Executive Mansion
Washington Octo. 24th 1861.
Brigr Genl. S. R. Curtis1
Dear Sir
On receipt of this, with the accompanying inclosures you will take safe, certain, and suitable measures to have the inclosure addressed to Major General Fremont, delivered to him with all reasonable dispatch–subject to these conditions only, that if, when Gen Fremont shall be reached by the messenger (youself, or any one sent by you) he shall then have, in personal command, fought and won a battle, or shall then be actually in a battle, or shall then be in the immediate presence of the enemy, in expectation of a battle, it is not to be delivered, but held for further orders. After, and not till after the delivery to Gen Fremont, let the inclosed addressed to Gen. Hunter2 be delivered to him.
Your obdt Servt
A. Lincoln
1. Reprinted in the Official Records War of the Rebellion, 1st. ser. 3. 563-554. The first inclosure was General Orders No. 18, of same date, Oct. 24, from Gen. Winfield Scott, directing Fremont to relinquish his command to Maj. Gen. Hunter. The second inclosure was one of specific suggestions to Hunter, or “the Commander of the Department of the West,” not to pursue Price further, but to restore order and discipline in the army, and to maintain secure defensive positions. Probably accompanying these dispatches was this second letter from Lincoln to Curtis bearing the same date, Oct. 24:
“My Dear Sir: Herewith is a document–half letter, half order–which, wishing you to see, but not to make public, I send unsealed. Please read it, and then inclose it to the officer who may be in command of the Department of the West at the time it reaches him. I cannot now know whether Fremont or Hunter will then be in command. Yours truly, A. Lincoln.”
2. David Hunter, U. S. Military Academy, 1822, served in the Mexican War, settled in Kansas, became a trusted friend of Lincoln’s, and accompanied the President-elect part way to Washington. One of the numerous brig. gens. appointed May 17. 1861, he was made a maj. gen. Aug. 13, 1861. His succession to Fremont was designed to be temporary, he being succeeded Nov. 18, by Maj. Gen. W. H. Halleck. Hunter later held commands in the South, where his liberal slavery views had to be restrained by Lincoln.