|
Executive Mansion
Washington, Jan 16, 1863
Editors of Chronicle Gentlemen.
If you should publish the attached letter, please make the corrections indicated.
Yours &c,
A. Lincoln Summary:
“The attached letter” which Lincoln originally enclosed was written by him to Major General McClellan on April 9, 1862, was not made public until mid‑January, 1863. It was released by Gen. Ethan Hitchcock during the McDowell Court of Inquiry. The inquiry was convened to investigate McClellan’s reluctance to fight, causing Lincoln to discharge him and replace him with Burnside. The letter was published in the Chronicle on January 17, 1863 with the comment that “The Star last evening contains the letter but as it was full of errors we obtained the following corrected and official copy...” Autograph letter signed, “A. Lincoln,” as President to the Editors of the Washington Chronicle. One page, on Executive Mansion letterhead, Washington D.C.: Jan. 16, 1863. Inventory# 10987 $25,000 Historical Background:
Lincoln, in the letter of April 9th, was concerned with the defense of Washington DC, “Do you really think I should permit the line from Richmond, via Mannassas Junction, to this city to be entirely open, except what resistance could be presented by less than twenty thousand unorganized troops? This is a question which the country will not allow me to evade.” He was most especially concerned with McClellan’s seeming inability to fight the enemy. “By delay the enemy will relatively gain upon you – that is, he will gain faster, by fortifications and re-inforcements, than you can by re-inforcements alone. And, once more let me tell you, it is indispensible to you that you strike a blow. I am powerless to help this...The country will not fail to note – is now noting – that the present hesitation to move upon an intrenched enemy, is but the story of Manassas repeated...you must act.” Published in Vol. VI, page 59 of Basler's The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. The accurate publication of this letter must have been very important to Lincoln. McClellan was a popular favorite and Lincoln still had not found winning generals. In the election of February 1864, the first wartime election in the history of the World, McClellan very nearly beat Lincoln. McClellan’s “Peace Democrat” platform amounted to little more than northern recognition of the Confederacy’s independence. Important Union victories capturing Savannah and Vicksburg in December 1863 helped turn the tide. Perhaps the most surprising factor in the victory, however, was the soldiers’ vote. In the midst of a war that had already claimed union casualties, it is astounding that approximately 70% of the soldier’s vote went to Lincoln. As the correspondence between “little Mac” and Lincoln became public, McClellan lost his sway with the soldiers.
|
