Evening star., 1947-07-27
Library CotoIoquer's Notes

pleas that came by mail, by tele-
graph, or by fearful personal ennis
saries who crowded the ante-room
Of the harassed President.
From Libby Prison, Richmond.
Va, in mid-winter, Brig. Gen. Neal
Dow reports by DR.. Luck of the
United States Navy on the rebel at
titude toward the war, the perilous
state of Confederate railroads, and
the urgency Of decisive defeat of
Lee or Bragg to end the war. Above
all he complains of hunger and cold
on a diet of meal. sweet potatoes,
rice and water in a prison without
glass, where prisoners sleep on the
floor unprovided with blankets.
Advice From Wall Street.
Robert Colby of Al Wall street,
New York, in II closely written
pages advises the newly elected
President on feeding the troops, i'm
proving his manners, riding horse
with proper dignity, reviewing SOL
dierS, keeping his feet off tables, not
making a nuisance of himself by
public storytelling, dismissing his
secretary Nicolay for being un-
civil, and not leaving the amenities
Of the White House entirely to Mrs
Lincoln. His reason for the last is,
women and clergymen and every
day people who have not much to
do but criticize, are the people that
make and unmake popularity
Concerned for the Presidents
health, p Miller, jr, sends him a
supply of DR.. E. Cooper's Univer-
sal Magnetic Balm, to cure, among
other things, paralysis. cramps,
colics, burns, bruises, cholera and
fever. He urges him to administer
it also to his family and friends, es-
pecially Gen Scott-note the effect
and write him the results.
Gen. Pierce, G. T. Beauregard's
former slave, now member of the
I'd South Carolina Volunteers, Com
pany c, writes His Excellency, the
President of the United States:
Sir since have Got a way from
the ribbles I have throne my self in
tos the collard regemint so that
may have the Pleger of capttor my
master Beauregard as I have Binn
sirvin under him so long I think
know is the time for me to let him
spinte sum of his time under me
and my hot shot . >
On April IS, 1861, Lincoln in
quires of General Winfield Scott
about the duties of Colonel Peter
G. Washington of the District of
Columbia militia and Scott replies
on the back of the letter. This auto
graph letter Is believed to be an un-
published one, and is typical of the
exchange of communications be-
tween the President and his top
ranking military officer at the out
break of the war. From the begin
ming of the Fort Sumter crisis Scott
wrote daily reports of which there
are "a in the collection.
Douglas Tells Disappointment. {.
stephen A. Douglas, an Illinois
Democrat, who defeated Lincoln for
the Senate writes from Springfield
on April 20, 1861 that he is dis
appointed in the attitude toward
the war there. He hopes to have
the state solidly behind the gov
ernment and the Union.
"A map shows the strategy out
lined by General McClernand in his
letter of Sept. 28, 1862 to Lincoln,
and accompanied that letter.
Horace Greeley, militant editor
of the New York Tribune became in
volved in the Inflated efforts of
Colorado Jewett to negotiate terms
of peace in July, 1854 at Niagara
Falls. Greeley wished to publish the
documents in the case and asked
the opinion of the President. Lin
coin drew a line through the text
which he did not wish published.
"Sherman's march to the sea-" On
Christmas Day in 1864 President
Lincoln received this word from
General William T. Sherman, Il beg
to present you as a Christmas gift
the city of Savannah"
The original manuscript Of JET
ferson Davis well-known letter
which helped prepare the way for
the last attempt at a negotiated
peace. On February g. 1865. Pres
ident Lincoln met his friend Alex
ander H. Stephens, Vice President
of the Confederate States of Amer
ica. at Hampton Roads, Va. They
talked for several hours, reached
no agreeable terms, and parted still
friends to wait for the war to cease.
Dissatisfied With Cameron.
"As late as January 81, 1861, Lin
coin himself was not quite satlsned
with his selection of Simon Cameron
for Secretary of War.
Contrary to the belief sometimes
expressed, that Lincoln seldom asked
the opinion of his cabinet, the col
lection gives evidence that he soil
cited their opinions on matters re-
lating to Fort Sumter, the Trent
Affair, the Fort Pillow Massacre, the
admission of West Virginia into the
Union, and others. Here, for ex-
ample, is the opinion of Gideon
Welles, Secretary of the Navy, IN
favor of sending supplies to Fort
Sumter.
"One month after taking office as
Secretary of State, William II.
Seward suggests that he is not will
ing to assume many duties OF the
President.
"Lincoln's crucial letter of Decem-
ber 20, 1862 solves the cabinet crisis
involving the fate of the nation.
Edwin M. Stanton. Secretary OF
War, was often referred to as
stubborn person. Lincoln, however,
managed him quite we'll through let
ters such as this one of May 9, 1853.
THE notorious Pomeroy circular
booming Secretary Chase for Presi-
dent came to Mr.. Lincoln's atten-
ton and he Immediately sat down
and wrote this letter of February %,
1864, promising a full reply shortly.
June 20, 1864. Salmon P. Chase
resigns as Secretary of the Treasury
to run against Lincoln for Presi-
dent.
President Lincoln accepts the
resignation of Mr.. Chase on the
grounds Of mutual embarrassment
Lincoln