Team of Rivals

by Goodwin, Doris Kearns

  nearly lost his life at Cold Harbor: Janet W. Seward, “Personal Experiences of the Civil War,” Seward Papers, NRU.

  “I cannot yet…a holy cause”: FAS to William H. Seward, Jr., May 20, 1864, reel 115, Seward Papers.

  a “righteous” conflict…Mexican War: FAS to Augustus Seward, May 15, 1864, reel 115, Seward Papers.

  “so nervous…all night with terror”: EBL to SPL, June 19, [1864], in Wartime Washington, ed. Laas, p. 394.

  “grave & anxious”: EBL to SPL, June 21, 1864, in ibid., p. 395.

  if Frank were taken…“are politically”: EBL to SPL, June 22, 1864, in note 2 of EBL to SPL, June 21, 1864, in ibid., p. 396.

  Welles was pained…“unfit for any labor”: Entry for July 20, 1864, Welles diary, Vol. II, p. 82.

  the Great Central Fair in Philadelphia: William Thompson, “Sanitary Fairs of the Civil War,” Civil War History 4 (March 1958), p. 60; NR, June 16, 1864.

  “miracles as many…world of magic”: Unknown observer, quoted in Thompson, “Sanitary Fairs of the Civil War,” CWH 4 (1958), p. 60.

  Lincoln, Mary, and Tad left: Entry for June 16, 1864, in Lincoln Day by Day, Vol. III, p. 265.

  they were escorted…“in Philadelphia”: NR, June 16 and 17, 1864 (quote June 17).

  “War, at the best…until that time”: AL, “Speech at Great Central Sanitary Fair, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,” June 16, 1864, in CW, VII, pp. 394, 395.

  his own “intense anxiety…his post here”: Entry for June 20, 1864, Welles diary, Vol. II, p. 55.

  Accompanied by Tad…of June 20: Entry for June 20, 1864, in Lincoln Day by Day, Vol. III, p. 266.

  “came down from…all who met him”: Porter, Campaigning with Grant, pp. 217, 218.

  “plain and substantial…hero of Vicksburg”: NYH, June 25, 1864.

  Lincoln conversed…“three capital jokes”: Sylvanus Cadwallader, Three Years with Grant: As Recalled by War Correspondent Sylvanus Cadwallader, ed. Benjamin P. Thomas (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1956), p. 232.

  Grant suggested a ride…“met him on all sides”: Porter, Campaigning with Grant, p. 218 (quote); NR, June 24, 1864.

  “a long and lingering look”: NYH, June 25, 1864.

  passed a brigade…“spontaneous outburst”: Cadwallader, Three Years with Grant, p. 233.

  “and his voice…if he had inherited it”: Porter, Campaigning with Grant, pp. 222–23.

  General Grant took Lincoln aside…“but I will go in”: USG, quoted in entry for June 26, 1864, in Browning, The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning, Vol. I, p. 673.

  “sunburnt and…position and good spirits”: “23 June 1864, Thursday,” in Hay, Inside Lincoln’s White House, p. 210.

  regular Friday cabinet meeting…“the General and army”: Entry for June 24, 1864, Welles diary, Vol. II, p. 58.

  project his own renewed hope…“as a commander”: NYTrib, June 25, 1864.

  “of the condition…terms of confidence”: Philadelphia Inquirer, June 25, 1864.

  “Having hope…your goals”: Daniel Goleman, Emotional Intelligence (New York: Bantam Books, 1995), p. 87. Goleman quotes C. R. Snyder in the third quote.

  “We are today…within a year”: Brooks, Mr. Lincoln’s Washington, p. 343.

  John Cisco…own presidential hopes: John G. Nicolay and John Hay, Abraham Lincoln: A History, Vol. IX (New York: Century Co., 1917), p. 91.

  Lincoln told Chase…for Maunsell Field: SPC to AL, June 27, 1864, Lincoln Papers.

  Field was serving…“executive character”: Chittenden, Recollections of President Lincoln (1901 edn.), pp. 371, 374.

  Chase awoke the morning after…to the Ephesians: Entry for June 28, 1864, in Chase Papers, Vol. I, pp. 465–66.

  “Stand therefore…righteousness”: Ephesians 6:14.

  “I can not”…on another nominee: AL to SPC, June 28, 1864, in CW, VII, pp. 412–13.

  Chase wrote an immediate request: SPC to AL, June 28, 1864, Lincoln Papers.

  He telegraphed Cisco…three months: SPC to John J. Cisco, June 28, 1864, reel 34, Chase Papers; entry for June 28, 1864, in Chase Papers, Vol. I, p. 467.

  “The difficulty…open revolt”: AL to SPC, June 28, 1864, in CW, VII, pp. 413–14.

  He began his letter…“my resignation”: John J. Cisco to SPC, June 28, 1864; SPC to AL, June 29, 1864, Lincoln Papers.

  “I opened it…I did not long reflect”: AL, quoted in Field, Memories of Many Men, pp. 301–02.

  “You have been acting…I will go”: “30 June 1864, Thursday,” in Hay, Inside Lincoln’s White House, p. 213.

  “Your resignation…with the public service”: AL to SPC, June 30, 1864, in CW, VII, p. 419.

  Lincoln called John Hay…the opening prayer: “30 June 1864, Thursday,” in Hay, Inside Lincoln’s White House, p. 212.

  Lincoln’s penitent request…he was needed: Field, Memories of Many Men, p. 303.

  After breakfast…it had been accepted: Chase Papers, Vol. I, pp. 469–70 (quotes p. 470).

  spoke of “mutual embarrassment”: AL to SPC, June 30, 1864, in CW, VII, p. 419.

  “I had found…fitness of selection”: Entry for June 30, 1864, in Chase Papers, Vol. I, p. 470.

  “his full armor of noble sentiments”: Nicolay and Hay, Abraham Lincoln, Vol. IX, p. 84.

  “The Senators were struck”…vehement protest: Brooks, Washington, D.C., in Lincoln’s Time, p. 119.

  “Fessenden was frightened…was mad”: AL, quoted in “30 June 1864, Thursday,” in Hay, Inside Lincoln’s White House, p. 213.

  Lincoln listened patiently…“meet each other”: Brooks, Washington, D.C., in Lincoln’s Time, pp. 119–120 (quotes p. 120).

  Chase had declined to attend: Entry for June 24, 1864, Welles diary, Vol. II, p. 58.

  “unendurable…the last straw”: Brooks, Washington, D.C., in Lincoln’s Time, pp. 120, 121.

  “very nervous & cut up”: “30 June 1864, Thursday,” in Hay, Inside Lincoln’s White House, p. 214.

  Chittenden was equally…“thoroughly miserable”: AL, quoted in Chittenden, Recollections of President Lincoln (1901 edn.), pp. 377–79 (quotes pp. 378–79).

  Lincoln paused…“loftier motives than any man”: Ibid., pp. 379–80.

  a similar remark…“of good will”: Entry for June 30, 1864, in Chase Papers, Vol. I, p. 471.

  “the great magician…financier of his century”: Chicago Tribune, July 3, 1864.

  “Mr. Chase is…Webster and Calhoun”: NYTrib, July 1, 1864.

  he received a telegram…reasons of health: David Tod to AL, June 30, 1864, Lincoln Papers.

  “laid awake…public men”: Carpenter, Six Months at the White House, p. 182.

  By morning…William Pitt Fessenden: Chittenden, Recollections of President Lincoln (1901 edn.), p. 381.

  “First… of many radicals”: “1 July 1864, Friday,” in Hay, Inside Lincoln’s White House, p. 216.

  Lincoln handed Hay…“at once to the Senate”: AL, quoted in “1 July 1864, Friday,” in ibid., p. 215.

  Lincoln greeted Fessenden…would kill him: William Pitt Fessenden, quoted in Fessenden, Life and Public Services of William Pitt Fessenden, Vol. I, pp. 315–16.

  “If you decline…the nomination”: AL, quoted in “1 July 1864, Friday,” in Hay, Inside Lincoln’s White House, p. 216.

  “Telegrams came pouring…the most miserable”: William Pitt Fessenden to his cousin, quoted in Fessenden, Life and Public Services of William Pitt Fessenden, Vol. I, p. 320.

  “Very well…save your country”: EMS, quoted in ibid., p. 321.

  As he was driven…“danger to the country”: William Pitt Fessenden to Justice Tenney, quoted in ibid., pp. 317–18.

  “He is a man…personal integrity”: Chicago Tribune, July 2, 1864.

  “He is honest…Republican Senators”: EBL to SPL, July 2, 1864, in Wartime Washington, ed. Laas, p. 398.

  “I am the most popular man in my country”: William Pitt Fessenden, quoted in Fessenden, Life and Public Services of William Pi
tt Fessenden, Vol. I, p. 326.

  “So my official life closes”: Entry for June 30, 1864, in Chase Papers, Vol. I, p. 471.

  the oppressive heat of Washington…“are wilting”: Entry for July 31, 1864, in The Diary of Edward Bates, 1859–1866, p. 392.

  “laid broad foundations”…was still unfinished: Entry for June 30, 1864, in Chase Papers, Vol. I, p. 471.

  Blair and Bates called…“as a blessing”: Entry for June 30, 1864, Welles diary, Vol. II, pp. 62–63 (quote p. 63).

  “the courage and candor to admit his errors”: Entry for March 23, 1864, ibid., p. 545.

  “his jokes are…destitute of wit”: Entry for March 22, 1864, ibid., p. 545.

  “a vague feeling…to be cordial”: Entry for June 30, 1864, in The Diary of Edward Bates, 1859–1866, p. 381.

  “dropped off…every body else”: FPB to FB, July 4, 1864, quoted in Smith, The Francis Preston Blair Family in Politics, Vol. II, p. 271.

  Seward, unlike…“first day of the Administration”: WHS to FAS, [July] 2, 1864, quoted in Seward, Seward at Washington…1861–1872, p. 230.

  he noted sadly…“since my resignation”: Entry for July 13, 1864, in Chase Papers, Vol. I, p. 479.

  If Chase believed…he was mistaken: SPC to EMS, June 30, 1864, in Warden, Private Life and Public Services, p. 618.

  Chase searched for reasons…“hostile to me”: Entry for July 4, 1864, in Chase Papers, Vol. I, p. 476.

  “The root…a joke out of this war”: SPC to Whitelaw Reid, quoted in Albert Bushnell Hart, Salmon P. Chase. American Statesmen Series (Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1899), p. 318.

  To Kate…“cannot finish what I began”: SPC to KCS, July 3, 1864, reel 34, Chase Papers.

  whose marriage to William…“the balance of power”: Lamphier, Kate Chase and William Sprague, p. 78.

  “Can it be…even with far less material wealth”: Entry for November 4, 1868, KCS diary, Sprague Papers (quotes); Lamphier, Kate Chase and William Sprague, pp. 74, 84–85.

  occasionally loathing…“learned to submit”: Entry for November 11, 1868, KCS diary, Sprague Papers.

  Chase witnessed a fight…her first child: Entry for September 9, 1864, in Chase Papers, Vol. I, p. 501 (quote); Belden and Belden, So Fell the Angels, pp. 135–36, 144.

  The Wade-Davis bill: H. R. 244, 38th Cong., 1st sess. (“Wade-Davis Bill”), in The Radical Republicans and Reconstruction, 1861–1870, ed. Harold Hyman. American Heritage Series (Indianapolis and New York: Bobbs-Merrill, 1967), pp. 128–34.

  In a written proclamation…single, inflexible system: AL, “Proclamation Concerning Reconstruction,” July 8, 1864, in CW, VII, p. 433.

  he likened the Wade-Davis…“fit the bedstead”: Brooks, Washington, D.C., in Lincoln’s Time, pp. 156–57.

  Lincoln understood…“fixed within myself”: “4 July 1864, Monday,” in Hay, Inside Lincoln’s White House, pp. 218–19.

  Wade and Davis published…manifesto against him: “The Wade-Davis Manifesto, August 5, 1864,” in The Radical Republicans and Reconstruction, 1861–1870, ed. Hyman, pp. 137–47.

  He was not surprised by…“that can befall a man”: Brooks, Washington, D.C. in Lincoln’s Time, p. 156.

  The rumors alarmed…eager to get started: EBL to SPL, July 6, 1864, in Wartime Washington, ed. Laas, p. 400.

  In a letter to Frank…“a remote future”: FPB to FB, July 4, 1864, quoted in Smith, The Francis Preston Blair Family in Politics, Vol. II, p. 272.

  admonitions concerned Monty…the Pennsylvania countryside: EBL to SPL, July 6, 1864, in Wartime Washington, ed. Laas, p. 400.

  tried to convince her mother…“pulled to pieces”: EBL to SPL, July 14, 1864, in ibid., p. 403.

  Grant’s decision…General Lew Wallace: John Henry Cramer, Lincoln Under Enemy Fire: The Complete Account of His Experiences During Early’s Attack on Washington (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1948), pp. 2–8.

  Wallace understood…prepared itself for attack: Seward, Seward at Washington…1861–1872, p. 231.

  “The battle lasted…superior numbers”: Seward, 9th N.Y. Artillery speech, 1912, Seward Papers, NRU.

  Will’s horse…have been captured: Seward, Seward at Washington…1861–1872, pp. 244–45.

  Seward spent a tense…he had not been captured: Letter to FAS, quoted in Seward, Seward at Washington…1861–1872, p. 233 (quote); Lew Wallace to Henry W. Halleck, July 9, 1864, OR, Ser. 1, Vol. XXXVII, Part II, p. 145.

  “God be praised for the safety of our boy”: FAS to WHS, July 11, 1864, reel 114, Seward Papers.

  “With the help…rejoining the forces”: Seward, Seward at Washington…1861–1872, pp. 231–32.

  Falkland mansion…“top to bottom”: Mr. Turton, quoted in National Intelligencer, reprinted from the Daily Morning Chronicle, Washington, D.C., July 16, 1864.

  “blackened ruin”: EBL to SPL, August 5, 1864, quoted in note 2 of EBL to SPL, July 16, 1864, in Wartime Washington, ed. Laas, p. 405.

  the soldiers scattered papers…“great frolic” on the lawn: EBL to SPL, July 16 and 31, [1864], in ibid., pp. 404, 413 (quotes).

  “perfect saturnalia”: EBL to SPL, July 31, [1864], in ibid., p. 413.

  Breckinridge made them…“side of the Mts.”: EBL to SPL, July 16 and 31, [1864], in ibid., pp. 404, 413 (quote).

  He explained…“refuge & of rest”: EBL to SPL, July 16, [1864], in ibid., p. 405.

  “made more fuss…came back to us”: EBL to SPL, July 16, [1864], in ibid., pp. 404–05.

  In his initial panic…during the crisis: Thomas and Hyman, Stanton, pp. 319–20.

  “all convalescents…and rifle-pits”: Henry W. Halleck to George Cadwalader, July 9, 1864, OR, Ser. 1, Vol. XXXVII, Part II, p. 153.

  “in a pleasant and confident humor”: “12 July 1864, Tuesday,” in Hay, Inside Lincoln’s White House, p. 222.

  “in the least concerned…force in our front”: “11 July 1864, Monday,” in ibid., p. 221.

  “exhibits none…on former occasions”: Entry for July 11, 1864, Welles diary, Vol. II, p. 72.

  drove together…“were not frightened”: Entry for July 11, 1864, Taft diary.

  allowing the residents of Washington…“troops to the south”: Seward, Reminiscences of a War-Time Statesman and Diplomat, p. 246.

  “Before even the first…direction of Washington”: Jubal A. Early, “The Advance on Washington in 1864. Letter from General J. A. Early,” Southern Historical Society Papers, Vol. IX, January–December 1881 (Richmond, Va.: Southern Historical Society; Wilmington, N.C.: Broadfood Publishing Co., Morningside Bookshop, 1990), p. 306.

  “to be exceedingly…impregnable”: Jubal Anderson Early, War Memoirs: Autobiographical Sketch and Narrative of the War Between the States, ed. Frank E. Vandiver. Civil War Centennial Series (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1960), p. 390.

  at Fort Stevens: Benjamin Franklin Cooling, Jubal Early’s Raid on Washington, 1864 (Baltimore: Nautical & Aviation Publishing Co. of America, 1989), pp. 117–55.

  “The President evinced…standing upon it”: Cramer, Lincoln Under Enemy Fire, p. 30.

  “Get down”…unusual incident: Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., quoted in ibid., p. 22.

  “was exciting and wild…to have occurred”: Entry for July 12, 1864, Welles diary, Vol. II, pp. 75–76.

  “an egregious blunder”: Charles A. Dana, Recollections of the Civil War (New York: Collier Books, 1963), p. 205.

  Welles knew…appeared “contemptible”: Entry for July 13, 1864, Welles diary, Vol. II, p. 76.

  “Mrs. Lincoln…away as they did!”: Carpenter, Six Months at the White House, pp. 301–02 (quote p. 302).

  “I am informed…dismissed from the cabinet”: Henry W. Halleck to EMS, July 13, 1864, Lincoln Papers.

  “Whether the remarks…shall be dismissed”: EMS to AL, July 14, 1864, Lincoln Papers; AL to EMS, July 14, 1864, in CW, VII, pp. 439–40 (quote).

  “It would greatly pain…now or hereafter”: AL, “Memorandum Read to
Cabinet,” [July 14?], 186[4], in CW, VII, p. 439.

  Learning that Ben Butler…“civilians on either side”: MB to Benjamin F. Butler, August 10, 1864, in Private and Official Correspondence of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler During the Period of the Civil War. Vol. V: August 1864–March 1868 (Norwood, Mass.: Plimpton Press, 1917), p. 32 (quote); Cooling, Jubal Early’s Raid on Washington, 1864, pp. 152–53.

  “The loss is…is unrelieved[?]”: MB to R. A. Sloane, July 21, 1864, reel 22, Blair Family Papers, DLC.

  “The month of August”…throughout the North: Brooks, Lincoln Observed, Civil War Dispatches of Noah Brooks, ed. Michael Burlingame (Baltimore, Md., and London: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998), p. 129.

  mid-July call for five hundred thousand additional volunteers: NYT, July 19, 1864.

  “dissatisfaction…with the colors flying”: Ibid.

  An ingenious attempt: See Dorothy L. Drinkard, “Crater, Battle of the (30 July 1864),” in Encyclopedia of the American Civil War, ed. Heidler and Heidler, p. 517; McPherson, Battle Cry of Freedom, pp. 758–60.

  “Piled on top…frightened sheep”: Brooks, Lincoln Observed, p. 130.

  “It was the saddest…again to have”: USG to Henry W. Halleck, August 1, 1864, OR, Ser. 1, Vol. XL, Part I, p. 17.

  “less however from the result…of the future”: Entry for August 2, 1864, Welles diary, Vol. II, p. 92.

  he admitted feeling…“of our generals”: Entry for August 1, 1864, in The Diary of Edward Bates, 1859–1866, p. 392.

  he met with Grant at Fort Monroe: NYH, August 3, 1864.

  dispatched General Philip Sheridan…“troops go also”: USG to Henry W. Halleck, August 1, 1864, OR, Ser. 1, Vol. XXXVII, Part II, p. 558.

  “This, I think, is exactly right”: AL to USG, August 3, 1864, in CW, VII, p. 476.

  “a long and very pleasant…both in time”: Benjamin B. French to Henry F. French, August 9, 1864, typescript copy, reel 10, French Family Papers, DLC.

  “much wretchedness…in the land”: Entry for August 4, 1864, Welles diary, Vol. II, p. 93.

  “The People are wild for Peace”: TW to WHS, August 22, 1864, Lincoln Papers.

  “two Ambassadors…for a peace”: William C. Jewett to Horace Greeley, July 5, 1864, Lincoln Papers.