Robert E. Lee, held in high esteem by General Scott, was in Washington. Two members of the Cabinet conferred with him, unofficially tendering him from President Lincoln command of the army.

April 17.

"I look," said he, "upon secession as anarchy. If I owned four million slaves I would sacrifice them all for the Union, but how can I draw my sword upon Virginia, my native State?"

His beautiful home at Arlington overlooked a lovely landscape: the gleaming Potomac, green fields, the City of Washington, the stately He was patrician by birth and education, and cast his lot with the slave power.

Capitol.

The Secessionists burned the bridges on the railroads leading north from Baltimore, that no more troops might reach Washington. They were doing their utmost to bring about the secession of Maryland. Clerks in the departments at Washington appointed from the Southern States were hastening from the city. Citizens, under the command of Major David Hunter, were guarding the White House and Treasury. In the executive mansion, through the weary hours, President Lincoln calmly performed his arduous duties.

It was a joyful hour in Washington when the Massachusetts Eighth Regiment and the New York Seventh reached that city. Their presence guaranteed the safety of the Capitol. In Illinois, troops from April 25. Chicago took possession of Cairo. The occupation of that point greatly offended John M. Johnson, of Paducah, Ky. He had been elected to the Senate of that State, and deemed it his duty to send a solemn protest to the President.

"If I had suspected," wrote Mr. Lincoln in reply, "that Cairo, in Illinois, was in Dr. Johnson's Kentucky Senatorial district, I would have thought twice before sending troops to Cairo." (1)

By the prompt arrival of troops in Washington, and the occupation of Cairo, the plans of the Secessionists were overthrown.

NOTES TO CHAPTER XIII.

(') L. E. Chittenden, "Recollections of President Lincoln," p. 66. (2) Ibid., p. 72.

(3) William Cabell Rives was born in Nelson County, Va., 1793. He was educated at Hampden, Sidney, and William and Mary Colleges. Studied law under Jefferson. He was member of Congress, 1823-29. Minister to France, 1829-32. United States Senator, 1832-45. Again he was Minister to France from 1849-53. After the secession of Virginia he became a member of the Confederate Congress.-Author.

(*) James A. Seddon was born at Falmouth, Va., 1815. He studied law at the University of Virginia. He began practice in Richmond. He was member of Congress. from 1845 to 1849; Mr. Lincoln was a member during his second term. The Governor of Virginia appointed him member of the Peace Conference. Upon the secession of the State he was appointed by Jefferson Davis Secretary of War for the Confederate States, succeeding Mr. Walker.-Author.

(*) L. E. Chittenden, "Recollections of Abraham Lincoln," p. 76. (') Ibid.

(7) Isaac N. Arnold, "Life of Lincoln," p. 199.

(*) Henry Wilson was born at Farmington, N. H., February 16, 1812. His parents were poor. His first years were spent on a farm, and in making shoes. He earned enough money to attend an academy at Concord, N. H., in 1837. He was studious, and became interested in politics. He began public speaking in 1840, advocating the election of Harrison. He was elected to the House of Representatives and Senate of Massachusetts. He was an uncompromising opponent of slavery. He was elected to the Seuate, 1855. Was Vice-president of the United States during the Presidency of General Grant. He wrote a "History of the Rise and Fall of the Slave Power." He died November 10, 1875.-Author.

(') Joseph C. Abbott. He was proprietor of the Manchester, N. H., “Mirror,” and had been an earnest opponent of slavery. He had held the office of Adjutant-general of New Hampshire. He was appointed Lieutenant-colonel of the Seventh New Hampshire Regiment; took conspicuous part in the assault upon Fort Wagner, Morris Island.

After the war he settled in North Carolina, and was elected Senator from that State.Author.

(10) "Century Magazine," February, 1888.

(11) Ibid.

(12) "Century Magazine," March, 1888.

(1) J. G. N. (J. G. Nicolay.) "Century Magazine," March, 1888.

(14) “Every-day Life of Abraham Lincoln,” p. 455.

CHAPTER XIV.

FIRST MONTHS OF THE WAR.

PRESIDENT LINCOLN, looking from the southern windows of

the White House, could see the flag of the Confederacy floating above the houses of Alexandria. Confederate troops were pouring into Richmond, with the avowed intention of marching upon Washington. Very confident were the predictions of Southern newspapers that the Confederate flag would erelong be flying above the unfinished dome of the Capitol, and Jefferson Davis occupying the White House.

This the telegram (April 22, 1861) from Davis to Governor Letcher:

"In addition to the forces heretofore ordered, requisitions have been made for thirteen regiments, eight to rendezvous at Lynchburg, four at Richmond, one at Harper's Ferry. Sustain Baltimore, if possible. We reinforce you."

James M. Mason, of Virginia, a week before, had been in the Senate of the United States. He had gone to Baltimore, and was supplying the Secessionists with fire-arms. (')

came.

Reverdy Johnson, (*) the great lawyer in the patent law case, whom the President had met in Cincinnati (see page 162), hastened to Washington to obtain assurance that the South was not to be subjugated. A committee from the churches, with a clergyman as chairman, also "We ask that you recognize the independence of the Southern States," the request. This the reply of the President: "You, gentlemen, come here to me and ask for peace on any terms, and yet have no word of condemnation for those who are making war upon us. You express great horror of bloodshed, and yet would not lay a straw in the way of those who are organizing in Virginia and elsewhere to capture this city. The rebels attack Fort Sumter, and your citizens attack troops sent to the defence of the Government and the lives and property in Washington, and yet would have me break my oath and surrender the Government without a blow. There is no Washington in that-no Jackson in that-there is no manhood or

honor in that. I have no desire to invade the South, but I must have troops to defend this Capitol. Geographically it lies surrounded by the soil of Maryland, and mathematically the necessity exists that they should come over her territory. Our men are not moles, and can't dig under the earth; they are not birds, and can't fly through the air