Life of Abraham Lincoln

LIFE

ABRAHAM LINCOLN,

PRESENTING

HIS EARLY HISTORY, POLITICAL CAREER AND SPEECHES
IN AND OUT OF CONGRESS; ALSO, A GENERAL

VIEW OF HIS POLICY AS

President of the United States;

WITH HIS

MESSAGES, PROCLAMATIONS, LETTERS, ETC.

ANI A

HISTORY OF HIS EVENTFUL ADMINISTRATION, AND OF
THE SCENES ATTENDANT UPON HIS TRAGIC

AND LAMENTED DEMISE.

JOSEPH H: BARRETT,

artwell

COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, WASHINGTON, D. C.

SITY

LOOMIS NATIONAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION,

NEW YORK,
CHICAGO AND RICHMOND, VA.
1888.

SERARY
12:9

GIFT FEB 19 34

E 457 BR73 1888

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1860, by

MOORE, WILSTACH, KEYS & CO., In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern

District of Ohio.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by

MOORE, WILSTACH & BALDWIN, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern

District of Ohio.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, by

MOORE, WILSTACH & BALDWIN, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern

District of Ohio.

PREFACE.

The first part of the sketch of Mr. Lincoln's life herewith presented to the public, was mainly prepared for the press in June, 1860—only slight modifications having been made, and brief additions, so as to embrace the period terminating with his inauguration. This portion of the work embodies a condensed view of Mr. Lincoln's speeches, which can not fail to interest the attentive student, who seeks for information concerning his early political life. The second part, after a summary of National events immediately preceding March 4, 1861, gives a condensed history of Mr. Lincoln's Administration, including a narrative of military operations, down to the present time. The most important public papers, addresses and occasional letters of the President, will also be found in the following pages.

It has been the fortune of Mr. Lincoln to be called to the Chief Magistracy, at an epoch when a long-maturing conspiracy for the dismemberment of the Union has culminated in a war of unprecedented magnitude. The President, tried as none of his predecessors ever were, has so wisely exercised his poweri as to command the hearty support of all loyal men at home, and the admiration of enlightened thinkers, unperverted by anti-democratic prejudice in Europe. It was a late member of the British * Parliament who pointed out single passages from an address of Mr. Lincoln, as worth “all that Burke ever wrote." His able statesmanship has justified the confidence of the people, while his sterling qualities of heart, his humane sympathies, his purity of life, and his power of winning the love and trust of his countrymen, have contributed to deepen the earnestness of the popular wish for his continuance, during another term, in the high office he providentially fills.

It is hardly to be hoped that the present attempt to treat 80 wide a subject, within so small a compass, will satisfy all readers. Many minor details, of special interest to individuals, have necessarily been omitted. Some accounts of military and naval undertakings, which might, of themselves, have filled an entire volume, have been given with perhaps a disappointing brevity. It must suffice to say, here, that no pains have been spared—as no requisite facilities for obtaining correct data have been lacking-to make the work not only trustworthy and complete in regard to matters of salient interest, but also as acceptable as possible to all classes of loyal readers. WASHINGTON, D. C., May 14, 1864.

J. H. B.

The Third Part of this work comprises the events of the last year of Mr. Lincoln's life, with his public papers and addresses of the same period, as well as many letters' and speeches of an earlier date, not given in the previous parts. The summary of the closing campaigns of the war has been prepared with care, as well as the political history of the time. No year of the nation's existence has been more memorable than that commencing on the 1st of May, 1864. Before its close, a gigantic rebellion was finally crushed, and our great and good President, after witnessing the triumph of his labors, fell a martyr to the cause he had so firmly upheld through the darkest hours. Would that the work were more worthy the theme. No name will be more sacred in our country's annals, or more perpetual in the memory of the world, than that of ABRAHAM LINCOLN. WASHINGTON, D. C., July 20, 1865.

J. H. B.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

.... 21

CHAPTER I.

Ancestry of Abraham Lincoln—Their Residence in Pennsylvania and Virginia

His Grandfather Crosses the Alleghanies to join Boone and his Associates-
“ The Dark and Bloody Ground”-His Violent Death-His Widow Settles in
Washington County-Thomas Lincolu, his Son, Marries and Locates near
Hodgenville-Birth of Abraham Lincoln--LaRue County-Early Life and
Training in Kentucky.....

CIAPTER II.

Removal from Kentucky-An Emigrant Journey-The Forests of Southern Indi-

ana–New Home-Indiana in 1816—Slavery and Free Labor--Young Lincoln at

His Work-His Schools and Schoolmasters--Self-Education-A Characteristic

Incident-Acquaintance with River Life-Ilis First Trip to New Orleans as a

Flatboatman-Death of His Mother-Ilis Father's Second Marriage--Recollec-

tions of an Early Settler – Close of an Eventful Period in Young Lincoln's

Ilistory .......

CHAPTER III.

The Fren Settlements—The North-West--The Advance of Emigration-Four

Great States Founded-North and South in Uhio, Indiana, and Illinois-Senti-

ments of Southern Emigrants--The First Emigrations-A Coincidence of Dates-