Chapter I: Front Matter

* * * * *

A SHORT LIFE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN

CONDENSED FROM NICOLAY & HAY'S ABRAHAM LINCOLN: A HISTORY

BY

JOHN G. NICOLAY

NEW YORK The Century Co. 1904

* * * * *

_Published October, 1902_

THE DEVINNE PRESS.

CONTENTS

I

Ancestry--Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks--Rock Spring Farm--Lincoln's Birth--Kentucky Schools--The Journey to Indiana--Pigeon Creek Settlement--Indiana Schools--Sally Bush Lincoln--Gentryville--Work and Books--Satires and Sermons--Flatboat Voyage to New Orleans--The Journey to Illinois

II

Flatboat--New Salem--Election Clerk--Store and Mill--Kirkham's "Grammar"--"Sangamo Journal"--The Talisman--Lincoln's Address, March 9, 1832--Black Hawk War--Lincoln Elected Captain--Mustered out May 27, 1832--Re-enlisted in Independent Spy Battalion--Finally Mustered out, June 16, 1832--Defeated for the Legislature--Blacksmith or Lawyer?--The Lincoln-Berry Store--Appointed Postmaster, May 7, 1833--National Politics

III

Appointed Deputy Surveyor--Elected to Legislature in 1834--Campaign Issues--Begins Study of Law--Internal Improvement System--The Lincoln-Stone Protest--Candidate for Speaker in 1838 and 1840

IV

Law Practice--Rules for a Lawyer--Law and Politics: Twin Occupations--The Springfield Coterie--Friendly Help--Anne Rutledge--Mary Owens

V

Springfield Society--Miss Mary Todd--Lincoln's Engagement--His Deep Despondency--Visit to Kentucky--Letters to Speed--The Shields Duel--Marriage--Law Partnership with Logan--Hardin Nominated for Congress, 1843--Baker Nominated for Congress, 1844--Lincoln Nominated and Elected, 1846

VI

First Session of the Thirtieth Congress--Mexican War--"Wilmot Proviso"--Campaign of 1848--Letters to Herndon about Young Men in Politics--Speech in Congress on the Mexican War--Second Session of the Thirtieth Congress--Bill to Prohibit Slavery in the District of Columbia--Lincoln's Recommendations of Office-Seekers--Letters to Speed--Commissioner of the General Land Office--Declines Governorship of Oregon

VII

Repeal of the Missouri Compromise--State Fair Debate--Peoria Debate--Trumbull Elected--Letter to Robinson--The Know-Nothings--Decatur Meeting--Bloomington Convention--Philadelphia Convention--Lincoln's Vote for Vice-President--Frémont and Dayton--Lincoln's Campaign Speeches--Chicago Banquet Speech

VIII

Buchanan Elected President--The Dred Scott Decision--Douglas's Springfield Speech, 1857--Lincoln's Answering Speech--Criticism of Dred Scott Decision--Kansas Civil War--Buchanan Appoints Walker--Walker's Letter on Kansas--The Lecompton Constitution--Revolt of Douglas

IX

The Senatorial Contest in Illinois--"House Divided against Itself" Speech--The Lincoln-Douglas Debates--The Freeport Doctrine--Douglas Deposed from Chairmanship of Committee on Territories--Benjamin on Douglas--Lincoln's Popular Majority--Douglas Gains Legislature--Greeley, Crittenden _et al._--"The Fight Must Go On"--Douglas's Southern Speeches--Senator Brown's Questions--Lincoln's Warning against Popular Sovereignty--The War of Pamphlets--Lincoln's Ohio Speeches--The John Brown Raid--Lincoln's Comment

X

Lincoln's Kansas Speeches--The Cooper Institute Speech--New England Speeches--The Democratic Schism--Senator Brown's Resolutions--Jefferson Davis's Resolutions--The Charleston Convention--Majority and Minority Reports--Cotton State Delegations Secede--Charleston Convention Adjourns--Democratic Baltimore Convention Splits--Breckinridge Nominated--Douglas Nominated--Bell Nominated by Union Constitutional Convention--Chicago Convention--Lincoln's Letters to Pickett and Judd--The Pivotal States--Lincoln Nominated

XI

Candidates and Platforms--The Political Chances--Decatur Lincoln Resolution--John Hanks and the Lincoln Rails--The Rail-Splitter Candidate--The Wide-Awakes--Douglas's Southern Tour--Jefferson Davis's Address--Fusion--Lincoln at the State House--The Election Result

XII

Lincoln's Cabinet Program--Members from the South--Questions and Answers--Correspondence with Stephens--Action of Congress--Peace Convention--Preparation of the Inaugural--Lincoln's Farewell Address--The Journey to Washington--Lincoln's Midnight Journey

XIII

The Secession Movement--South Carolina Secession--Buchanan's Neglect--Disloyal Cabinet Members--Washington Central Cabal--Anderson's Transfer to Sumter--Star of the West--Montgomery Rebellion--Davis and Stephens--Corner-stone Theory--Lincoln Inaugurated--His Inaugural Address--Lincoln's Cabinet--The Question of Sumter--Seward's Memorandum--Lincoln's Answer--Bombardment of Sumter--Anderson's Capitulation

XIV

President's Proclamation Calling for Seventy-five Regiments--Responses of the Governors--Maryland and Virginia--The Baltimore Riot--Washington Isolated--Lincoln Takes the Responsibility--Robert E. Lee--Arrival of the New York Seventh--Suspension of Habeas Corpus--The Annapolis Route--Butler in Baltimore--Taney on the Merryman Case--Kentucky--Missouri--Lyon Captures Camp Jackson--Boonville Skirmish--The Missouri Convention--Gamble made Governor--The Border States

XV

Davis's Proclamation for Privateers--Lincoln's Proclamation of Blockade--The Call for Three Years' Volunteers--Southern Military Preparations--Rebel Capital Moved to Richmond--Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas Admitted to Confederate States--Desertion of Army and Navy Officers--Union Troops Fortify Virginia Shore of the Potomac--Concentration at Harper's Ferry--Concentration at Fortress Monroe and Cairo--English Neutrality--Seward's 21st-of-May Despatch--Lincoln's Corrections--Preliminary Skirmishes--Forward to Richmond--Plan of McDowell's Campaign

XVI

Congress--The President's Message--Men and Money Voted--The Contraband--Dennison Appoints McClellan--Rich Mountain--McDowell--Bull Run--Patterson's Failure--McClellan at Washington

XVII

General Scott's Plans--Criticized as the "Anaconda"--The Three Fields of Conflict--Frémont Appointed Major-General--His Military Failures--Battle of Wilson's Creek--Hunter Ordered to Frémont--Frémont's Proclamation--President Revokes Frémont's Proclamation--Lincoln's Letter to Browning--Surrender of Lexington--Frémont Takes the Field--Cameron's Visit to Frémont--Frémont's Removal

XVIII

Blockade--Hatteras Inlet--Port Royal Captured--The Trent Affair--Lincoln Suggests Arbitration--Seward's Despatch--McClellan at Washington--Army of the Potomac--McClellan's Quarrel with Scott--Retirement of Scott--Lincoln's Memorandum--"All Quiet on the Potomac"--Conditions in Kentucky--Cameron's Visit to Sherman--East Tennessee--Instructions to Buell--Buell's Neglect--Halleck in Missouri

XIX

Lincoln Directs Coöperation--Halleck and Buell--Ulysses S. Grant--Grant's Demonstration--Victory at Mill River--Fort Henry--Fort Donelson--Buell's Tardiness--Halleck's Activity--Victory of Pea Ridge--Halleck Receives General Command--Pittsburg Landing--Island No. 10--Halleck's Corinth Campaign--Halleck's Mistakes

XX

The Blockade--Hatteras Inlet--Roanoke Island--Fort Pulaski--_Merrimac_ and _Monitor_--The _Cumberland_ Sunk--The _Congress_ Burned--Battle of the Ironclads--Flag-Officer Farragut--Forts Jackson and St. Philip--New Orleans Captured--Farragut at Vicksburg--Farragut's Second Expedition to Vicksburg--Return to New Orleans

XXI

McClellan's Illness--Lincoln Consults McDowell and Franklin--President's Plan against Manassas--McClellan's Plan against Richmond--Cameron and Stanton--President's War Order No. 1--Lincoln's Questions to McClellan--News from the West--Death of Willie Lincoln--The Harper's Ferry Fiasco--President's War Order No. 3--The News from Hampton Roads--Manassas Evacuated--Movement to the Peninsula--Yorktown--The Peninsula Campaign--Seven Days' Battles--Retreat to Harrison's Landing

XXII

Jackson's Valley Campaign--Lincoln's Visit to Scott--Pope Assigned to Command--Lee's Attack on McClellan--Retreat to Harrison's Landing--Seward Sent to New York--Lincoln's Letter to Seward--Lincoln's Letter to McClellan--Lincoln's Visit to McClellan--Halleck Made General-in-Chief--Halleck's Visit to McClellan--Withdrawal from Harrison's Landing--Pope Assumes Command--Second Battle of Bull Run--The Cabinet Protest--McClellan Ordered to Defend Washington--The Maryland Campaign--Battle of Antietam--Lincoln visits Antietam--Lincoln's Letter to McClellan--McClellan Removed from Command

XXIII

Cameron's Report--Lincoln's Letter to Bancroft--Annual Message on Slavery--The Delaware Experiment--Joint Resolution on Compensated Abolishment--First Border State Interview--Stevens's Comment--District of Columbia Abolishment--Committee on Abolishment--Hunter's Order Revoked--Antislavery Measures of Congress--Second Border State Interview--Emancipation Proposed and Postponed

XXIV

Criticism of the President for his Action on Slavery--Lincoln's Letters to Louisiana Friends--Greeley's Open Letter--Mr. Lincoln's Reply--Chicago Clergymen Urge Emancipation--Lincoln's Answer--Lincoln Issues Preliminary Proclamation--President Proposes Constitutional Amendment--Cabinet Considers Final Proclamation--Cabinet Discusses Admission of West Virginia--Lincoln Signs Edict of Freedom--Lincoln's Letter to Hodges

XXV

Negro Soldiers--Fort Pillow--Retaliation--Draft--Northern Democrats--Governor Seymour's Attitude--Draft Riots in New York--Vallandigham--Lincoln on his Authority to Suspend Writ of Habeas Corpus--Knights of the Golden Circle--Jacob Thompson in Canada

XXVI

Burnside--Fredericksburg--A Tangle of Cross-Purposes--Hooker Succeeds Burnside--Lincoln to Hooker--Chancellorsville--Lee's Second Invasion--Lincoln's Criticisms of Hooker's Plans--Hooker Relieved--Meade--Gettysburg--Lee's Retreat--Lincoln's Letter to Meade--Lincoln's Gettysburg Address--Autumn Strategy--The Armies go into Winter Quarters

XXVII

Buell and Bragg--Perryville--Rosecrans and Murfreesboro--Grant's Vicksburg Experiments--Grant's May Battles--Siege and Surrender of Vicksburg--Lincoln to Grant--Rosecrans's March to Chattanooga--Battle of Chickamauga--Grant at Chattanooga--Battle of Chattanooga--Burnside at Knoxville--Burnside Repulses Longstreet

XXVIII

Grant Lieutenant-General--Interview with Lincoln--Grant Visits Sherman--Plan of Campaigns--Lincoln to Grant--From the Wilderness to Cold Harbor--The Move to City Point--Siege of Petersburg--Early Menaces Washington--Lincoln under Fire--Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley

XXIX

Sherman's Meridian Expedition--Capture of Atlanta--Hood Supersedes Johnston--Hood's Invasion of Tennessee--Franklin and Nashville--Sherman's March to the Sea--Capture of Savannah--Sherman to Lincoln--Lincoln to Sherman--Sherman's March through the Carolinas--The Burning of Charleston and Columbia--Arrival at Goldsboro--Junction with Schofield--Visit to Grant

XXX

Military Governors--Lincoln's Theory of Reconstruction--Congressional Election in Louisiana--Letter to Military Governors--Letter to Shepley--Amnesty Proclamation, December 8, 1863--Instructions to Banks--Banks's Action in Louisiana--Louisiana Abolishes Slavery--Arkansas Abolishes Slavery--Reconstruction in Tennessee--Missouri Emancipation--Lincoln's Letter to Drake--Missouri Abolishes Slavery--Emancipation in Maryland--Maryland Abolishes Slavery

XXXI

Shaping of the Presidential Campaign--Criticisms of Mr. Lincoln--Chase's Presidential Ambitions--The Pomeroy Circular--Cleveland Convention--Attempt to Nominate Grant--Meeting of Baltimore Convention--Lincoln's Letter to Schurz--Platform of Republican Convention--Lincoln Renominated--Refuses to Indicate Preference for Vice-President--Johnson Nominated for Vice-President--Lincoln's Speech to Committee of Notification--Reference to Mexico in his Letter of Acceptance--The French in Mexico

XXXII

The Bogus Proclamation--The Wade-Davis Manifesto--Resignation of Mr. Chase--Fessenden Succeeds Him--The Greeley Peace Conference--Jaquess-Gilmore Mission--Letter of Raymond--Bad Outlook for the Election--Mr. Lincoln on the Issues of the Campaign--President's Secret Memorandum--Meeting of Democratic National Convention--McClellan Nominated--His Letter of Acceptance--Lincoln Reëlected--His Speech on Night of Election--The Electoral Vote--Annual Message of December 6, 1864--Resignation of McClellan from the Army

XXXIII

The Thirteenth Amendment--The President's Speech on its Adoption--The Two Constitutional Amendments of Lincoln's Term--Lincoln on Peace and Slavery in his Annual Message of December 6, 1864--Blair's Mexican Project--The Hampton Roads Conference

XXXIV

Blair--Chase Chief Justice--Speed Succeeds Bates--McCulloch Succeeds Fessenden--Resignation of Mr. Usher--Lincoln's Offer of $400,000,000--The Second Inaugural--Lincoln's Literary Rank--His Last Speech

XXXV

Depreciation of Confederate Currency--Rigor of Conscription--Dissatisfaction with the Confederate Government--Lee General-in-Chief--J.E. Johnston Reappointed to Oppose Sherman's March--Value of Slave Property Gone in Richmond--Davis's Recommendation of Emancipation--Benjamin's Last Despatch to Slidell--Condition of the Army when Lee took Command--Lee Attempts Negotiations with Grant--Lincoln's Directions--Lee and Davis Agree upon Line of Retreat--Assault on Fort Stedman--Five Forks--Evacuation of Petersburg--Surrender of Richmond--Pursuit of Lee--Surrender of Lee--Burning of Richmond--Lincoln in Richmond

XXXVI

Lincoln's Interviews with Campbell--Withdraws Authority for Meeting of Virginia Legislature--Conference of Davis and Johnston at Greensboro--Johnston Asks for an Armistice--Meeting of Sherman and Johnston--Their Agreement--Rejected at Washington--Surrender of Johnston--Surrender of other Confederate Forces--End of the Rebel Navy--Capture of Jefferson Davis--Surrender of E. Kirby Smith--Number of Confederates Surrendered and Exchanged--Reduction of Federal Army to a Peace Footing--Grand Review of the Army

XXXVII

The 14th of April--Celebration at Fort Sumter--Last Cabinet Meeting--Lincoln's Attitude toward Threats of Assassination--Booth's Plot--Ford's Theater--Fate of the Assassins--The Mourning Pageant

XXXVIII

Lincoln's Early Environment--Its Effect on his Character--His Attitude toward Slavery and the Slaveholder--His Schooling in Disappointment--His Seeming Failures--His Real Successes--The Final Trial--His Achievements--His Place in History

Index

ABRAHAM LINCOLN