CHAPTER XVIII. LINCOLN'S FAME

The Voice of Official Europe. France. England.
Germany. The Common People of Europe. Lincoln
Best Appreciated at Home. The Element of Legend.
Emerson's Opinion. The Fame of Lincoln a Growing
Force in This Country and Abroad. The Foundation
of it. His Writings. His Public Work. His Military
Capacity. His Moral Qualities. His Name the Pos-
session of the Whole Country.

341

ABRAHAM LINCOLN

CHAPTER I

FRANKLIN AND NASHVILLE

WH

HILE Sherman was planning his march to the sea General Hood was devising a counter scheme of invasion. In spite of the rebuffs he had suffered at every encounter of arms since he had attained the object of his ambition by replacing Johnston, his hope and his courage had suffered no diminution. He had come to the West thoroughly imbued, as he says, with the spirit of Lee and Jackson. He thought by persisting in a series of flank attacks he would sooner or later destroy the National army. His courage and energy were equal to any demands that could be made upon them. His mental capacity was so limited that he was unable to see the obstacles in his way. Even now, after all the wasteful defeats which his rashness had inflicted upon his army, he was dreaming of a succession of victories more brilliant than any which had illustrated the career of his great prototype in Virginia. Although he had retreated from the front of Sherman, on the unaniVOL. X.-1

CHAP. I.

mous report of all the officers he consulted that his army was in no condition to fight a pitched battle with Sherman's force, yet even while he halted at the Cross Roads he decided, he says, to cross the Tennessee at Guntersville, to destroy Sherman's communications, to move upon Thomas and Schofield, and rout and capture their armies before they could reach Nashville. He intended then we are quoting his own words-to march upon that city, where he would supply his army and reënforce it by accessions from Tennessee; he would then march northeast, pass the Cumberland River, move into Kentucky, take position with his left at Richmond and his right at Hazel Green, then, threatening Cincinnati, recruit his army from Kentucky and Tennessee. The dream that had beguiled Kirby Smith still had power with Hood; "the former State," he said, "was reported, at this juncture, to be more aroused and embittered against the Federals than at any period of the war." He was imbued, he said, with the belief that he could accomplish this stupendous feat while Sherman was debating the alternative of following him, or marching through Georgia. But this scheme was merely the prelude to greater achievements; if Sherman should return to confront him or should follow him from Georgia into Tennessee and Kentucky he hoped then to be in condition to offer battle, and if blest with victory, to send reënforcements to General Lee, or to march through the gaps in the Cumberland Mountains and take Grant in rear; even if Sherman should beat him he considered that this enterprise was still open to him. Thus, he says, he believed he

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