Elihu Washburne
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71 As the machine ticked away: Hunt, Israel, Elihu, and Cadwallader Washburn, 242.
72 “The little old library”: Ibid.
73 “We felt pretty foxy”: Ibid.
74 In one of his first Cabinet appointments: As with most decisions of political leaders throughout history, there are inevitably varied voices and various versions of what actually occurred. It is no less true regarding the appointment of Elihu Washburne as Secretary of State. Chroniclers of the lives of Grant and Washburne suggest a host of scenarios regarding the rumors, events, and “contradictory statements” surrounding the appointment. For instance, some historians question whether the appointment was a complete surprise to Washburne, or whether he had some persuasive hand in the selection by his old friend Ulysses S. Grant. William McFeely, for instance, in his biography of Grant, raises the possibility that a “snap promise” to make Washburne Secretary of State was made “in a moment of exuberance and gratitude” to Washburne on the night of the election, a promise, McFeely suggests, which Grant soon regretted and then spent days before his inauguration persuading Washburne to “relinquish.” (William McFeely, Grant: A Biography. New York: W. W. Norton, 1981, 295.) Others, however, suggest that Washburne and Grant actually discussed the appointment and that Washburne knew all along he would be selected. “The construction of a cabinet is an elaborate process involving discussion and consultation,” argued Gaillard Hunt in his biography of the Washburns, “and it is improbable that Washburne did not know that he was to be Secretary of State.” (Hunt, Israel, Elihu, and Cadwallader Washburn, 243.) Still others suggest a more elaborate scenario: that Washburne actually coveted the post of Minister to France because of a “desire to please his wife who was of French descent, his fondness for all things French, and the need to be near the hot springs of Carlsbad for health reasons.” A temporary appointment as Secretary of State, some suggest, would greatly enhance his prestige in Paris after becoming Minister, and Washburne asked Grant to appoint him Secretary for a few days as a “personal favor.” (See Jean Edward Smith, Grant. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2001, 470–471.) McFeely, however, rejects this theory. “The proposition . . . that Washburne was given the senior position in the cabinet in order to enhance his prestige for the Paris post is silly. One does not go downward in a hierarchy to gain prestige.” (See McFeely, Grant: A Biography, 294–295.) Above all, however, there is no dispute that Washburne’s health played a major role in his decision to give up the post at State and accept the position in France. Many primary sources provide ample support for the fact that Washburne was ill and in a fragile state of health during the early part of 1869. (See Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. II, 1–2; Hunt, Israel, Elihu, and Cadwallader Washburn, 243, 245; letters of Elihu Washburne to Hamilton Fish, April 5, 1869, and Gratiot Washburne to his father, March 12, 1869.)
75 The New York World: Dec. 12, 1868.
76 Gideon Welles: Welles, Diary of Gideon Welles, Vol. III, 551.
77 “No other idea”: Hunt, Israel, Elihu, and Cadwallader Washburn, 246.
78 Throughout the winter Washburne: Ibid., 241.
79 Once he had sought medical treatment: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, March 11, 1871, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
80 Knowing he would “not be able”: Hunt, Israel, Elihu, and Cadwallader Washburn, 246.
81 Washburne’s eldest son: Washburne, A Biography of Elihu Benjamin Washburne, Vol. III, 369–370.
82 “The last few years”: Elihu Washburne to H. S. [Townsend?], Dec. 25, 1869, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
83 Dear Mother: And did she roll: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, May 13, 1869, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine; Washburne, A Biography of Elihu Benjamin Washburne, Vol. III, 383–386.
84 On May 17 he told the children: Elihu Washburne to his children, May 17, 1869, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
85 “I have my teacher”: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, May 20, 1869, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
86 The Minister’s room: Fowler, Reminiscences, 33; Washburne, A Biography of Elihu Benjamin Washburne, Vol. IV, 13–14.
87 “Gratiot is a good boy”: Elihu Washburne to Judge Lathrop, June 2, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
88 Washburne told friends back home: Elihu Washburne to R. H. McClellan, Jan. 1, 1870; Elihu Washburne to Cadwallader Washburn, Sept. 5, 1879, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
89 The Emperor: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 2–3.
90 While the wealthy benefited: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 25.
91 Washburne himself noticed: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 6.
92 “There have been great riots”: Hunt, Israel, Elihu, and Cadwallader Washburn, 248.
93 George Sand: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 21.
94 The Paris press teemed: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 29–30.
95 “My . . . health is quite wretched”: Elihu Washburne to Cyrus Woodman, March 4, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
96 A reluctant Napoléon III: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 142.
97 “Thus by a tragic combination”: Howard, The Franco-Prussian War, 57.
Chapter 1: War and Revolution
PAGE
98 It was “like a clap of thunder”: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 31.
99 “The excitement was something prodigious”: Ibid., 32.
100 “The streets, the Boulevards”: Ibid.
101 Many German nationals: See Galignani’s Messenger, Sept. 22, 1870.
102 A proclamation by the French government: Ibid.; Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 147. See also Galignani’s Messenger, Aug. 29–30, 31, 1870.
103 You will see I am back: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, July 19, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
104 You see we are in troublesome times: Elihu Washburne to Israel Washburn, Jr., July 21, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
105 Washburne reported to President Grant: Grant, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Vol. 20, 257.
106 “Frenchmen!”: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 55.
107 “He is the great I am”: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, April 9, 1867, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
108 Émile Zola warned: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 43.
109 “The two nations”: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 58.
110 When news arrived: Ibid., 64.
111 He found her “in great distress”: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 67.
112 All of Paris was “paralyzed”: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Aug. 8, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
113 With the Emperor on the field: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 73.
114 “shared the legislative function”: William E. Echard, Historical Dictionary of the French Second Empire, 1852–1870 (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1985), 130.
115 France is on the brink: Elihu Washburne to Israel Washburn, Jr., Aug. 9, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
116 I was so tremendously used up: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, Aug. 1870, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
117 Since the breaking out of the war: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Aug. 15, 1870. Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 32.
118 I have just received your letter: Adele Washburne to Gratiot Washburne, Aug. 19, 1870, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
119 I shall be glad when we go back: Susan Washburne to Elih
u Washburne, Aug. 22, 1870, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
120 During a period of six weeks: In Camp, Court, and Siege, 149, Wickham Hoffman writes: “In six weeks we issued eleven hundred passports. Allowing an average of three persons to a passport, thirty-three hundred Americans passed through Paris in those six weeks. To these may be added another thousand who had passports from the State Department.”
121 An additional 1,000: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 149.
122 The greater part of the German population: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Sept. 2, 1870; Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 56.
123 I am depressed and sad: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, Sept. 2, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
124 “A great misfortune”: Galignani’s Messenger, Sept. 3, 1870.
125 The people of Paris were “alarmed”: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 100.
126 With this latest defeat: Ibid.
127 Republic proclaimed: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Sept. 5, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress. See also Galignani’s Messenger, Sept. 5, 1870.
128 It affords me great pleasure: Elihu Washburne to Mr. Jules Favre, Sept. 7, 1870, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 65.
129 You see all that has happened: Elihu Washburne to William Washburn, Sept. 7, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
130 At 2 o’clock P.M. yesterday: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Sept. 9, 1870. There were two different dispatches on the same day relaying information about events in Paris, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 65, 66. See also reports of Washburne’s actions in Galignani’s Messenger, Sept. 9, 11, 1870.
131 I would like to see you: Grant, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Vol. 20, 257.
132 I am very sorry: Elihu Washburne to Pitt Washburne, Sept. 9, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
133 After the proclamation of the new republic: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 59.
134 Wickham Hoffman, the Legation Secretary: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 173–174.
135 After France’s crushing defeat: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 53.
136 The French army was in full retreat: Galignani’s Messenger, Aug. 17, 1870.
137 They were thronged: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 180.
Chapter 2: Siege
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138 For two days: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 75.
139 Paris was fortified: Ibid., 63.
140 This chain: Ibid.
141 To succeed: Ibid.
142 Twelve thousand laborers: Ibid.
143 Signal semaphores: Ibid., 64, 65; Galignani’s Messenger, Sept. 8, 12, 1870.
144 Artillery camps: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 64.
145 Throughout the city: Ibid., 68.
146 Provisions were set aside: Ibid., 67.
147 “As far as ever the eye can reach”: Ibid., 65.
148 For the next four and a half: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 133.
149 The Ambulance corps: See Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 222–226.
150 By a German who is to be sent out: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, Sept. 28, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
151 Washburne himself would later write: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 133.
152 The French live from hand to mouth: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 208.
153 I think it very likely: Elihu Washburne to Israel Washburn, Jr., Oct. 2, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
154 I am afraid we are in: Elihu Washburne to Cadwallader Washburn, Oct. 3, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
155 On October 7: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 180; Galignani’s Messenger, Oct. 7, 1870.
156 He was accompanied: McCullough, The Greater Journey, 281.
157 On October 2, American General: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 154.
158 On October 10, 1870: Bismarck to Washburne, Oct. 10, 1870, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 81.
159 Washburne had been hopeful: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 205.
160 “Not an ounce”: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 196.
161 Colonel Wickham Hoffman would write: Ibid., 198.
162 A few newspapers: Elihu Washburne to Lizzie, Oct. 12, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress. It appears this is a letter to his sister-in-law Elizabeth Muzzy, the wife of his brother William Drew Washburn.
163 This is really terrible: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, Oct. 13, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
164 Many of our countrymen: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Oct. 18, 1870, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 83.
165 As Wickham Hoffman later wrote: Camp, Court, and Siege, 203.
166 Finally, on October 24: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 203.
167 When I am prostrated: Elihu Washburne to Israel Washburn, Jr., Oct. 27, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
168 The government survived: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 120.
169 I am so happy to find: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, Nov. 3, 1870, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
170 I think the large vote: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Nov. 7, 1870, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 93.
171 This terrible isolation: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, Nov. 13, 1870, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
172 All is gloom: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Nov. 14, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
173 the weather was “exceedingly wet”: Galignani’s Messenger, Nov. 19, 21, 1870.
174 Markets were nearly out of food: Galignani’s Messenger, Nov. 23, 1870.
175 This is the eighty-sixth birthday: Washburne, Recollections of a Minister to France, Vol. I, 226.
176 All the London papers: Pitt Washburne to Elihu Washburne and Gratiot Washburne, Nov. 28, 1870, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
177 By the end of November: See Horne, The Fall of Paris, 147–161.
178 Reports circulated: Galignani’s Messenger, Nov. 28, 1870.
179 Inside Paris: Ibid., Nov. 29, 1870.
180 That day a hard, severe frost: Ibid., Dec. 1, 1870.
181 The streets were cluttered: Ibid.
Chapter 3: Desperation and Despair
PAGE
182 The “great sortie” had failed: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Dec. 5, 1870, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 105.
183 The Seine was filled: Galignani’s Messenger, Dec. 23, 24, 1870.
184 During Christmas week alone: Ibid., Dec. 24, 31, 1870.
185 I hope you approve: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Dec. 4, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
186 I have the honor: Elihu Washburne to Count de Bismarck, Dec. 5, 1870, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 106.
187 Your last letter: Adele Washburne to Gratiot Washburne, Dec. 7, 1870, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
188 It looks to me darker: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, Dec. 8, 1870, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
189 There is universal approbation: Secretary of State Hamilton Fish to Elihu Washburne, Dec. 8, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Cong
ress.
190 The government of the National Defense: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Dec. 12, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
191 Wickham Hoffman would recall entering: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 210.
192 No bag & no nothing: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, Dec. 17, 1870, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
193 “Star by star”: Washburne is quoting a speech by Edmund Burke in Parliament on May 9, 1788.
194 Trees everywhere: Horne, The Fall of Paris, 178.
195 I hope you are having a “Merry Christmas” in Washington: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Dec. 25, 1870, Washburne Papers, Library of Congress.
196 By the end of December: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 210.
Chapter 4: Defeat
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197 Dog flesh was in high demand: Galignani’s Messenger, Jan. 13, 14, 1871.
198 With the unrelenting cold weather: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Jan. 2, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 118.
199 The death rate in Paris: Hoffman, Camp, Court, and Siege, 227.
200 The excessive and exceptional cold: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Jan. 2, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 118.
201 [K]eep up your courage: Elihu Washburne to Adele Washburne, Jan. 4, 1871, Papers and Journals of Elihu Washburne, Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore, Maine.
202 There has been a good deal: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Jan. 9, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 121.
203 During the second week: Galignani’s Messenger, Jan. 9, 1871.
204 I am today furnishing aid: Elihu Washburne to Secretary of State Hamilton Fish, Jan. 16, 1871, in Washburne, Franco-German War and the Insurrection of the Commune, 125.
205 “At the last hour”: Kranzberg, The Siege of Paris, 138.