such ground that he cannot possibly save it after-
ward.
A. Lincoln.
224 LETTERS
Lincoln, Mrs. Abraham (Mary Todd).
Washington, December 21, 1862.
Mrs. A. Lincoln, Continental Hotel:
Do not come on the night train. It is too cold.
Come in the morning.
A. Lincoln.
Washington, June 9, 1863.
Mrs. Lincoln, Philadelphia :
Think you had better put "Tad's" pistol away.
I had an ugly dream about him.
A. Lincoln.
War Department,
Washington City, D. C, June 16, 1863.
Mrs. Lincoln, Philadelphia, Pa. :
It is a matter of choice with yourself whether
you come home. There is no reason why you
should not, that did not exist when you went
away. As bearing on the question of your com-
ing home, I do not think the raid into Pennsyl-
vania amounts to anything at all.
A. Lincoln.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, August 8, 1863.
My dear Wife: All as well as usual, and no
particular trouble anyway. I put the money
into a Treasury at five per cent., with the privi-
lege of withdrawing it any time upon thirty
days' notice. I suppose you are glad to learn
this. Tell dear Tad poor "Nanny Goat" is lost,
and Mrs. Cuthbert and I are in distress about it.
The day you left, Nanny was found resting her-
self and chewing her little cud on the middle
LINCOLN, MRS. ABRAHAM 225
of Tad's bed ; but now she's gone ! The gardener
kept complaining that she destroyed the flowers,
till it was concluded to bring her down to the
White House. This was done, and the second
day she had disappeared and has not been heard
of since. This is the last we know of poor
"Nanny."
The weather continues dry and excessively
warm here. Nothing very important occurring.
The election in Kentucky has gone very strongly
right. Old Mr. WicklifYe got ugly, as you know :
ran for governor, and is terribly beaten. Upon
Mr. Crittenden's death, Brutus Clay, Cassius's
brother, was put on the track for Congress, and
is largely elected. Mr. Menzies, who, as we
thought, behaved very badly last session of Con-
gress, is largely beaten in the district opposite
Cincinnati, by Green Clay Smith, Cassius Clay's
nephew. But enough.
Affectionately,
A. Lincoln.
Washington, D. C, September 21, 1863.
Mrs. A. Lincoln,
Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York :
The air is so clear and cool and apparently
healthy that I would be glad for you to come.
Nothing very particular but I would be glad to
see you and Tad.
A. Lincoln.
[ Telegram. ]
Executive Mansion, September 22, 1863.
Mrs. A. Lincoln, New York :
Did you receive my despatch of yesterday?
Mrs. Cuthbert did not correctly understand me.
226 LETTERS
I directed her to tell you to use your own pleasure
whether to stay or come, and I did not say it is
sickly and that you should on no account come.
So far as I see or know, it was never healthier,
and I really wish to see you. Answer this on re-
ceipt.
A. Lincoln.
On September 24, 1863, the President communicated
to his wife, with other war news, the information that
her brother-in-law Helm, a brigadier-general in the
Confederate army, had been killed in the battle of
Chickamauga.
[ Telegram. ]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, April 28, 1864.
Mrs. A. Lincoln,
Metropolitan Hotel, New York:
The draft will go to you. Tell Tad the goats
and father are very well, especially the goats.
A. Lincoln.
[ Telegram. ]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, June 24, 1864.
Mrs. A. Lincoln, Boston, Massachusetts :
All well and very warm. Tad and I have
been to General Grant's army. Returned yes-
terday safe and sound.
A. Lincoln.
[Telegram.]
Washington, D. C., June 29, 1864.
Mrs. A. Lincoln, New York :
All well. Tom is moving things out.
A. Lincoln.
LINCOLN, DAVID 227
[Telegram.]
Washington, D. C, August 31, 1864.
Mrs. A. Lincoln, Manchester, Vermont :
All reasonably well. Bob not here yet. How
is dear Tad ?
A. Lincoln.
[ Telegram. ]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, September 8, 1864.
Mrs. A. Lincoln, Manchester, Vermont :
All well, including Tad's pony and the goats.
Mrs. Colonel Dimmick died night before last.
Bob left Sunday afternoon. Said he did not
know whether he should see you.
A. Lincoln.
City Point, Va., April 2, 1865.
Mrs. Lincoln:
At 4.30 p. m. to-day General Grant telegraphs
that he has Petersburg completely enveloped from
river below to river above, and has captured
since he started last Wednesday, about 12,000
prisoners and 50 guns. He suggests that I shall
go out and see him in the morning, which I think
I will do. Tad and I are both well, and will
be glad to see you and your party here at the
time you name.
A. Lincoln.
Lincoln, David.
Washington, March 24, 1848.
Mr. David Lincoln.
Dear Sir: Your very worthy representative,
Gov. McDowell, has given me your name and
address, and as my father was born in Rock-
228 LETTERS
ingham, from whence his father, Abraham Lin-
coln, emigrated to Kentucky about the year 1782,
I have concluded to address you to ascertain
whether we are not of the same family. I shall
be much obliged if you will write me, telling
me whether you in any way know anything of
my grandfather, what relation you are to him,
and so on. Also, if you know where your family
came from when they settled in Virginia, trac-
ing them back as far as your knowledge extends.
Very respectfully,
A. Lincoln.
Washington, April 2, 1848.
Dear Sir : Last evening I was much gratified by
receiving and reading your letter of the 30th
of March. There is no longer any doubt that
your uncle Abraham and my grandfather was the
same man. His family did reside in Washington
County, Kentucky, just as you say you found
them in 1801 or 1802. The oldest son, Uncle
Mordecai, near twenty years ago removed from
Kentucky to Hancock County, Illinois, where
within a year or two afterward he died, and where
his surviving children now live. His two sons
there now are Abraham and Mordecai ; and their
post-office is "La Harpe." Uncle Josiah, farther
back than my recollection, went from Kentucky
to Blue River in Indiana. I have not heard from
him in a great many years, and whether he is
still living I cannot say. My recollection of what
I have heard is that he has several daughters
and only one son, Thomas — their post-office is
"Coryden, Harrison County, Indiana." My father,
Thomas, is still living, in Coles County, Illinois,
being in the seventy-first year of his age — his
LINCOLN, JESSE 229
post-office is "Charleston, Coles County, Illinois"
— I am his only child. I am now in my fortieth
year ; and I live in Springfield, Sangamon County,
Illinois. This is the outline of my grandfather's
family in the West.
I think my father has told me that grand-
father had four brothers — Isaac, Jacob, John, and
Thomas. Is that correct? And which of them
was your father? Are any of them alive? I am
quite sure that Isaac resided on Watauga, near
a point where Virginia and Tennessee join; and
that he has been dead more than twenty, per-
haps thirty, years ; also that Thomas removed to
Kentucky, near Lexington, where he died a good
while ago.
What was your grandfather's Christian name?
Was he not a Quaker? About what time did he
emigrate from Berks County, Pennsylvania, to
Virginia? Do you know anything of your fam-
ily (or rather I may now say our family),
farther back than your grandfather?
If it be not too much trouble to you, I shall be
much pleased to hear from you again. Be as-
sured I will call on you, should anything ever
bring me near you. I shall give your respects to
Governor McDowell as you desire.
Very truly yours,
A. Lincoln.
Lincoln, Jesse.
Springfield, Illinois, April 1, 1854.
My dear Sir : On yesterday I had the pleasure
of receiving your letter of the 16th of March.
From what you say there can be no doubt that
you and I are of the same family. The history
of your family, as you give it, is precisely what I
230 LETTERS
have always heard, and partly know, of my own.
As you have supposed, I am the grandson of your
uncle Abraham ; and the story of his death by the
Indians, and of Uncle Mordecai, then fourteen
years old, killing one of the Indians, is the fegend
more strongly than all others imprinted upon my
mind and memory. I am the son of grandfather's
youngest son, Thomas. I have often heard my
father speak of his uncle Isaac residing at
Watauga (I think), near where the then States
of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee join,
— you seem now to be some hundred miles or so
west of that. I often saw Uncle Mordecai, and
Uncle Josiah but once in my life; but I never
resided near either of them. Uncle Mordecai
died in 1831 or 2, in Hancock County, Illinois,
where he had then recently removed from Ken-
tucky, and where his children had also removed,
and still reside, as I understand. Whether Uncle
Josiah is dead or living, I cannot tell, not hav-
ing heard from him for more than twenty years.
When I last heard of him he was living on Big
Blue River, in Indiana (Harrison Co., I think),
and where he had resided ever since before
the beginning of my recollection. My father
(Thomas) died the 17th of January, 1851, in
Coles County, Illinois, where he had resided
twenty years. I am his only child. I have re-
sided here, and hereabouts, twenty-three years.
I am forty-five years of age, and have a wife and
three children, the oldest eleven years. My wife
was born and raised at Lexington, Kentucky ;
and my connection with her has sometimes taken
me there, where I have heard the older people of
her relations speak of your uncle Thomas and
his family. He is dead long ago, and his de-
LINCOLN, ROBERT T. 231
scendants have gone to some part of Missouri,
as I recollect what I was told. When I was at
Washington in 1848, I got tip a correspondence
with David Lincoln, residing at Sparta, Rock-
ingham County, Virginia, who, like yourself, was
a first cousin of my father ; but I forget, if he
informed me, which of my grandfather's brothers
was his father. With Col. Crozier, of whom you
speak, I formed quite an intimate acquaintance,
for a short one, while at Washington ; and when
you meet him again I will thank you to present
him my respects. Your present governor,
Andrew Johnson, was also at Washington while
I was ; and he told me of there being people of
the name of Lincoln in Carter County, I think.
I can no longer claim to be a young man myself ;
but I infer that, as you are of the same genera-
tion as my father, you are some older. I shall
be very glad to hear from you again.
Very truly your relative,
A. Lincoln.
Lincoln, Robert T.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, July 3, 1863.
Robert T. Lincoln, Esq.,
Cambridge, Mass. :
Don't be uneasy. Your Mother very slightly
hurt by her fall. A. L.
Please send at once.
[ Telegram. ]
Washington, D. C, October 11, 1864.
Robert T. Lincoln,
Cambridge, Massachusetts :
Your letter makes us a little uneasy about your
232 LETTERS
health. Telegraph us how you are. If you think
it would help you, make us a visit.
A. Lincoln.
[Jan. 19, 1865. See Grant, Ulysses S.]
[ Telegram. ]
Washington, D. C, March 21, 1865.
Captain R. T. Lincoln,
City Point, Virginia :
We now think of starting to you about 1 p. m.
Thursday. Don't make public.
A. Lincoln.
Lincoln, Thomas.
Washington, December 24, 1848.
My dear Father: Your letter of the 7th was
received night before last. I very cheerfully
send you the twenty dollars, which sum you say
is necessary to save your land from sale. It is
singular that you should have forgotten a judg-
ment against you ; and it is more singular that
the plaintiff should have let you forget it so long,
particularly as I suppose you always had prop-
erty enough to satisfy a judgment of that amount.
Before you pay it, it would be well to be sure
you have not paid, or at least that you cannot
prove that you have paid it.
Give my love to mother and all the connections.
Affectionately your son,
A. Lincoln.
[Jan. 12, 1851. See Johnston, John D.]
Lincoln, Mrs. Thomas (Sarah Bush).
Nov. 4, 1 85 1.
Dear Mother:
Chapman tells me he wants you to go and live
UNDER, U. F. 233
with him. If I were you I would try it awhile.
If you get tired of it (as I think you will not)
you can return to your own home. Chapman
feels very kindly to you ; and I have no doubt he
will make your situation very pleasant.
Sincerely your son,
A. Lincoln.
[See also close of letter to John D. Johnston, Nov.
4, 185 1.]
Linder, Daniel.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, December 22, 1863.
Military Commander, Point Lookout, Md. :
If you have a prisoner by the name Linder —
Daniel Linder, I think, and certainly the son of
U. F. Linder, of Illinois, — please send him to
me by an officer.
A. Lincoln.
Linder, U. F.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, D. C, December 26, 1863.
Hon. U. F. Linder, Chicago, 111. :
Your son Dan has just left me with my order
to the Secretary of War, to administer to him the
oath of allegiance, discharge him and send him
to you.
A. Lincoln.
Washington, February 20, 1848.
U. F. Linder: ... In law, it is good policy
to never plead what you need not, lest you oblige
yourself to prove what you cannot. Reflect on
this well before you proceed. The application
I mean to make of this rule is that you should
234 LETTERS
simply go for General Taylor, because you can
take some Democrats and lose no Whigs; but
if you go also for Mr. Polk, on the origin and
mode of prosecuting the war, you will still take
some Democrats, but you will lose more Whigs ;
so that in the sum of the operation, you will
be the loser. This is at least my opinion ; and if
you will look around, I doubt if you do not dis-
cover such to be the fact among your own neigh-
bors. Further than this : by justifying Mr. Polk's
mode of prosecuting the war, you put yourself in
opposition to General Taylor himself, for we all
know he has declared for, and in fact originated.,
the defensive line of policy.
[See also Chicago "Journal."]
(No signature.)
Logan, John A.
[ Telegram. ]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, November 12, 1864.
Major-General John A. Logan,
Carbondale, Illinois:
Yours of to-day just received. Some days ago
I forwarded, to the care of Mr. Washburne, a
leave for you to visit Washington, subject only
to be countermanded by General Sherman. This
qualification I thought was a necessary prudence
for all concerned. Subject to it, you may re-
main at home thirty days, or come here at your
own option. If, in view of maintaining your
good relations with General Sherman, and of
probable movements of his army, you can safely
come here, I shall be very glad to see you.
A. Lincoln.
'LOWE, F. F. 235
Loomis, F. B.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, May 12, 1864.
F. B. Loomis, Esq.
My dear Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your communication of the 28th
April, in which you offer to replace the present
garrison at Fort Trumbull with volunteers, which
you propose to raise at your own expense. While
it seems inexpedient at this time to accept this
proposition on account of the special duties now
devolving upon the garrison mentioned, I can-
not pass unnoticed such a meritorious instance
of individual patriotism. Permit me, for the
government, to express my cordial thanks to you
for this generous and public-spirited offer, which
is worthy of note among the many called forth
in these times of national trial.
I am very truly, your obedient servant,
A. Lincoln.
Lovejoy, Owen.
[See Bryant, J. H.]
Lowe, F. F.
War Department,
Washington, D. C, July 8, 1863.
Hon. F. F. Lowe,
San Francisco, Cal. :
There is no doubt that General Meade, now
commanding the Army of the Potomac, beat
Lee at Gettysburg, Pa., at the end of a three
days' battle, and that the latter is now crossing
the Potomac at Williamsport over the swollen
236 LETTERS
stream with poor means of crossing, and closely
pressed by Meade. We also have despatches
rendering it entirely certain that Vicksburg sur-
rendered to General Grant on the glorious old
4th.
A. Lincoln.
[July 9, 1863. See Swett, Leonard.]
Washington, D. C, August 17, 1863.
Hon. F. F. Lowe,
San Francisco, California :
There seems to be considerable misunderstand-
ing about the recent movement to take possession
of the "New Almaden" mine. It had no refer-
ence to any other mine or mines.
In regard to mines and miners generally, no
change of policy by the government has been de-
cided on, or even thought of, so far as I know.
The "New Almaden" mine was peculiar in this,
that its occupants claimed to be the legal owners
of it, on a Mexican grant, and went into court
on that claim. The case found its way into the
Supreme Court of the United States, and last
term, in and by that court, the claim of the occu-
pants was decided to be utterly fraudulent.
Thereupon it was considered the duty of the gov-
ernment by the Secretary of the Interior, the
Attorney-General, and myself, to take possession
of the premises; and the Attorney-General care-
fully made out the writ, and I signed it. It was
not obtained surreptitiously, although I suppose
General Halleck thought it had been, when he
telegraphed, simply because he thought posses-
sion was about being taken by a military order,
while he knew no such order had passed through
his hands as general-in-chief.
LUCAS, J. M. 237
The writ was suspended, upon urgent repre-
sentations from California, simply to keep the
peace. It never had any direct or indirect refer-
ence to any mine, place, or person, except the
"New Almaden" mine and the persons connected
with it.
A. Lincoln.
[Cipher.]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, D. C, October 30, 1863.
Hon. F. F. Lowe,
San Francisco, Cal. :
Below is an act of Congress, passed last ses-
sion, intended to exclude applicants not entitled
to seats, but which there is reason to fear, will
be used to exclude some who are entitled. Please
get with the Governor and one or two other dis-
creet friends, study the act carefully, and make
certificates in two or three forms, according to
your best judgment, and have them sent to me,
so as to multiply the chances of the delegation
getting their seats. Let it be done without pub-
licity. Below is a form which may answer for
one. If you could procure the same to be done
for the Oregon member it might be well.
A. Lincoln.
Lucas, J. M.
Springfield, Illinois, April 25, 1849.
J. M. Lucas, Esq.
Dear Sir: Your letter of the 15th is just re-
ceived. Like you, I fear the Land Office is not
going as it should ; but I know nothing I can do.
In my letter written three days ago, I told you
the Department understands my wishes. As to
238 LETTERS
Butterfield, he is my personal friend, and is qual-
ified to do the duties of the office; but of the
quite one hundred Illinoisans equally well quali-
fied, I do not know one with less claims to it.
In the first place, what you say about Lisle Smith
is the first intimation I have had of any one man
in Illinois desiring Butterfield to have an office.
Now, I think if anything be given the State, it
should be so given as to gratify our friends, and
to stimulate them to future exertions. As to
Mr. Clay having recommended him, that is quid
pro quo. He fought for Mr. Clay against Gen-
eral Taylor to the bitter end, as I understand;
and I do not believe I misunderstand. Lisle
Smith, too, was a Clay delegate at Philadelphia,
and against my most earnest entreaties took the
lead in filling two vacancies from my own dis-
trict with Clay men. It will now mortify me
deeply if General Taylor's administration shall
trample all my wishes in the dust merely to
gratify these men.
Yours, as ever,
A. Lincoln.
Springfield, May 10, 1858.
J. M. Lucas, Esq.
My dear Sir : Your long and kind letter was re-
ceived to-day. It came upon me as an agreeable
old acquaintance. Politically speaking, there is
a curious state of things here. The impulse of
almost every Democrat is to stick to Douglas;
but it horrifies them to have to follow him out of
the Democratic party. A good many are annoyed
that he did not go for the English contrivance,
and thus heal the breach. They begin to think
there is a "negro in the fence," — that Douglas
LUSK, EDWARD 239
really wants to have a fuss with the President ; —
that sticks in their throats.
Yours truly,
A. Lincoln.
Springfield, February 9, i860.
J. M. Lucas, Esq.
My dear Sir: Your late letter, suggesting,
among other things, that I might aid your elec-
tion as postmaster, by writing to Mr. Burlingame,
was duly received the day the Speaker was
elected ; so that I had no hope a letter of mine
could reach Mr. B. before your case would be
decided, as it turned out in fact it could not. We
are all much gratified here to see you are elected.
We consider you our peculiar friend at court.
I shall be glad to receive a letter from you at
any time you can find leisure to write one.
Yours very truly,
A. Lincoln.
Luckett, Henry F.
[See Hurlbut, S. A., Dec, 17, 1863.]
Lusk, Edward.
Springfield, October 30, 1858.
Edward Lusk, Esq.
Dear Sir: I understand the story is still being
told and insisted upon that I have been a Know-
nothing. I repeat what I stated in a public
speech at Meredosia, that I am not, nor ever have
been, connected with the party called the Know-
nothing party, or party calling themselves the
American party. Certainly no man of truth, and
240 LETTERS
I believe no man of good character for truth,
can be found to say on his own knowledge that
I ever was connected with that party.
Yours very truly,
A. Lincoln.
Mac kay, Alfred.
[ Telegram. ]
Executive Mansion,
Washington, May 20, 1864.
Alfred Mackay,
Secretary of Fair,
St. Louis, Missouri:
Your despatch received. Thanks for your
greeting, and congratulations for the successful
opening of your fair. Our soldiers are doing
well, and must and will be done well by.
A. Lincoln.
Maclean, John.
Executive Mansion,
Washington, December 2J, 1864.
Dr. John Maclean.
My dear Sir : I have the honor to acknowledge
the reception of your note of the 20th of Decem-
ber, conveying the announcement that the trustees
of the College of New Jersey had conferred upon
me the degree of Doctor of Laws.
The assurance conveyed by this high compli-
ment, that the course of the government which
I represent has received the approval of a body
of gentlemen of such character and intelligence,
in this time of public trial is most grateful to me.
i MAGOFFIN, BERIAH 241
Thoughtful men must feel that the fate of
civilization upon this continent is involved in the
issue of our contest. Among the most gratify-
ing proofs of this conviction is the hearty devo-
tion everywhere exhibited by our schools and
colleges to the national cause.
I am most thankful if my labors have seemed
to conduce to the preservation of those institu-
tions under which alone we can expect good gov-
ernment — and in its train, sound learning and
the progress of the liberal arts.
I am, sir, very truly, your obedient servant,
A. Lincoln.
Magoffin, Beriah.
Washington, D. C, August 24, 1861.
To His Excellency B. Magoffin,
Governor of the State of Kentucky.
Sir: Your letter of the 19th instant, in which
you "urge the removal from the limits of Ken-
tucky of the military force now organized and
in camp within said State," is received.
I may not possess full and precisely accurate
knowledge upon this subject, but I believe it is
true that there is a military force in camp within
Kentucky acting by authority of the United
States, which force is not very large, and is not
now being augmented.
I also believe that some arms have been fur-
nished to this force by the United States.
I also believe that this force consists exclu-
sively of Kentuckians, having their camp in the
immediate vicinity of their own homes, and not
assailing or menacing any of the good people of
Kentucky.
In all I have done in the premises, I have acted
242 LETTERS
upon the urgent solicitation of many Kentuckians,
and in accordance with what I believed, and still
believe, to be the wish of a majority of all the
Union-loving people of Kentucky.
While I have conversed on this subject with
many eminent men of Kentucky, including a
large majority of her members of Congress, I do
not remember that any one of them, or any other
person, except your Excellency and the bearers
of your Excellency's letter, has urged me to re-
move the military force from Kentucky or to dis-
band it. One other very worthy citizen of Ken-
tucky did solicit me to have the augmenting of