Mr. Lincoln sends a letter to those in Illinois who were critical of his leadership

This week Mr. Lincoln was invited to return to Illinois to address those who were critical of his actions, While declining to attend the rally, he did send a letter to defend his actions. His letter outlined three ways to attain peace, one which he said he subscribed to (force of arms), a second he would not accept (give up the Union) and the third was one he didn't think the rebels would accept (a peaceful compromise).

He added that he was also being criticized by his former neighbors for enlisted the colored soldiers. He explained in his letter that each colored man enlisted in the Union made the Union stronger and makes the rebels weaker.

Among his other dealings in the week was his decline of an invitation to attend a sword presentation ceremony honoring General George Meade.

The President reviews the work on the Capitol and visits a newly constructed fort

Work had been progressing on the dome of the Capitol building in Washington City.  When the war started, Mr. Lincoln's advisers highly recommended that the work on the Capitol be stopped. The president demanded the work continue.  He saw the building as a symbol and declared that "if the people see the Capitol dome construction is going on, it is a sign that we intend this Union shall go on." And he would not be budged on that matter.

This week the steam powered crane continued to raise materials to the workmen on the scaffolds around the building. Mr. Lincoln viewed the work that was being done. He seemed pleased at the progress that was being made.

He also traveled down by boat river to view the new fort on Rosie's Bluff. Secretary Edwin Stanton and generals Wadsworth, Martindale, Meigs and Barnard accompanied him.  They returned before nightfall.

Mr. Lincoln meets with Frederick Douglass

Mr. Lincoln met with Frederick Douglass and gave him his endorsement as a recruiter for the United States Colored Troops. It was Douglass' intent to go into the south to enlist colored soldiers and sailors. Douglass recruited his two sons for starters. Mr. Lincoln's endorsement said "Douglass is a loyal, free man, and is, hence, entitled to travel, unmolested.  We trust he will be recognized everywhere as a free man and a gentleman. Douglass suggested to the president that the colored troops needed to receive equal pay (the white soldiers got $13 while the black soldiers only got $7) and that blacks become officers (all colored regiments were led by white officers).

General George Meade visited Washington City and presented his report on the battle at Gettysburg to the president and his Cabinet.

Mr. Lincoln also watched a presentation by C.M. Spencer of the Spencer repeating rifle at Treasury Park.  Mr. Lincoln expressed that he was mightily impressed with the fine weapon.

It was time for Mr. Lincoln to deal with General Banks and Governor Seymour

This week President Lincoln wrote to General Nathaniel Banks regarding the readmission of Louisiana into the Union. Mr. Lincoln shared his views saying "I would be glad for her to make a new Constitution regarding the emancipation proclamation. If these views can give impetus to action there, I shall be glad for you to use them prudently for that object."

He also responded to New York Horatio Seymour's issue saying that the government's draft law was unconstitutional and the cause of the recent New York City draft riots. Mr. Lincoln told the governor that the war "drives every able body man he can reach into his ranks, very much as a butcher drives bullocks into a slaughter pen.  My purpose is to be just and constitutional and yet practical."

Mr. Lincoln also posed at the photography studio of Alexander and James Gardner.  The commander-in-chief had met Alexander Gardner before as he had posed for him in Sharpsburg, Maryland in October 1862 following the battle at Antietam Creek.  Mr. Lincoln and I had been posed together in one of those photographs while the president was meeting with General McClellan.

The President signs an order to protect all his soldiers from ill treatment by the rebels

Mr. Lincoln signed the Order of Retaliation (General Order #252) this week that offered "protection to citizens, of whatever class, color, or condition, and especially to those who are duly organized as soldiers in the public service. The government of the United States will give the same protection to all its soldiers and if the enemy shall sell or enslave anyone because of his color, the offense shall be punished by retaliation upon the enemy's prisoners in our possession."

The emergence of United States Colored Troops fortified the Union army at a time when battles and desertion had depleted their ranks. The idea of enlisting blacks as soldiers was not an option for the Confederacy as their official constitution said "blacks were not able to take care of themselves." 

The order was necessary after Confederate President Jefferson Davis promised to treat officers of colored troops "as criminals engaged in inciting insurrection." The Confederate Congress had followed Davis' comments by ruling that called for the execution of captured officers of black regiments and that captured black soldiers be either executed or sold back into slavery.

The president also encouraged Postmaster General Montgomery Blair to fill government job openings in Washington with war widows and disabled soldiers.  The same war that forced men into the military opened up countless jobs as clerks, teachers, nurses, and copyists. The post office started employing women as post-mistresses.

During the same week, discussions were held in regards to Union General Robert Milroy, whose forces were decimated at the battle of Second Winchester in mid-June 1863.  Milroy, who was one of the army's most least liked commanding officers, was being investigated for disobeying orders.





  

Tad Lincoln, the president's young son, offers aid to his busy father

A group of businessmen including a local judge from Kentucky stopped at the White House several different times to see the president. Each time they were turned away and disappointed. The president knew of their presence but had decide to not meet with them.

They were persistent.  On their return visit, they were met in the hallway by Tad Lincoln, the president's 8 year old son.  Tad had a great personality and was loved by everyone.  Tad asked the men what their asked what their business was.. When they told of their frustration upon meeting with his obviously very busy father, Tad intervened.

Asking the men to follow him, Tad went into his father's office and said, "Papa. May I introduce some friends to you?" His father said yes, of course, not knowing who those friends were. He was quite surprised to be introduced to those very men he had been trying to avoid.

When he found out he patted Tad on the head and told him he was pleased with Tad's diplomacy.  The child was not disciplined for his actions.

For my money, it was young Tad who had the run of the White House.  He pretty much could do no wrong in the eyes of his presidential father.

President Lincoln remains annoyed with General Meade and praises General Grant

Mr. Lincoln continued into the next week with the troubling thoughts of General Meade's failures. General after general had continued to disappoint him.  He wrote a dispatch to General Halleck for General Meade of his concerns saying "I was in such deep distress myself that I could not restrain some expression of it...I do not believe you appreciate the magnitude of misfortune involved in Lee's escape. He was within your easy grasp, and to have closed upon him would, in connection with our latest successes, have ended the war...Your golden opportunity is gone, and I am distressed immeasurably because of it." The letter was never sent.

When I talked to the president, he seemed more depressed than usual. At one point he said he told John Nicolay, one of his secretaries, if he had gone up to Gettysburg he could have licked them rebel boys himself.

The president also wrote an unusual dispatch to General Grant, telling his top general that the commander-in-chief had doubted Grant's plan of taking Vicksburg and wanted now to let the general know "you were right and I was wrong."  As part of that plan General Grant had actually boasted that he was going to dine in Vicksburg by celebrating the 4th of July in fine dining fashion.

The Vicksburg Daily Citizen newspaper had gotten wind of the boast and suggested that "the way to cook a rabbit was is 'to first catch the rabbit.'" When they did take the city on the 4th, Union soldiers printed the message "General Grant has caught the rabbit."