LINCOLN
Abraham Lincoln,
An Account of His Personal Life,
Especially of Its Springs of Action as
Revealed and Deepened by the Ordeal of War
By Nathaniel Wright Stephenson
Authority for all important statements of facts in the following pages may be found in the notes; the condensed references are expanded in the bibliography. A few controversial matters are discussed in the notes.
I am very grateful to Mr. William Roscoe Thayer for enabling me to use the manuscript diary of John Hay. Miss Helen Nicolay has graciously confirmed some of the implications of the official biography. Lincoln's only surviving secretary, Colonel W. O. Stoddard, has given considerate aid. The curious incident of Lincoln as counsel in an action to recover slaves was mentioned to me by Professor Henry Johnson, through whose good offices it was confirmed and amplified by Judge John H. Marshall. Mr. Henry W. Raymond has been very tolerant of a stranger's inquiries with regard to his distinguished father. A futile attempt to discover documentary remains of the Republican National Committee of 1864 has made it possible, through the courtesy of Mr. Clarence B. Miller, at least to assert that there is nothing of importance in possession of the present Committee. A search for new light on Chandler drew forth generous assistance from Professor Ulrich B. Phillips, Mr. Floyd B. Streeter and Mr. G. B. Krum. The latter caused to be examined, for this particular purpose, the Blair manuscripts in the Burton Historical Collection. Much illumination arose out of a systematic resurvey of the Congressional Globe, for the war period, in which I had the stimulating companionship of Professor John L. Hill, reinforced by many conversations with Professor Dixon Ryan Fox and Professor David Saville Muzzey. At the heart of the matter is the resolute criticism of Mrs. Stephenson and of a long enduring friend, President Harrison Randolph. The temper of the historical fraternity is such that any worker in any field is always under a host of incidental obligations. There is especial propriety in my acknowledging the kindness of Professor Albert Bushnell Hart, Professor James A. Woodburn, Professor Herman V. Ames, Professor St. George L. Sioussat and Professor Allen Johnson.
CONTENTS
[ I. ] THE CHILD OF THE FOREST
[ II. ] THE MYSTERIOUS YOUTH
[ III. ] A VILLAGE LEADER
[ IV. ] REVELATIONS
[ V. ] PROSPERITY
[ VI. ] UNSATISFYING RECOGNITION
[ VII. ] THE SECOND START
[ VIII. ] A RETURN TO POLITICS
[ IX. ] THE LITERARY STATESMAN
[ X. ] THE DARK HORSE
[ XI. ] SECESSION
[ XII. ] THE CRISIS
[ XIII. ] ECLIPSE
[ XIV. ] THE STRANGE NEW MAN
[ XV. ] PRESIDENT AND PREMIER
[ XVI. ] "ON TO RICHMOND!"
[ XVII. ] DEFINING THE ISSUE
[ XVIII. ] THE JACOBIN CLUB
[ XIX. ] THE JACOBINS BECOME INQUISITORS
[ XX. ] IS CONGRESS THE PRESIDENT'S MASTER?
[ XXI. ] THE STRUGGLE TO CONTROL THE ARMY
[ XXII. ] LINCOLN EMERGES
[ XXIII. ] THE MYSTICAL STATESMAN
[ XXIV. ] GAMBLING IN GENERALS
[ XXV. ] A WAR BEHIND THE SCENES
[ XXVI. ] THE DICTATOR, THE MARPLOT AND THE LITTLE MEN
[ XXVII. ] THE TRIBUNE OF THE PEOPLE
[ XXVIII. ] APPARENT ASCENDENCY
[ XXIX. ] CATASTROPHE
[ XXX. ] THE PRESIDENT VERSUS THE VINDICTIVES
[ XXXI. ] A MENACING PAUSE
[ XXXII. ] THE AUGUST CONSPIRACY
[ XXXIII. ] THE RALLY TO THE PRESIDENT
[ XXXIV. ] "FATHER ABRAHAM"
[ XXXV. ] THE MASTER OF THE MOMENT
[ XXXVI. ] PREPARING A DIFFERENT WAR
[ XXXVII. ] FATE INTERPOSES