To George B. McClellan

Major General McClellan Head quarters, Department of Va.
Williamsburg: Fort Monroe, Va. May 9. 1862.

The President is unwilling to have the Army corps organization broken up; but also unwilling that the commanding General shall be trammelled, and embarrassed, in actual skirmishing collision with the enemy, and on the eve of an expected great battle; you therefore may temporarily suspend that organization, in the Army now under your immediate command, and adopt any you see fit until further orders. He also writes you privately.

The draft is entirely in Lincoln’s handwriting, but the telegram was sent over Stanton’s signature.