Lincoln letter found whose instructions would have ended the civil war sooner if followed.

Yahoo reports that an original letter written by President Lincoln to Major General Henry Halleck written on July 7th ,1863 was found at the national archives. In the letter President Lincoln exhorts his generals to press their advantage at Gettysburg. The Union generals in the Civil War were notorious for failing to take advantage of situations which could have ended the war much sooner. It is one of the great tragedies of history that their overly cautious approach actually caused more deaths than it saved.



The letter reads:

"We have certain information that Vicksburg surrendered to General Grant on the 4th of July. Now, if General Meade can complete his work so gloriously prosecuted thus far, by the litteral or substantial destruction of Lee's army, the rebellion will be over.

Yours truly, A Lincoln,"

Unfortunately there were two more years of war after this letter was written.