The Project Gutenberg eBook ofRecollections of Abraham Lincoln, 1847-1865This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: Recollections of Abraham Lincoln, 1847-1865Author: Ward Hill LamonEditor: Dorothy Lamon TeillardRelease date: May 5, 2012 [eBook #39630]Language: EnglishCredits: E-text prepared by Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive/American Libraries (http://archive.org/details/americana)*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RECOLLECTIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 1847-1865 ***
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
Title: Recollections of Abraham Lincoln, 1847-1865Author: Ward Hill LamonEditor: Dorothy Lamon TeillardRelease date: May 5, 2012 [eBook #39630]Language: EnglishCredits: E-text prepared by Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive/American Libraries (http://archive.org/details/americana)
Title: Recollections of Abraham Lincoln, 1847-1865
Author: Ward Hill LamonEditor: Dorothy Lamon Teillard
Author: Ward Hill Lamon
Editor: Dorothy Lamon Teillard
Release date: May 5, 2012 [eBook #39630]
Language: English
Credits: E-text prepared by Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive/American Libraries (http://archive.org/details/americana)
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RECOLLECTIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 1847-1865 ***
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
1847-1865By
EDITED BY DOROTHY LAMON TEILLARDWASHINGTON, D. C.PUBLISHED BY THE EDITOR1911
CopyrightBy Dorothy LamonA.D. 1895Copyright, 1911ByDorothy Lamon TeillardAll rights reservedTHE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U. S. A.
The reason for thinking that the public may be interested in my father's recollections ofMr. Lincoln, will be found in the following letter fromHon. J. P. Usher, Secretary of the Interior during the war:—
Lawrence, Kansas, May 20, 1885.Ward H. Lamon, Esq., Denver, Col.Dear Sir, — There are now but few left who were intimately acquainted with Mr. Lincoln. I do not call to mind any one who was so much with him as yourself. You were his partner for years in the practice of law, his confidential friend during the time he was President. I venture to say there is now none living other than yourself in whom he so much confided, and to whom he gave free expression of his feeling towards others, his trials and troubles in conducting his great office. You were with him, I know, more than any other one. I think, in view of all the circumstances and of the growing interest which the rising generation takes in all that he did and said, you ought to take the time, if you can, to commit to writing your recollections of him, his sayings and doings, which were not necessarily committed to writingand made public. Won't you do it? Can you not, through a series of articles to be published in some of the magazines, lay before the public a history of his inner life, so that the multitude may read and know much more of that wonderful man? Although I knew him quite well for many years, yet I am deeply interested in all that he said and did, and I am persuaded that the multitude of the people feel a like interest.Truly and sincerely yours,(Signed)J. P. Usher.
Lawrence, Kansas, May 20, 1885.
Ward H. Lamon, Esq., Denver, Col.
Dear Sir, — There are now but few left who were intimately acquainted with Mr. Lincoln. I do not call to mind any one who was so much with him as yourself. You were his partner for years in the practice of law, his confidential friend during the time he was President. I venture to say there is now none living other than yourself in whom he so much confided, and to whom he gave free expression of his feeling towards others, his trials and troubles in conducting his great office. You were with him, I know, more than any other one. I think, in view of all the circumstances and of the growing interest which the rising generation takes in all that he did and said, you ought to take the time, if you can, to commit to writing your recollections of him, his sayings and doings, which were not necessarily committed to writingand made public. Won't you do it? Can you not, through a series of articles to be published in some of the magazines, lay before the public a history of his inner life, so that the multitude may read and know much more of that wonderful man? Although I knew him quite well for many years, yet I am deeply interested in all that he said and did, and I am persuaded that the multitude of the people feel a like interest.
Truly and sincerely yours,(Signed)J. P. Usher.
In compiling this little volume, I have taken as a foundation some anecdotal reminiscences already published in newspapers by my father, and have added to them from letters and manuscript left by him.
If the production seems fragmentary and lacking in purpose, the fault is due to the variety of sources from which I have selected the material. Some of it has been taken from serious manuscript which my father intended for a work of history, some from articles written in a lighter vein; much has been gleaned from copies of letters which he wrote to friends, but most has been gathered from notes jotted down on a multitude of scraps scattered through a mass of miscellaneous material.
D. L.
Washington, D. C.,March, 1895.
TO THE SECOND EDITION.
In deciding to bring out this book I have had in mind the many letters to my father from men of war times urging him to put in writing his recollections of Lincoln. Among them is one from Mr. Lincoln's friend, confidant, and adviser, A. K. McClure, one of the most eminent of American journalists, founder and late editor of "The Philadelphia Times," of whom Mr. Lincoln said in 1864 that he had more brain power than any man he had ever known. Quoted by Leonard Swett, in the "North American Review," the letter is as follows:—
Philadelphia, Sept. 1, 1891.Hon. Ward H. Lamon, Carlsbad, Bohemia:My dear old Friend, — ....I think it a great misfortune that you did not write the history of Lincoln's administration. It is much more needed from your pen than the volume you published some years ago, giving the history of his life. That straw has been thrashed overand over again and you were not needed in that work; but there are so few who had any knowledge of the inner workings of Mr. Lincoln's administration that I think you owe it to the proof of history to finish the work you began. —— and —— never knew anything about Mr. Lincoln. They knew the President in his routine duties and in his official ways, but the man Lincoln and his plans and methods were all Greek to them. They have made a history that is quite correct so far as data is concerned, but beyond that it is full of gross imperfections, especially when they attempt to speak of Mr. Lincoln's individual qualities and movements. Won't you consider the matter of writing another volume on Lincoln? I sincerely hope that you will do so. Herndon covered about everything that is needed outside of confidential official circles in Washington. That he could not write as he knew nothing about it, and there is no one living who can perform that task but yourself....Yours truly,(Signed)A. K. McClure.
Philadelphia, Sept. 1, 1891.
Hon. Ward H. Lamon, Carlsbad, Bohemia:
My dear old Friend, — ....I think it a great misfortune that you did not write the history of Lincoln's administration. It is much more needed from your pen than the volume you published some years ago, giving the history of his life. That straw has been thrashed overand over again and you were not needed in that work; but there are so few who had any knowledge of the inner workings of Mr. Lincoln's administration that I think you owe it to the proof of history to finish the work you began. —— and —— never knew anything about Mr. Lincoln. They knew the President in his routine duties and in his official ways, but the man Lincoln and his plans and methods were all Greek to them. They have made a history that is quite correct so far as data is concerned, but beyond that it is full of gross imperfections, especially when they attempt to speak of Mr. Lincoln's individual qualities and movements. Won't you consider the matter of writing another volume on Lincoln? I sincerely hope that you will do so. Herndon covered about everything that is needed outside of confidential official circles in Washington. That he could not write as he knew nothing about it, and there is no one living who can perform that task but yourself....
Yours truly,(Signed)A. K. McClure.
I have been influenced also by a friend who is a great Lincoln scholar and who, impressed with the injustice done my father, has urged me for several years to reissue the book of "Recollections," add a sketch of his life and publish letters that show his standing during Lincoln's administration. I hesitated to do this, remembering the following words of Mr. Lincoln at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on his way to Washington: "It is well known that the more a man speaks the less he isunderstood—the more he says one thing, the more his adversaries contend he meant something else." I am now yielding to these influences with the hope that however much the book may suggest a "patchwork quilt" and be permeated with Lamon as well as Lincoln, it will yet appeal to those readers who care for documentary evidence in matters historical.
Dorothy Lamon Teillard.
Washington, D. C.,April, 1911.
Letter from Ex-Secretary Usher.Letter from A. K. McClure.Memoir of Ward H. Lamon.CHAPTER I.PageEARLY ACQUAINTANCE.Prominent Features of Mr. Lincoln's Life written by himself9Purpose of Present Volume13Riding the Circuit14Introduction to Mr. Lincoln14Difference in Work in Illinois and in Virginia15Mr. Lincoln's Victory over Rev. Peter Cartwright15Lincoln Subject Enough for the People16Mr. Lincoln's Love of a Joke—Could "Contribute Nothing to the End in View"16A Branch of Law Practice which Mr. Lincoln could not learn17Refusal to take Amount of Fee given in Scott Case18Mr. Lincoln tried before a Mock Tribunal19Low Charges for Professional Service20Amount of Property owned by Mr. Lincoln when he took the Oath as President of the United States20Introduction to Mrs. Lincoln21Mrs. Lincoln's Prediction in 1847 that her Husband would be President21The Lincoln and Douglas Senatorial Campaign in 185822"Smelt no Royalty in our Carriage"22Mr. Lincoln denies that he voted against the Appropriation for Supplies to Soldiers during Mexican War23Jostles the Muscular Democracy of a Friend24Political Letter of 185826Prediction of Hon. J. G. Blaine regarding Lincoln and Douglas27Time between Election and Departure for Washington28CHAPTER II.JOURNEY FROM SPRINGFIELD TO WASHINGTON.Mr. Lincoln's Farewell to his Friends in Springfield30At Indianapolis32Speeches made with the Object of saying Nothing33At Albany—Letter of Mr. Thurlow Weed34Loss of Inaugural Address35At Philadelphia—Detective and alleged Conspiracy to murder Mr. Lincoln38Plans for Safety40At Harrisburg40Col. Sumner's Opinion of the Plan to thwart Conspiracy41Selection of One Person to accompany Mr. Lincoln42At West Philadelphia—Careful Arrangements to avoid Discovery43At Baltimore—"It's Four O'clock"45At Washington45Arrival at Hotel46CHAPTER III.INAUGURATION.Formation of Cabinet and Administration Policy48Opposition to Mr. Chase49Alternative List of Cabinet Members50Politicians realize for the First Time the Indomitable Will of Mr. Lincoln51Mr. Seward and Mr. Chase, Men of Opposite Principles51Mr. Seward not to be the real Head of the Administration52Preparations for Inauguration53Introduction by Senator Baker53Impression made by Inaugural Address54Oath of Office Administered54The Call of the New York Delegation on the President55CHAPTER IV.GLOOMY FOREBODINGS OF COMING CONFLICT.Geographical Lines distinctly drawn56Behavior of the 36th Congress57Letter of Hon. Joseph Holt on the "Impending Tragedy"58South Carolina formally adopts the Ordinance of Secession62Southern Men's Opinion of Slavery62Mr. Lincoln imagines Himself in the Place of the Slave-Holder65Judge J. S. Black on Slavery as regarded by the Southern Man66Emancipation a Question of Figures as well as Feeling66Mission to Charleston68"Bring back a Palmetto, if you can't bring Good News"70Why General Stephen A. Hurlbut went to Charleston70Visit to Mr. James L. Pettigrew—Peaceable Secession or War Inevitable71"A great Goliath from the North"—"A Yankee Lincoln-Hireling"72Initiated into the great "Unpleasantness"73Interview with Governor Pickens—No Way out of Existing Difficulties but to fight out74Passes written by Governor Pickens75,78Interview with Major Anderson75Rope strong enough to hang a Lincoln-Hireling76Timely Presence of Hon. Lawrence Keith77Extremes of Southern Character exemplified77Interview with the Postmaster of Charleston78Experience of General Hurlbut in Charleston79CHAPTER V.HIS SIMPLICITY.The Ease with which Mr. Lincoln could be reached80Visit of a Committee from Missouri81A Missouri "Orphan" in Trouble82Protection Paper for Betsy Ann Dougherty83Case of Young Man convicted of Sleeping at his Post86Reprieve given to a Man whom a "little Hanging would not hurt"87An Appeal for Mercy that failed88An Appeal for the Release of a Church in Alexandria89"Reason" why Sentence of Death should not be passed upon a Parricide90The Tennessee Rebel Prisoner who was Religious90The Lord on our Side or We on the Side of the Lord91Clergymen at the White House91Number of Rebels in the Field92Mr. Lincoln dismisses Committee of Fault-Finding Clergymen93Mistaken Identity and the Sequel94Desire to belikeas well asofandforthe People96Hat Reform97Mr. Lincoln and his Gloves97Bearing a Title should not injure the Austrian Count99CHAPTER VI.HIS TENDERNESS.Mr. Lincoln's Tenderness toward Animals101Mr. Lincoln refuses to sign Death Warrants for Deserters—Kind Words better than Cold Lead102How Mr. Lincoln shared the Sufferings of the Wounded Soldiers103Letters of Condolence106-108CHAPTER VII.DREAMS AND PRESENTIMENTS.Superstition—A Rent in the Veil which hides from Mortal View what the Future holds111The Day of Mr. Lincoln's Renomination at Baltimore112Double Image in Looking-Glass—Premonition of Impending Doom112Mr. Lincoln relates a Dream which he had a Few Days before his Assassination114A Dream that always portended an Event of National Importance118Mr. Lincoln's Last Drive119Mr. Lincoln's Philosophy concerning Presentiments and Dreams121CHAPTER VIII.THE HUMOROUS SIDE OF HIS CHARACTER.Mr. Lincoln calls himself "Only a Retail Story-Dealer"123The Purpose of Mr. Lincoln's Stories124Mr. Lincoln shocks the Public Printer124A General who had formed an Intimate Acquaintance with himself125Charles I. held up as a Model for Mr. Lincoln's Guidance in Dealing with Insurgents—Had no Head to Spare127Question of whether Slaves would starve if Emancipated127Mr. Lincoln expresses his Opinion of Rebel Leaders to Confederate Commissioners at the Peace Conference128Impression made upon Mr. Lincoln by Alex. H. Stephens129Heading a Barrel129A Fight, its Serious Outcome, and Mr. Lincoln's Kindly View of the Affair130Not always easy for Presidents to have Special Trains furnished them132Mr. Lincoln's Reason for not being in a Hurry to Catch theTrain133"Something must be done in the Interest of the Dutch"134San Domingo Affair134Cabinet hadshrunk upNorth135Ill Health of Candidates for the Position of Commissioner of the Sandwich Islands135Encouragement to Young Lawyer who lost his Case136Settle the Difficulty without Reference to Who commenced the Fuss137"Doubts about the Abutment on the Other Side"138Mr. Anthony J. Bleeker tells his Experience in Applying for a Position—Believed in Punishment after Death138Mr. Lincoln points out a Marked Trait in one of the Northern Governors140"Ploughed around him"142Revenge on Enemy143CHAPTER IX.THE ANTIETAM EPISODE.—LINCOLN'S LOVE OF SONG.If a Cause of Action is Good it needs no Vindication144Letter from A. J. Perkins145Mr. Lincoln's Own Statement of the Antietam Affair147One "Little Sad Song"150Well Timed Rudeness of Kind Intent151Favorite Songs152Adam and Eve's Wedding Day152Favorite Poem: "O Why Should the Spirit of Mortal be Proud?"153CHAPTER X.HIS LOVE OF CHILDREN.The Incident which led Mr. Lincoln to wear a Beard158The Knife that fairly belonged to Mr. Lincoln159Mr. Lincoln is introduced to the Painter of his "Beautiful Portrait"160Death of Mr. Lincoln's Favorite Child161Measures taken to break the Force of Mr. Lincoln's Grief162The Invasion of Tad's Theatre164Tad introduces some Kentucky Gentlemen166CHAPTER XI.THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE GETTYSBURG SPEECH.The Gettysburg Speech169A Modesty which scorned Eulogy for Achievements not his Own170Mr. Lincoln's Regret that he had not prepared the GettysburgSpeech with Greater Care173Mr. Everett's and Secretary Seward's Opinion of the Speech174The Reported Opinion of Mr. Everett174Had unconsciously risen to a Height above the Cultured Thought of the Period176Intrinsic Excellence of the Speech first discovered by European Journals176How the News of Mr. Lincoln's Death was received by Other Nations176Origin of Phrase "Government of the People, by the People, and for the People"177CHAPTER XII.HIS UNSWERVING FIDELITY TO PURPOSE.An Intrigue to appoint a Dictator180"Power, Plunder, and Extended Rule"181Feared Nothing except to commit an Involuntary Wrong182President of One Part of a Divided Country—Not a Bed of Roses182Mr. Lincoln asserts himself184Demands for General Grant's Removal184Distance from the White House to the Capitol185Stoical Firmness of Mr. Lincoln in standing by General Grant185Letter from Mr. Lincoln to General Grant186The Only Occasion of a Misunderstanding between the President and General Grant187Special Order Relative to Trade-Permits188Extract from Wendell Phillips's Speech189Willing to abide the Decision of Time190Unworthy Ambition of Politicians and the Jealousies in the Army191Resignation of General Burnside—Appointment of Successor192War conducted at the Dictation of Political Bureaucracy193Letter to General Hooker194Mr. Lincoln's Treatment of the Subject of Dictatorship195Symphony of Bull-Frogs196"A Little More Light and a Little Less Noise"198CHAPTER XIII.HIS TRUE RELATIONS WITH McCLELLAN.Mr. Lincoln not a Creature of Circumstances199Subordination of High Officials to Mr. Lincoln200The Condition of the Army at Beginning and Close of General McClellan's Command201Mr. Lincoln wanted to "borrow" the Army if General McClellan did not want to use it202Mr. Lincoln's Opinion of General McClellan. A Protest denouncing the Conduct of McClellan203Mr. Lincoln alone Responsible to the Country for General McClellan's Appointment as Commander of the Forces at Washington204Confidential Relationship between Francis P. Blair and Mr. Lincoln205Mr. Blair's Message to General McClellan206General McClellan repudiates the Obvious Meaning of the Democratic Platform207Mr. Lincoln hopes to be "Dumped on the Right Side of the Stream"208Last Appeal to General McClellan's Patriotism208Proposition Declined210CHAPTER XIV.HIS MAGNANIMITY.Public Offices in no Sense a Fund upon which to draw for the Payment of Private Accounts212Busy letting Rooms while the House was on Fire214Peremptory Order to General Meade214Conditions of Proposition to renounce all Claims to Presidency and throw Entire Influence in Behalf of Horatio Seymour215Mr. Thurlow Weed to effect Negotiation216Mr. Lincoln deterred from making the Magnanimous Self-Sacrifice217How Mr. Lincoln thought the Currency was made217Mr. Chase explains the System of Checks—The President impressed with Danger from this Source218First Proposition to Mr. Lincoln to issue Interest-Bearing Notes as Currency—The Interview between David Taylor and Secretary Chase220Mr. Lincoln's Honesty—Some Legal Rights and Moral Wrongs222Mr. Lincoln annuls the Proceedings of Court-Martial in Case of Franklin W. Smith and Brother222Senator Sherman omits Criticism of Lincoln223Release of Roger A. Pryor224CHAPTER XV.CABINET COUNSELS.The "Trent" Affair227Spirit of Forgiveness (?) toward England229The Interview which led to the Appointment of Mr. Stanton as Secretary of War230Correspondence with Hon. William A. Wheeler231The Appointment of Mr. Stanton a Surprise to the Country232Mr. Stanton's Rudeness to Mr. Lincoln in 1858236Mr. Lincoln abandons a Message to Congress in Deference to the Opinion of his Cabinet—Proposed Appropriation of $3,000,000 as Compensation to Owners of Liberated Slaves237Mr. Stanton's Refusal of Permits to go through the Lines into Insurgent Districts239Not Much Influence with this Administration239Mr. Stanton's Resignation not accepted239The Seven Words added by Mr. Chase to the Proclamation of Emancipation240Difference between "Qualified Voters" and "Citizens of the State"240Letter of Governor Hahn241Universal Suffrage One of Doubtful Propriety242Not in Favor of Unlimited Social Equality242The Conditions under which Mr. Lincoln wanted the War to Terminate243The Rights and Duties of the Gentleman and of the Vagrant are the Same in Time of War245What was to be the Disposition of the Leaders of the Rebellion246Mr. Lincoln and Jefferson Davis on an Imaginary Island247Disposition of Jefferson Davis discussed at a Cabinet Meeting248Principal Events of Life of Mr. Davis after the War249Discussing the Military Situation—Terms of Peace must emanate from Mr. Lincoln250Telegram to General Grant251Dignified Reply of General Grant252CHAPTER XVI.CONFLICT BETWEEN CIVIL AND MILITARY AUTHORITY.Difficulties attending the Execution of the Fugitive Slave Law254Civil Authority outranked the Military255District Jail an Objective Point257Resignation of Marshal258Marshal's Office made a Subject of Legislation in Congress259A Result of Blundering Legislation259Mr. Lincoln's Existence embittered by Personal and Political Attacks260Rev. Robert Collyer and the Rustic Employee261CHAPTER XVII.PLOTS AND ASSASSINATION.Conspiracy to kidnap Mr. Buchanan264Second Scheme of Abduction265Mr. Lincoln relates the Details of a Dangerous Ride265A Search for Mr. Lincoln271Mr. Lincoln's Peril during Ceremonies of his Second Inauguration—Booth's Phenomenal Audacity271The Polish Exile from whom Mr. Lincoln feared Assault273An Impatient Letter appealing to Mr. Lincoln's Prudence274Mr. Lincoln's high Administrative Qualities276But Few Persons apprehended Danger to Mr. Lincoln276General Grant receives the News of the Assassination of Mr. Lincoln—A Narrow Escape278Last Passport written by Mr. Lincoln280Mr. Lincoln requested to make a Promise280Mr. Lincoln's Farewell to his Marshal281Lincoln's Last Laugh282Willing to concede Much to Democrats286Eastern Shore Maryland287Honesty in Massachusetts and Georgia287McClellan seems to be Lost288Battle of Antietam, Turning-point in Lincoln's Career289Motto for the Greenback289"Niggers will never be higher"290Lincoln in a Law Case291Lincoln's Views of the American or Know-Nothing Party299Account of Arrangement for Cooper Institute Speech300"Rail Splitter"303Temperance305Shrewdness309Religion333