CHAPTER I.

Early Life of Abraham Lincoln. His Own Record. His Ancestry. Changes of Residence. Death and Funeral of his Mother. Entrance upon Political Life. A Member of the Legislature and of Congress. The Mexican "War

CHAPTER II.

THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE.

Presidential Campaign of 185fi. Douglas at Springfield in 1857. Lincoln's Reply. The Great Debate. Eloquent Defence of the Doctrines of the Republican Party. Result of the Contest

CHAPTER III.

MR. LINCOLN AND THE PRESIDENCY.

The Campaign of 1859 in Ohio. Mr. Lincoln's Speeches at Columbus and Cincinnati. His Visit to the East. In New York City. The Great Speech at Cooper Institute. Mr. Lincoln nominated for the Presidency. His Election

CHAPTER IV.

FROM THE ELECTION, NOVEMBER 6, 1860, TO THE INAUGURATION, MARCH 4, 1861.

The Presidential Election. Secession of South Carolina. Formation of the Rebel Confederacy. The Objects of Secession. Secession Movements in Washington. Debates in Congress. The Crittenden Resolutions. Conciliatory Action of Congress. The Peace Conference. Action of Congress. The Secession Movement unchecked

CHAPTER V.

FROM SPRINGFIELD TO WASHINGTON.

Speech at Indianapolis. Arrival and Speech at Cincinnati. Speech at Columbus. Speech at Pittsburg. Arrival and Speech at Cleveland. Arrival at Buffalo. At Rochester and Syracuse. At Albany. Speech at Ponghkeepsie. In New York. Reply to the Mayor of New York. In New Jersey. Arrival at Philadelphia. Speech in Philadelphia. At Harrisburg. Arrival and Reception at Washington

CHAPTER VI.

FROM THE INAUGURATION TO THE MEETING OF CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1801.

The Inaugural Address. Organization of the Government. The Bombardment of Fort Sumter. Passage of Troops through Baltimore. Interview with the Mayor of Baltimore. The Blockade of Rebel Ports. The President and the Virginia Commissioners. Instruction to our Ministers abroad. Recognition of the Rebels as Belligerents. Rights of Neutrals

CHAPTER VII.

THE EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS, AND THE MILITARY EVENTS OF THE SUMMER OF 1861.

First Annual Message. Action of Congress. Slavery and Confiscation. The Defeat at Bull Run. Treatment of the Slavery Question. General Fremont and the President. The Trent Affair

CHAPTER VIII.

THE REGULAR SESSION OF CONGRESS, DECEMBER, 1861. THE MESSAGE. DEBATES, ETC.

Meeting of Congress. President's Message. Disposition of Congress. Slavery in Territories and District of Columbia. Proposed Aid to Emancipation by Slave States. The Debate in Congress. The President and General Hunter. The Border State Representatives. The Border State Reply. The Finances. The Confiscation Bill. The President's Action and Opinions. The President's Message. Message in Regard to Mr. Cameron. The President and his Cabinet. Close of the Session of Congress. The President's Letter to Mr. Greeley. The President and the Chicago Convention. Proclamation of Emancipation Page 212  

CHAPTER IX.

THE MILITARY ADMINISTRATION OF 1862. THE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL McCLELLAN.

General McClellan succeeds McDowell. The President's Order for an Advance. The Movement to the Peninsula. Rebel Evacuation of Manassas. Arrangements for the Peninsular Movement. The President's Letter to General McClellan. The Rebel Strength at Yorktown. The Battle of "Williamsburg. McClellan's Fear of being Overwhelmed. The President to McClellan. Jackson's Raid in the Shenandoah Valley. The President to McClellan. Seven Pines and Fair Oaks. McClellan's Complaints of McDowell. His Continued Delays. Prepares for Defeat. Calls for more Men. His Advice to the President. Preparations to Concentrate the Army. General Halleck to McClellan. Appointment of General Pope. Imperative Orders to McClellan. McClellan's Failure to aid Pope. His Excuses for Delay. Proposes to Leave Pope Unaided. Excuses for Franklin's Delay. His Excuses proved Groundless. His alleged Lack of Supplies. Advance into Maryland, The President's Letter to McClellan. He Protests against Delay. McClellan Relieved from Command. Speech by the President

CHAPTER X.

GENERAL CONDUCT OF THE ADMINISTRATION' IN 1862.

Successes in the Southwest. Recognized Objects of the War. Relations of the War to Slavery. Our Foreign Relations. Proposed Mediation of the French Emperor. Reply to the French Proposal. Secretary Seward's Dispatch. The President's Letter to Fernando Wood. Observance of the Sabbath

CHAPTER XI.

THE CONGRESSIONAL SESSION OF 1862-'63. MESSAGE OF THE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL ACTION OF THE SESSION.

The President's Message. Are the Rebel States Aliens ? The Provision for a Draft. Message on the Finances and Currency. Admission of West Virginia. Close of the Session

CHAPTER XII.

ARBITRARY ARRESTS. THE SUSPENSION OF THE WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS. THE DRAFT.

Arbitrary Arrests. First Suspension of the Habeas Corpus. Aid and Comfort to the Rebels. Executive Order about Arrests. Appointment of a Commissioner on Arrests. Opposition to the Government. The Case of Vallandigham. Governor Seymour on Vallandigham. President Lincoln on Arrests. President Lincoln on Military Arrests. The President's Letter to Mr. Corning. The President to the Ohio Committee. The President on Vallandigham's Case. The Habeas Corpus Suspended. Proclamation Concerning Aliens. The Draft The New York Riots. Letter to Governor Seymour. The Draft Resumed and Completed.

CHAPTER XIII.

MILITARY EVENTS OF 1863. THE REBEL DEFEAT AT GETTYSBURG. FALL OF VICKSBURG AND PORT HUDSON.

The Battles at Fredericksburg. Rebel Raid into Pennsylvania. Results at Gettysburg. Vicksburg and Port Hudson Captured. Public Rejoicings. The President's Speech. Thanksgiving for Victories. Battle of Chattanooga. Thanksgiving Proclamation

CHAPTER XIV.

POLITICAL MOVEMENTS IN MISSOURI. THE STATE ELECTIONS OF 1863.

General Fremont in Missouri. The President's Letter to General Hunter. Emancipation in Missouri. Appointment of General Schofield. The President and the Missouri Radicals. The President to the Missouri Committee The President and General Schofield. The President and the Churches. Letter to Illinois. The Elections of 1863

CHAPTER XV.

THE CONGRESS OF 1863-'64. MESSAGE OJ1 THE PRESIDENT. ACTION OF THE SESSION. PROGRESS IN RAISING TROOPS.

The President's Message. The Proclamation of Amnesty. Explanatory Proclamation. Debate on Slavery. Call for Troops. General Blair's Resignation. Diplomatic Correspondence. Our Relations with England. France and Mexico. The President and the Monroe Doctrine

CHAPTER XVI.

MOVEMENTS TOWARDS RECONSTRUCTION.

State Governments in Louisiana and Arkansas. Difference of Views between the President and Congress. The Rebellion and Labor. The President on Benevolent Associations. Advancing Action concerning the Negro Race. Free State Constitutions

CHAPTER XVII.

MILITARY EVENTS OF THE SPRING AND SUMMER OF 1864.

Battle of the Olustee. Kilpatrick's Raid on Richmond. The Red River Expedition. The Fort Pillow Massacre. Rebel Atrocities. General Grant's Advance upon Richmond. Battles in May. Sherman's March to Atlanta. Rebel Raids in Maryland and Kentucky. Siege of Petersburg. Martial Law in Kentucky. Draft for Five hundred thousand Men. Capture of Mobile and Atlanta.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN OF 1864

The Presidential Election. The Cleveland Convention. The Convention at Baltimore. Mr. Lincoln's Renomination and Acceptance. Popular Feeling During the Summer. The Arguelles Case. The Forged Proclamation. The Niagara Falls Conference. The Chicago Convention. Progress and Result of the Campaign. Popular Joy at the Result

CHAPTER XIX.

THE MEETING OF CONGRESS AND PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

Condition of the Country at the Meeting of Congress. The Message. Proceedings in Congress. Fort Fisher. Death of Edward Everett. Peace Conference in Hampton Roads. Military Affairs

CHAPTER XX.

CLOSE OF THE REBELLION.

The Inaugural Address. Proclamation to Deserters. Speeches by the President. Destruction of Lee's Army. The President's Visit to Richmond. Return to Washington. Close of the "War

CHAPTER XXI.

THE PRESIDENT'S ASSASSINATION.

The Condition of the Country. Assassination of the President. Murderous Assault upon Secretary Seward. The Funeral Procession from "Washington to Springfield, Illinois. Fate of the Assassins. Estimate of Mr. Lincoln's Character. Conclusion

ANECDOTES AND REMINISCENCES OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

Mr. Lincoln's Sadness

His Favorite Poem

His Religious Experience

His Sympathy

His Humor, Shrewdness, and Sentiment

The Emancipation Proclamation

APPENDIX.

LETTERS ON SUNDRY OCCASIONS.

To Mr. Lodges, of Kentucky

To General Hooker

To John B. Fry

To Governor Magoffin

To Count Gasparin

THE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MCCLELLAN

WARNINGS AGAINST ASSASSINATION

REPORTS, DISPATCHES, AND PROCLAMATIONS RELATING TO THE ASSASSINATION.

Secretary Stanton to General Dix

The Death-Bed

The Assassins

Reward Offered by Secretary Stanton

Flight of the Assassins

The Conspiracy Organized in Canada

Booth Killed. Harold Captured

Reward Offered by President Johnson

The Funeral

OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Acting Secretary Hunger to Minister Adams

Acting Secretary Hunter to his Subordinates

Orders from Secretary Stanton and General Grant

Orders from Secretary "Welles

Order from Secretary McCulloch

Order from Postmaster-General Dennison

Proclamation by President Johnson of a Day of Humiliation and Mourning.

Secretary Stanton to Minister Adams

IMPORTANT LETTER FROM J. WILKES BOOTH

INDICTMENT OF THE CONSPIRATORS

THE FINDING OF THE COURT