Unknown to Henry W. Halleck, July 6, 1862

Major-General HALLECE, Corinth, Miss. :

My Dear Sir: This introduces Gov. William Sprague, of Rhode Island. He is now Governor for the third time and Senator-elect of the United States.

I know the object of his visit to you. He has my cheerful consent to go, but not my direction. He wishes to get you and part of your fozce, one or both, to come here. You already know I should be exceedingly glad of this if, in your judgment, it could be without endangering positions and operations in the Southwest, and I now repeat what I have more than once said by telegraph. ‘Do not come or send a man if, in your judgment, it will endanger any point you deem important to hold, or endangers or delays the Chattanooga expedition.”

Still, please give my friend Governor Sprague a full and fair hearing.

Yours, very truly,