On September 22, Mr. Lincoln presented his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation to his Cabinet. The following day the proclamation appeared in the newspapers. Reaction was very mixed. Cabinet member Montgomery Blair, Postmaster General, was particularly troubled that the announcement would alientate the border states and affect the upcoming election.
Two days later, Mr. Lincoln, in another quite controversial move, suspended the writ of habeas corpus. With his announcement concerning the writ, Mr. Lincoln said "all Rebels and Insurgents, the aiders and abetters, ... and all persons discouraging volunteer enlistments, resisting military drafts, or guilty of any disloyal practice" anywhere in the country would be arrested, with their writ suspended.
Meanwhile, the president was troubled that General McClellan had let General Lee's army escape back into the south following their actions at Sharpsburg, Maryland on September 17.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
The two armies clash at Sharpsburg, Maryland
The President spent the week preparing his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.
McClellan had been privy to General Lee's orders found on the ground in Frederick, Maryland on September 13. The lost orders indicated that General Lee had split his army into several parts. Upon receiving the orders, General McClellan said "Here is a paper which if I cannot whip Bobbie Lee, I will be willing to go home." Still, General McClellan was slow to purse.
President Lincoln continued to moniter the actions of General McClellan at South Mountain and Sharpsburg, Maryland. Fierce action at Sharpsburg on the 17th gave the Union a semblence of victory on the field.
McClellan had been privy to General Lee's orders found on the ground in Frederick, Maryland on September 13. The lost orders indicated that General Lee had split his army into several parts. Upon receiving the orders, General McClellan said "Here is a paper which if I cannot whip Bobbie Lee, I will be willing to go home." Still, General McClellan was slow to purse.
President Lincoln continued to moniter the actions of General McClellan at South Mountain and Sharpsburg, Maryland. Fierce action at Sharpsburg on the 17th gave the Union a semblence of victory on the field.
Friday, September 14, 2012
General Lee invades Maryland
Word reaches the president that General Lee's army is approaching Maryland. Military and Cabinet meetings were held to discuss the issue at hand. General McClellan reported that he had 80,000 men at his command in Washington City.
General Lee's forces forded the Potomac River just north of Leesburg on Friday September 12. Following his recent vicoty at Bull Run/Manassas, General Lee wanted to bring the action onto northern soil. The rebel soldiers sang "Maryland, My Maryland" in hopes that Marylanders would rally to support their cause. Instead, Lee's men, about one-fourth barefoot and one-half who one newspaper described as "scarcrows", did not make a favorable impression on Marylanders.
In Washington, President Lincoln saw Lee's invasion as an opportunity to crush the Confederate army and end the war.
General Lee's forces forded the Potomac River just north of Leesburg on Friday September 12. Following his recent vicoty at Bull Run/Manassas, General Lee wanted to bring the action onto northern soil. The rebel soldiers sang "Maryland, My Maryland" in hopes that Marylanders would rally to support their cause. Instead, Lee's men, about one-fourth barefoot and one-half who one newspaper described as "scarcrows", did not make a favorable impression on Marylanders.
In Washington, President Lincoln saw Lee's invasion as an opportunity to crush the Confederate army and end the war.
Friday, September 7, 2012
The president appoints General McClellan to defend Washington
Following the recent loss at the second battle of Bull Run?Manassas, Mr. Lincoln is pressured to relieve General George McClellan of command. Instead, much to several Cabinet members dislike, the president appointed General McClellan to the defenses of Washington City.
As part of his new assignment, General McClellan assigned two new companies (Company D and K) of the 150th Pennsylvania to guard the Soldier's Home in Washington. The Soldier's Home was where Mr. Lincoln spent most nights during the summer.
Lincoln's son, Tad, was a favorite of Company K. They prsented him with a uniform and a commission as a third lieutenant. Tad often was found in lines with the soldiers and often took meals with them, eating the same rations the soldiers received.
As part of his new assignment, General McClellan assigned two new companies (Company D and K) of the 150th Pennsylvania to guard the Soldier's Home in Washington. The Soldier's Home was where Mr. Lincoln spent most nights during the summer.
Lincoln's son, Tad, was a favorite of Company K. They prsented him with a uniform and a commission as a third lieutenant. Tad often was found in lines with the soldiers and often took meals with them, eating the same rations the soldiers received.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Mr. Lincoln abandons plans for colonization of blacks to Central America
Mr. Lincoln appointed Kansas Senator Pomeroy as commissioner for the African colonization. Almost before Pomeroy got started, the ministers of Central American governments protested the selection of Chirique for the relocation of the blacks. The Cabinet met and Mr. Lincoln withdrew his support for the Chirique project.
The president spends much of the next few days monitoring the second battle at Manassas Junction/Bull Run from the telegraph office at the War Department. He was shocked to hear that General Pope and his men were unable to gain a victory. "I believe we are whipped again," he told his secretary John Hay.
The president spends much of the next few days monitoring the second battle at Manassas Junction/Bull Run from the telegraph office at the War Department. He was shocked to hear that General Pope and his men were unable to gain a victory. "I believe we are whipped again," he told his secretary John Hay.
Friday, August 24, 2012
The president responds to Horace Greeley's anti-slavery editorial
Mr. Lincoln dined on August 18 with recently exchanged prisoners of war General George McCall, General Michael Corcoran, Colonel Orlando Willcox and Colonel Alfred Wood. General Halleck and the Secretary of War also were present at the dinner.
At the president's request, I sought out the New York Tribune newspaper containing Horace Greeley's anti-slavery editorial "The Prayer of Twenty Millions" and brought it to the White House. Mr. Lincoln responded to Mr. Greeley by saying. "my paramount objective in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it."
Mrs. Lincoln is inconsolable following the news this week that her brother. Colonel Alexander Todd died of gun shot wounds received at the battle of Baton Rogue.
At the president's request, I sought out the New York Tribune newspaper containing Horace Greeley's anti-slavery editorial "The Prayer of Twenty Millions" and brought it to the White House. Mr. Lincoln responded to Mr. Greeley by saying. "my paramount objective in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it."
Mrs. Lincoln is inconsolable following the news this week that her brother. Colonel Alexander Todd died of gun shot wounds received at the battle of Baton Rogue.
Friday, August 17, 2012
President Lincoln suggests blacks in America relocate to a Central American country
This week President Lincoln met with a delegation of colored men at the White House. The black committee was led by Edward Thomas, president of the Anglo-African Institute for th Encouragement of Industry and Arts.
At the meeting, the president suggested that "you and we are different races. We have between us broader difference than exists between almost any other two races. Whether it is right or wrong, I need not discuss, but this physical difference is a great disadvantage to both of us, as I think your race suffer very greatly, many of them living among us, while ours suffer from your presence. In a word we suffer on each side." He suggested to them that they perhaps relocate to a Central American country.
Countries Mr. Lincoln had in mind for relocation included Haiti, Honduras and Chiriqui Lagoon in New Granada (Panama).
Free blacks in general responded with hostility toward the president's suggestions. The Liberator newspaper reminded its readers that blacks "are as much the natives of this country as any of their oppressors."
At the meeting, the president suggested that "you and we are different races. We have between us broader difference than exists between almost any other two races. Whether it is right or wrong, I need not discuss, but this physical difference is a great disadvantage to both of us, as I think your race suffer very greatly, many of them living among us, while ours suffer from your presence. In a word we suffer on each side." He suggested to them that they perhaps relocate to a Central American country.
Countries Mr. Lincoln had in mind for relocation included Haiti, Honduras and Chiriqui Lagoon in New Granada (Panama).
Free blacks in general responded with hostility toward the president's suggestions. The Liberator newspaper reminded its readers that blacks "are as much the natives of this country as any of their oppressors."
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