down. Neither you nor Napoleon, if he were alive again, could get any good out of an army while such a spirit prevails in it And now beware of rashness. Beware of rashness, but with energy and sleepless vigilance, go forward and give us victories.” This is a letter that could only have been written by Lincoln, who was greater than all his contemporaries, broader, simpler natured, freer from small egotisms.