tion putting an end to slavery. Very cheering the news from Ohio, where the Republicans had a majority of 54,000. The Democrats had elected two members of Congress, the Republicans seventeen-a gain of twelve. Notwithstanding the results were so favorable to the Republicans, Mr. Washburne, member of Congress, was afraid the President's own State would vote against him in November. "It is no use to deceive ourselves about Illinois," he wrote. "Everything is at sixes and sevens; no head or tail to anything. There is imminent danger of our losing the State." Mr. Lincoln read the letter, smiled, and wrote on the envelope: Stampeded!" (*) Mr. Locke ("Reverend Petroleum V. Nasby") visited Washington in behalf of a young soldier sentenced to be shot for desertion. He was warmly welcomed by the President, who kindly listened to his story. The soldier had given his affections to a young girl before he enlisted, and they were engaged to be married. Word came to him that another was paying her especial attention. He applied for a furlough, but it not being granted, deserted, made his way home, to find the reports in a measure true. Once more the lady plighted her troth to him, and they were married. The honey-moon was suddenly interrupted by his arrest, trial, and sentence. Mr. Lincoln heard the story, and without solicitation signed the pardon. "I'll punish him another way," he said, his face wreathed with smiles. "Probably in less than a year he will wish I had withheld the pardon. We can't tell, though. I suppose when I was a young man I should have done the same foolish thing." (") He turned the conversation upon the political situation and the confidence of the people in his administration. "Do the masses of the people," he asked, "hold me in any way responsible for the loss of their friends in the army? It is a good thing,” he added, "that there is a Government to shoulder the acts. The shoulders of no one man are broad enough to bear what must be." Two prominent members were striving each to obtain a foremost position in the Republican Party. "You do not," said Mr. Locke, "take any pronounced position in relation to the controversy." "No. I learned a great many years ago that in a fight between man and wife a third party should never get between the woman's skillet and the man's axe-helve." A member of Congress who had been drinking whiskey entered the He was in the maudlin stage of intoxication, and, hiccoughing, room. said: "Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?" "I see no reason whatever," the President replied. The conversation with Mr. Locke turned upon the avarice of those who were accumulating fortunes. A man who had been prominent in OLIVER P. MORTON. political affairs was accused of attempting to swindle the Government out of a large sum of money. "I cannot understand," said Mr. Lincoln, "why men should be so eager after money. Wealth is simply a superfluity of what we don't need." () Although the October elections indicated the reelection of Mr. Lincoln, the presidential campaign was vigorously contested by the Democratic Party. General McClellan was greatly beloved by many of the officers and soldiers of the Army of the Potomac. General E. W. Andrews, stationed at Baltimore, being present at a Democratic meeting, expressed his high regard for General McClellan, and declared his intention of voting for him. Greatly to his surprise, he received notice from the War Department the following morning that he was mustered out of service by the Secretary of War. A gentleman laid the matter before Mr. Lincoln. "Was the revocation of General Andrews's commission by your order?" he asked. "I know nothing about it," the President replied. "Of course, Stanton does a thousand things of which I know nothing. What has General Andrews done?" "He attended a Democratic meeting, and was called up for a speech. He declared himself in favor of General McClellan." "Well,” replied Mr. Lincoln, "that's no reason why he should be dismissed. Andrews has just as good a right to hold on to his Democracy, if he chooses, as Stanton had to throw his overboard. If I should muster out all my generals who avow themselves Democrats, there would be a sad thinning out of commanding officers of the army. No! when the military duties of a soldier are faithfully performed, he can manage his politics in his own way; we've no more to do with them than with his religion. Tell this officer he can return to his post; and if there is no better reason for the order of Stanton than the one he suspects, it shall do him no harm. The commission he holds will remain as good as new. Supporting General McClellan for the Presidency is no violation of army regulations; and as a question of taste, of choosing between him and me—well, I'm the longest, but he is the best looking." (') Of all the battles of the war, that of Cedar Creek was the most dramatic. The Union troops in that engagement were surprised and driven, losing many prisoners and several cannon in the mornOct. 19. ing; but when night came the Confederate army was fleeing in confusion. All the lost cannon were recaptured, together with twentyfour others, and 1200 prisoners. Sheridan was at Winchester when the battle began, but reached the field, re-formed the scattered troops, aroused their enthusiasm, and won the victory. President Lincoln sent this despatch to him: "With great pleasure I tender to you and your brave army the thanks of the nation and my own personal admiration and gratitude for the month's operations in the Shenandoah Valley, and especially for the splendid work of October 19, 1864." The cannon captured in this battle were taken to Washington and presented to the Government in the grounds of the War Department. The President, members of the Cabinet, and a great gathering of people witnessed the ceremony. The country rang with praises of Sheridan and his men. The victory had great influence upon the political campaign. The people saw that the Confederates were rapidly losing ground-that the time would come when the authority of the nation would once more be established throughout the South. They knew slavery was doomed. The policy adopted by President Lincoln in due time would bring peace to the country. As the prospects for the re-election of Mr. Lincoln brightened, those who hated him became more virulent. More bitter and insulting were their epithets. The day of election was bright and beautiful throughout the country. Troops were stationed in New York to preserve order. Nov. 8. They were commanded by General Butler, who issued an address to the people. "Let every citizen," he said, "having the right to vote, act according to the inspiration of his own judgment. He will be protected in that right by the whole power of the Government, if it shall become necessary." No troops were seen at the polling places in that city. There was no rioting or disorder anywhere. "To Mr. Lincoln," writes one of his secretaries, "this was one of the most solemn days of his life.. Assured of his personal success, and devoutly confident that the day of peace was not far off, he felt no elation and no sense of triumph over his opponents. His mind seemed filled with mingled feelings of deep and humble gratitude to the vast majority of his fellow-citizens who were this day testifying to him their heart-felt confidence and affection, and of a keen and somewhat surprised regret that he should be an object in so many quarters of so bitter and vindictive an opposition. He said: 'It is singular that I, who am not a vindictive man, should always, except once, have been before the people for election in canvasses marked for their bitterness. When I came to Congress it was a quiet time; but always, except that, the contests in which I have been prominent have been marked with great rancor.'" (*) Once more Mr. Lincoln was sitting with the telegraph operator during the evening to receive despatches regarding the Presidential election. "The Union majority in Philadelphia will be 10,000," the message from Mr. Forney. This was much beyond what Mr. Lincoln had anticipated. "I reckon Forney is a little excited," he said. "We shall have," telegraphed Mr. Felton, " 15,000 majority in Baltimore, and 5000 in the State. All hail, free Maryland!" It came from the city where, in 1861, the President-elect was to have been assassinated. Mr. Henry Winter Davis, of Baltimore, was an ardent Republican, but had opposed Mr. Lincoln, and had failed of a re-election to Congress. "I am glad," said Mr. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, “that he has been defeated. He has maliciously assailed the navy for the last two years." "I cannot quite agree with you," said Mr. Lincoln. "You have |