LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY

HARVARD

COPYRIGHT BY

G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS.

1879

PREFACE.

X

MAKE no apology for adding another "Life of Abraham Lincoln" to the many already written, as I believe it impossible to make such an example of successful perseverance allied to honesty, as the great President gave, too well known to the world. And as I know of no other man whose life shows so perfectly what may be effected by resolute selfculture, and adherence to good principles in spite of obstacles, I infer that such an example cannot be too extensively set before all young men who are ambitious to do well in the truest sense. There are also other reasons why it should be studied. The life of Abraham Lincoln during his Presidency is simply that of his country-since he was so intimately concerned with every public event of his time, that as sometimes happens with photographs, so with the biography of Lincoln and the history of his time, we

cannot decide whether the great picture was enlarged from the smaller one, or the smaller reduced from a greater. His career also fully proves that extremes meet, since in no despotism is there an example of any one who ever governed so great a country so thoroughly in detail as did this Republican of Republicans, whose one thought was simply to obey the people.

It is of course impossible to give within the limits of a small book all the details of a busy life, and also the history of the American Emancipation and its causes; but I trust that I have omitted little of much importance. The books to which I have been chiefly indebted, and from which I have borrowed most freely, are the lives of Lincoln by W. H. Lamon, and by my personal friends H. J. Raymond and Dr. Holland; and also the works referring to the war by J. N. Arnold, F. B. Carpenter, L. P. Brockett, A. Boyd, G. W. Bacon, J. Barrett, Adam Badean, and F. Moore.

June, 1879.

C. G. L.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Birth of Abraham Lincoln-The Lincoln Family-Abraham's first

Schooling-Death of Mrs. Lincoln, and the new "Mother"-

Lincoln's Boyhood and Youth-Self-Education-Great Physical

Strength-First Literary Efforts-Journey to New Orleans-En-

couraging Incident,

CHAPTER II.

Lincoln's Appearance-His First Public Speech-Again at New

Orleans-Mechanical Genius-Clerk in a Country Store-Elected

Captain-The Black Hawk War-Is a successful Candidate for the

Legislature-Becomes a Storekeeper, Land Surveyor, and Post-

master- His First Love-The "Long Nine"--First Step towards

Emancipation,

· 30

CHAPTER III.

Lincoln settles at Springfield as a Lawyer-Candidate for the office of

Presidential Elector-A Love Affair-Marries Miss Todd-Religious

Views-Exerts himself for Henry Clay-Elected to Congress in

1846-Speeches in Congress-Out of Political Employment until

1854-Anecdotes of Lincoln as a Lawyer,

CHAPTER

IV.

Rise of the Southern Party-Formation of the Abolition and the Free

Soil Parties-Judge Douglas and the Kansas-Nebraska Bill--

Douglas defeated by Lincoln-Lincoln_resigns as Candidate for

Congress-Lincoln's Letter on Slavery--The Bloomington Speech-

The Fremont Campaign-Election of Buchanan-The Dred-Scott

Decision,

PAGE

53

64

CHAPTER V.

Causes of Lincoln's Nomination to the Presidency- His Lectures in

New York, &c.-The First Nomination and the Fence Rails-The

Nomination at Chicago-Elected President-Office-seekers and

Appointments-Lincoln's Impartiality-The South determined to

Secede-Fears for Lincoln's Life,

78

CHAPTER VI.

A Suspected Conspiracy-Lincoln's Departure for Washington-His

Speeches at Springfield and on the road to the National Capital—

Breaking out of the Rebellion-Treachery of President Buchanan-

Treason in the Cabinet-Jefferson Davis's Message-Threats of

Massacre and Ruin to the North-Southern Sympathisers-Lincoln's

Inaugural Address-The Cabinet-The Days of Doubt and of

Darkness,

88

CHAPTER

Mr. Seward refuses to meet the Rebel Commissioners-Lincoln's

Forbearance-Fort Sumter-Call for 75,000 Troops-Troubles in

Maryland-Administrative Prudence-Judge Douglas-Increase of

the Army-Winthrop and Ellsworth-Bull Run-General M‘Clellan, 102

CHAPTER VIII.

VII.

Relations with Europe-Foreign Views of the War-The Slaves-

Proclamation of Emancipation-Arrest of Rebel Commissioners—

Black Troops,

CHAPTER IX.

Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-two-The Plan of the War, and

Strength of the Armies-General M'Clellan-The General Movement,

January 27th, 1862-The brilliant Western Campaign-Removal of

M'Clellan-The Monitor-Battle of Fredericksburg-Vallandigham

and Seymour-The Alabama-President Lincoln declines all Foreign

Mediation,

PAGE

X.

CHAPTER

Eighteen Hundred and Sixty-three-A Popular Prophecy-General

Burnside relieved and General Hooker appointed-Battle of Chancel-

lorsville The Rebels invade Pennsylvania-Battle of Gettysburg—

Lincoln's Speech at Gettysburg-Grant takes Vicksburg-Port

Hudson-Battle of Chattanooga-New York Riots-The French in

Mexico-Troubles in Missouri,

·

CHAPTER XI.

Proclamation of Amnesty-Lincoln's Benevolence-His Self-reliance-

Progress of the Campaign-The Summer of 1864-Lincoln's Speech

at Philadelphia-Suffering in the South-Raids-Sherman's March

-Grant's Position-Battle of the Wilderness-Siege of Petersburg-

Chambersburg-Naval Victories-Confederate Intrigues-Presiden-

tial Election-Lincoln Re-elected-Atrocious Attempts of the Con-
federates,

CHAPTER XII.

The President's Reception of Negroes-The South opens Negotiations

for Peace-Proposals-Lincoln's Second Inauguration-The Last

Battle-Davis Captured-End of the War-Death of Lincoln-Public

Mourning,

CHAPTER

XIII.

President Lincoln's Characteristics-His Love of Humour-His Stories

-Pithy Sayings-Repartees-His Dignity,

INDEX,

117

154

147

172

203

233

245