Category Archives: Abraham Lincoln

March 7, 1863: Davis calls for a day of prayer

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Allen Gathman

On March 7, the Richmond Daily Dispatch published Jeff Davis’ call for a day of prayer. Proclamation by the President. It is most that at a people who acknowledge the supremacy of the living God, we should be even mindful … Continue reading →

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February 5, 1863: An interesting Lincoln biography from the Dispatch

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Allen Gathman

The Richmond Daily Dispatch caricatures Lincoln’s early life. Apparently running a grocery store is the same thing as keeping a bar, and in any case, beneath the dignity of a President. And of course, a life of that sort of … Continue reading →

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December 29, 1862: Electing a scalawag in Norfolk

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Caricature of Lincoln and his cabinet ************************************************************ This short item from Richmond Daily Dispatch manages to work in a smorgasbord of slurs against the Yankees. The election put a man in the “Lincoln Congress”, under the north’s dictator; the new … Continue reading →

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December 19, 1862: Seward resigns

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Allen Gathman

The New York Times reports that Secretary of State Seward tendered his resignation to the President. Will there be a wholesale restructuring? WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 1862. Political circles to Washington are to-day in a complete whirl of excitement over the … Continue reading →

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December 16, 1862: McClernand REEALLLY wants to go to Vicksburg

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Allen Gathman

McClernand wrote to both Lincoln and Stanton pleading to be sent down the Mississippi to lead the Vicksburg expedition a couple of days ago. Perhaps it then occurred to him that Lincoln and Stanton had been behind him on this … Continue reading →

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Edwin M. Stanton, John A. McClernand, Mississippi, Ulysses S. Grant, Vicksburg | Leave a comment

December 12, 1862: McClernand’s getting antsy.

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Official Records HEADQUARTERS, Springfield, Ill., December 12, 1862. His Excellency ABRAHAM LINCOLN: Since my return here on the 25th October last, of orders to assist the Governors of Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa in mustering and forwarding troops, I have forwarded … Continue reading →

Posted in Abraham Lincoln, Edwin M. Stanton, John A. McClernand, Mississippi, Vicksburg | Leave a comment

November 17, 1862: Johnson on Buell

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Union Governor of Tennessee Andrew Johnson wrote a scathing letter to Lincoln criticizing Buell’s conduct of the Kentucky/Tennessee campaign. The New York Times got hold of it and published it here. Johnson’s views were apparently shared by Lincoln, as Buell … Continue reading →

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November 12, 1862: Democrats, get over it.

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Allen Gathman

The New York Times editor gives a very cogent argument for the Emancipation Proclamation, and in particular for the view that the Democrats shouldn’t get all excited calling it abolitionism, because it’s purely a war measure. a) If the Republicans … Continue reading →

Posted in Abolitionism, Abraham Lincoln, Democrats, Republican | Leave a comment

October 1, 1862: Frederick Douglass on the Emancipation Proclamation

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Frederick Douglass, in Douglass’ Monthly for October 1862, celebrates the Emancipation Proclamation, and calls for renewed resolve to defeat the rebellion. EMANCIPATION PROCLAIMED Common sense, the necessities of the war, to say nothing of the dictation of justice and humanity … Continue reading →

Posted in Abolitionism, Abraham Lincoln, Causes of the war, Frederick Douglass, Slavery | Leave a comment

September 25, 1862: Cowardly president doesn’t lead troops in the field

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Allen Gathman

Hard to imagine the mindset that expected the president to take the field in person, even in the 19th century. Why didn’t Obama shoot Osama face to face? From the Richmond Daily Dispatch: The Federal President. It was given out … Continue reading →

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