The Life and Writings of Abraham Lincoln

by Abraham Lincoln

  LETTER TO HORACE GREELEY

  Word had come to Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, that two Confederate commissioners were in Canada, authorized to negotiate for a peaceful settlement of the War. They were willing to meet at Niagara Falls any person in authority sent to them for an interview. Greeley wrote to Lincoln, begging him not to ignore the opportunity. This letter is Lincoln’s reply to him. Lincoln later authorized Greeley to go to Niagara Falls to confer with the commissioners, which he unwillingly did. When Greeley arrived at Niagara Falls, he found that the commissioners had no credentials; furthermore, although Lincoln had told him that he would consider such negotiations only on the basis of restoring the Union and abandoning slavery, Greeley ignored the President’s conditions and telegraphed to Washington, saying that the commissioners wished to come there to deal with him in person. Lincoln, tearing that such a move might be interpreted as his suing for peace with the South, immediately sent John Hay to Niagara Falls with a note stating his terms in writing. The negotiations promptly collapsed.

  Washington, D. C., July 9, 1864

  DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 7th, with inclosures, received. If you can find any person, anywhere, professing to have any proposition of Jefferson Davis in writing, for peace, embracing the restoration of the Union and abandonment of slavery, whatever else it embraces, say to him he may come to me with you; and that if he really brings such proposition, he shall at the least have safe conduct with the paper (and without publicity, if he chooses) to the point where you shall have met him. The same if there be two or more persons.

  TELEGRAM TO GENERAL U. S. GRANT

  Grant was settling down for his long siege of Petersburg. Lincoln sends him a characteristic telegram.

  Executive Mansion, Washington, August 17, 1864

  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL GRANT, CITY POINT, VA.: I have seen your dispatch expressing your unwillingness to break your hold where you are. Neither am I willing. Hold on with a bulldog grip, and chew and choke as much as possible.

  ADDRESS TO THE 164TH OHIO REGIMENT

  Lincoln speaks to his soldiers in the midst of the darkest period of the War.

  August 18, 1864

  SOLDIERS: I am greatly obliged to you, and to all who have come forward at the call of their country. I wish it might be more generally and universally understood what the country is now engaged in. We have, as all will agree, a free government, where every man has a right to be equal with every other man. In this great struggle, this form of government and every form of human right is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one. There is involved in this struggle the question whether your children and my children shall enjoy the privileges we have enjoyed. I say this in order to impress upon you, if you are not already so impressed, that no small matter should divert us from our great purpose.

  There may be some inequalities in the practical application of our system. It is fair that each man shall pay taxes in exact proportion to the value of his property; but if we should wait before collecting a tax, to adjust the taxes upon each man in exact proportion with every other man, we should never collect any tax at all. There may be mistakes made sometimes; things may be done wrong; white the officers of the government do all they can to prevent mistakes. But I beg of you, as citizens of this great republic, not to let your minds be carried off from the great work we have before us. This struggle is too large for you to be diverted from it by any small matter. When you return to your homes, rise up to the height of a generation of men worthy of a free government, and we will carry out the great work we have commenced.

  MEMORANDUM TO HIS CABINET

  On August 29, the Democratic National Convention was to be held at Chicago, at which it was almost certain that General McClellan would be nominated to run against Lincoln. During the terrible summer of 1864, everything had gone against the administration, and Lincoln had been told even by his closest advisers that he could not hope for re-election. He presented this memorandum, folded so that it could not be read, to the members of his Cabinet, asking them to sign it. He did not read its contents to them until November 11, after he had been re-elected.

  Executive Mansion, August 23, 1864

  THIS morning, as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to so coöperate with the President-elect as to save the Union between the election and the inauguration; as he will have secured his election on such ground that he cannot possibly save it afterward.

  STATEMENT WRITTEN OUT FOR WARD HILL LAMON

  Ever since October, 1862, when Lincoln had gone to visit McClellan at his headquarters at Antietam, the story of his visit there had been used against him in one of the dirtiest whispering campaigns in American politics. The New York World, in particular, had been guilty of printing distorted versions of what had happened during his visit. On September 9, 1864, this piece appeared in the World; “While the President was driving over the field in an ambulance, accompanied by Marshal Lamon, General McClellan, and another officer, heavy details of men were engaged in the task of burying the dead. The ambulance had just reached the neighborhood of the old stone bridge, where the dead were piled highest, when Mr. Lincoln, suddenly slapping Marshal Lamon on the knee, exclaimed: ‘Come, Lamon, give us the song about Picayune Butler. McClellan has never heard it.’ ‘Not now, if you please,’ said General McClellan, with a shudder; ‘I would prefer to hear it some other place and time!’ ” The World also published this bit of doggerel:

  “Abe may crack his jolly jokes

  O’er bloody fields of stricken battle,

  While yet the ebbing life-tide smokes

  From men that die like butchered cattle.…”

  Lamon wanted to answer this attack; Lincoln was afraid that his belligerent friend would cause more trouble than good, so he wrote out this account himself. After having written it, however, Lincoln decided against using it.

  September [12?], 1864

  THE President has known me intimately for nearly twenty years, and has often heard me sing little ditties. the battle of Antietam was fought on the 17th day of September 1862. On the first day of October, just two weeks after the battle, the President, with some others including myself started from Washington to visit the Army, reaching Harpers’ Ferry at noon of that day. In a short while Gen. McClellan came from his Headquarters near the battle-ground, joined the President, and with him, reviewed, the troops at Bolivar Heights that afternoon; and, at night, returned to his Headquarters, leaving the President at Harpers’ Ferry. On the morning of the second the President, with Gen. Sumner, reviewed the troops respectively at Loudon Heights and Maryland Heights, and at about noon, started to Gen. McClellan’s Headquarters, reaching there only in time to see very little before night. On the morning of the third all started on a review of the three corps, and the Cavalry, in the vicinity of the Antietam battle-ground. After getting through with Gen. Burnsides’ Corps, at the suggestion of Gen. McClellan he and the President left their horses to be led, and went into an ambulance or ambulances to go to Gen. Fitz John Porter’s Corps, which was two or three miles distant. I am not sure whether the President and Gen. Mc. were in the same ambulance, or in different ones; but myself and some others were in the same with the President. On the way, and on no part of the battle-ground, and on what suggestion I do not remember, the President asked me to sing the little sad song that follows, which he had often heard me sing, and had always seemed to like very much. I sang them. After it was over, some one of the party (I do not think it was the President), asked me to sing something else; and I sang two or three little comic things of which Picayune Butler was one. Porter’s Corps was reached and reviewed; then the battle-ground was passed over, and the most noted parts examined; then, in succession the Cavalry, and Franklin’s Corps were reviewed, and the President and party returned to Gen. McClellan’s Headquarters at the end of a very hard, hot, and dusty day’
s work. Next day, the 4th, President and Gen. Mc. visited such of the wounded as still remained in the vicinity, including the now lamented Gen. Richardson; then proceeded to and examined the South-Mountain battle-ground, at which point they parted, Gen. McClellan returning to his Camp, and the President returning to Washington, seeing, on the way, Gen. Hartsoff, who lay wounded at Fredericktown. This is the whole story of the singing and its surroundings. Neither Gen. McClellan or any one else made any objection to the singing; the place was not on the battlefield, the time was sixteen days after the battle, no dead body was seen during the whole time the President was absent from Washington, nor even a grave that had not been rained on since it was made.

  PARDON FOR ROSWELL McINTYRE

  On the battlefield at Five Forks, Virginia, on April 1, 1865, less than ten days before the end of the War, this note in the handwriting of Abraham Lincoln was found on the body of a soldier.

  Executive Mansion, Washington, Oct. 4, 1864

  UPON condition that Roswell McIntyre of Co. E. 6th Regt. of New York Cavalry returns to his regiment and faithfully serves out his term, making up for lost time, or until otherwise lawfully discharged, he is fully pardoned for any supposed desertion heretofore committed; and this paper is his pass to go to his regiment.

  RESPONSES TO SERENADES ON THE OCCASION OF HIS RE-ELECTION

  On November 8, the people of the Northern states voted for President. Despite the political gloom that had prevailed during the summer of 1864, Lincoln was re-elected with a comfortable margin over his Democratic opponent, George Brinton McClellan. On the two nights following the election, the people of Washington came to the White House to serenade the President.

  November 9, 1864

  I EARNESTLY believe that the consequences of this day’s work, if it be as you assume, and as now seems probable, will be to the lasting advantage, if not to the very salvation, of the country. I cannot at this hour say what has been the result of the election. But, whatever it may be, I have no desire to modify this opinion: that all who have labored today in behalf of the Union have wrought for the best interests of the country and the world; not only for the present, but for all future ages.

  I am thankful to God for this approval of the people; but, while deeply grateful for this mark of their confidence in me, if I know my heart, my gratitude is free from any taint of personal triumph. I do not impugn the motives of any one opposed to me. It is no pleasure to me to triumph over any one, but I give thanks to the Almighty for this evidence of the people’s resolution to stand by free government and the rights of humanity.

  November 10, 1864

  IT HAS long been a grave question whether any government, not too strong for the liberties of its people, can be strong enough to maintain its existence in great emergencies. On this point the present rebellion brought our republic to a severe test, and a Presidential election occurring in regular course during the rebellion, added not a little to the strain.

  If the loyal people united were put to the utmost of their strength by the rebellion, must they not fail when divided and partially paralyzed by a political war among themselves? But the election was a necessity. We cannot have free government without elections; and if the rebellion could force us to forego or postpone a national election, it might fairly claim to have already conquered and ruined us. The strife of the election is but human nature practically applied to the facts of the case. What has occurred in this case must ever recur in similar cases. Human nature will not change. In any future great national trial, compared with the men of this, we shall have as weak and as strong, as silly and as wise, as bad and as good. Let us, therefore, study the incidents of this as philosophy to learn wisdom from, and none of them as wrongs to be revenged. But the election, along with its incidental and undesirable strife, has done good too. It has demonstrated that a people’s government can sustain a national election in the midst of a great civil war. Until now, it has not been known to the world that this was a possibility. It shows, also, how sound and how strong we still are. It shows that, even among candidates of the same party, he who is most devoted to the Union and most opposed to treason can receive most of the people’s votes. It shows, also, to the extent yet known, that we have more men now than we had when the war began. Gold is good in its place, but living, brave, patriotic men are better than gold.

  But the rebellion continues, and now that the election is over, may not all having a common interest reunite in a common effort to save our common country? For my own part, I have striven and shall strive to avoid placing any obstacle in the way. So long as I have been here I have not willingly planted a thorn in any man’s bosom. While I am deeply sensible to the high compliment of a reëlection, and duly grateful, as I trust, to Almighty God for having directed my countrymen to a right conclusion, as I think, for their own good, it adds nothing to my satisfaction that any other man may be disappointed or pained by the result.

  May I ask those who have not differed from me to join with me in this same spirit toward those who have? And now let me close by asking three hearty cheers for our brave soldiers and seamen and their gallant and skilful commanders.

  LETTER TO MRS. BIXBY, OF BOSTON, MASS.

  Just as Gettysburg is the most widely known of all Lincoln’s speeches, so this letter to Mrs. Bixby is the most celebrated of all his letters. At the request of Governor Andrew of Massachusetts, Lincoln wrote to Mrs. Lydia Bixby, a Boston widow, to console her for the loss of five sons who were supposed to have died in service. The letter was immediately printed by many newspapers throughout the country. Afterward, it was shown that only two of the boys had actually died in action—one at Fredericksburg, and one at Petersburg. Another, reported to have been killed at Gettysburg, had been taken prisoner. Still another, who also was taken prisoner, enlisted in the Confederate ranks. The youngest son deserted and went to sea. Lincoln, of course, knew nothing of this when he wrote to Mrs. Bixby.

  Executive Mansion, November 21, 1864

  DEAR MADAM: I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant-General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

  Yours very sincerely and respectfully,

  ABRAHAM LINCOLN

  FROM THE ANNUAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS

  Again the President makes his annual report to Congress. The most remarkable fact brought out in this message is that both population and wealth had increased in the North during the War. For all the blood and gold that had been poured out on the battlefield, the resources of the nation seemed inexhaustible.

  December 6, 1864

  THE war continues. Since the last annual messages, all the important lines and positions then occupied by our forces have been maintained, and our arms have steadily advanced, thus liberating the regions left in rear; so that Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, and parts of other States have again produced reasonably fair crops.

  The most remarkable feature in the military operations of the year is General Sherman’s attempted march of three hundred miles, directly through the insurgent region. It tends to show a great increase of our relative strength, that our general-in-chief should feel able to confront and hold in check every active force of the enemy, and yet to detach a well-appointed large army to move on such an expedition. The result not yet being known, conjecture in regard to it is not here indulged.

  Important movements have also occurred during the year to the effect of molding society for durability in the Union. Although short of complete success, it
is much in the right direction that 12,000 citizens in each of the States of Arkansas and Louisiana have organized loyal State governments, with free constitutions, and are earnestly struggling to maintain and administer them. The movements in the same direction, more extensive though less definite, in Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee, should not be overlooked. But Maryland presents the example of complete success. Maryland is secure to liberty and Union for all the future. The genius of rebellion will no more claim Maryland. Like another foul spirit, being driven out, it may seek to tear her, but it will woo her no more.