JOHN A. DIX TO TILDEN
"Headquarters of the Army Corps,
"Fort Monroe, Va., 7 Sept., 1862.
"My dear Sir,—Your letter by some mischance got among those intended to go by flag of truce to Richmond, and I only received it the day before yesterday. Yesterday I wrote to Judge Pierrepont, saying that I cannot relinquish my position in the field. There is only one condition (and that an impossible one)—a call from the people of New York on me to be their Chief Magistrate for the purpose of carrying, if possible, greater vigor into the conduct of the war. I say this is impossible, because I see clearly that the Republicans will not relax their hold on anything they possess, and that the Democrats are taking the field under their old and everlasting office-seekers. I see no good to the country from such a contest, and I cannot go into it.
"Sincerely yours,
"John A. Dix."
"Saml. J. Tilden, Esq.
"Consider this confidential."