David H. Donald's "Lincoln"
OK! (Starting over?),
I think I mentioned my reading of Donald as opposed to Thomas in William42's excellent thread:
http://civilwartalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24732
Well, I think I have only read one complete bio of Lincoln before (Benjamin Thomas), tho have read several Lincoln oriented CW books ("Lincoln and His Generals" - T. Harry Williams, "Lincoln Finds a General" - Kenneth Williams, "A team of Rivals - Doris Kean's, as well as others).
Now I must say that in currently reading Donald, I have come upon some
new things that I had never found before.
One
new thing here: tho Lincoln may as Will has mentioned may have been "remarkably free from hate", he was also remarkably free from ridicule.
So it is somewhat remarkable to find from Donald:
" ... during these unusually hot, depressing summer months of 1864 ... In calmer times Lincoln would have ignored a semiliterate communication from a Pennsylvania man who urged him to remember that "white men is in class number one and black men is in class number two and must be governed by white men forever. "But now, in his irascible mood, he drafted a reply to be sent out over Nicolay's signature requesting the writer who informed him "whether you are either a white man or a black one, because in either case, you can not be regarded as an entirely impartial judge." "It may be," the President continued, in an unusual tone of sarcasm, "that you belong to a third or fourth class of
yellow or
red men, in which case the impartiality of your judgment would be more apparent."
[Well good for him to let it out for a change!]
And
another new (?) thing:
We have all heard that story about how when Early's troops did that minor raid threatening Washington in July of 1864, and how Lincoln happened to be there (at Ft. Stevens) and stood on the parapet as bullets flew, and someone told him "get down, you ****ed fool".
Well I always thought that was a one day thing. Actually L. was there 2 days!
In fact, Lincoln was there on July 11, the 1st day of Early's raid. "He stood there with a long frock coat and plug hat on, (Plug hat ? - a hat that is round and black and hard with a narrow brim; worn by some British businessmen) making a very conspicuous figure," signal officer Asa Townsend Abbott recalled. "When the Confederates came within shooting distance, an officer twice cautioned Lincoln to get down, but he paid no attention. Then a man standing near him was shot in the leg, and a soldier roughly ordered the President to get down or he would get his head knocked off. He cooly descended, got into his carriage, and was driven back to the city ..."
"The next day ... President and Mrs. Lincoln ... came out to witness the fighting. Thoughtlessly [Horatio G.] Wright invited the President to mount the parapet in order to get a clear view ... the general recorded that Lincoln "evinced remarkable coolness and disregard for danger." After a surgeon standing near him was shot, Wright ordered the parapet cleared and asked the President to step down. Lincoln insisted on remaining until the general said he would have him removed forcibly. "The absurdity of the idea of sending off the President under guard seemed to amuse him, " Wright recalled, "but, in consideration of my earnestness in the matter, he agreed to compromise by sitting behind the parapet instead of standing upon it."
So now we have learned that L. occasionally wore a "plug hat", and that he found the fighting so interesting that he came back the next day! Did I mention that he brought along Mrs. L. on both days? Well, he did.
************************
Another source:
"Monday, July 11, 1864.
Washington, DC.
About 9 A.M. rides out to front in direction of Tennallytown.
Accompanied by Mrs. Lincoln, visits Fort Stevens, DC.
Present at Fort Stevens during attack. Soldier roughly orders him off parapet.
Witnesses skirmish with Gen. Early's troops in front of Fort Stevens.
At wharf to welcome reinforcements sent up Potomac by Gen. Grant."
"Tuesday, July 12, 1864.
Washington, DC.
Each day of skirmishing President rides to suburbs and watches "the soldiers repulse the invaders."
President, Mrs. Lincoln, and several members of Congress visit Fort Stevens, DC, at 4 P.M. and watch operations from parapet.
Asst. Sec. Seward and father, Sec. Seward, drive out to Fort Stevens with President.
President tours fortifications again. Under fire again at Fort Stevens. Man shot at his side.
Gen. Wright tells Lincoln to get out of danger. Lincoln does not move. Young officer, Oliver Wendell Homes, Jr., shouts: "Get down, you fool." President moves back.
At night President and Mrs. Lincoln drive along line of city defenses and are greeted by soldiers."
http://www.thelincolnlog.org/