Lincoln of KentuckyYoung Abraham Lincoln and his family joined the migration over the Ohio River, but it was Kentucky—the state of his birth—that shaped his personality and continued to affect his life. His wife was from the commonwealth, as were each of the other women with whom he had romantic relationships. Henry Clay was his political idol; Joshua Speed of Farmington, near Louisville, was his lifelong best friend; and all three of his law partners were Kentuckians. During the Civil War, Lincoln is reputed to have said, "I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky." He recognized Kentucky's importance as the bellwether of the four loyal slave states and accepted the commonwealth's illegal neutrality until Unionists secured firm control of the state government. Lowell Harrison emphasizes the particular skill and delicacy with which Lincoln handled the problems of a loyal slave state populated by a large number of Confederate sympathizers. It was not until decades later that Kentuckians fully recognized Lincoln's greatness and paid homage to their native son. |
Contents
1 | |
16 | |
26 | |
40 | |
59 | |
6 Lincoln and Slavery to 1854 | 78 |
7 The Gathering Storm | 93 |
8 An Election a War and Kentuckys Neutrality | 111 |
Illustrations follow page | 150 |
10 Lincoln and Military Operations in Kentucky | 155 |
11 Wartime Politics in Kentucky | 176 |
12 Lincoln and Wartime Issues in Kentucky | 194 |
13 Lincoln Slavery and Kentucky | 221 |
Notes | 247 |
Bibliographical Essay | 277 |
Index | 287 |