PRESIDENT LINCOLN ON BATTLEFIELD OF ANTIETAM UNDER GUARD OF THE SECRET SERVICE Original negative taken by Mathew Brady on October 3, 1862-Lincoln was accompanied by Allan Pinkerton LINCOLN WITH HIS SOLDIERS AT THE BATTLE-LINE-Photograph taken while Lincoln was inspecting conditions in army at Antietam on October 3, 1862-Original negative by Mathew Brady PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN GENERAL MCCLELLAN'S TENT AT BATTLE GROUNDS OF ANTIETAM Original negative taken by Mathew Brady on October 3, 1862, while Lincoln was in conference with General McClellan a few days after the great battle-Now deposited in the Brady-Gardner Collection at Springfield, Massachusetts-Copyright, 1907, by Mr. Edward Bailey Eaton and valued at ten thousand dollars PRESIDENT LINCOLN IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR Original negative taken by Mathew Brady in Washington, in 1862 THE MIGHT OF LINCOLN IN HIS COUNTRY'S CRISIS N every man's life there are times when the burdens that press upon him are beyond all human endurance; when patience is no longer a virtue, and all the powers within him demand decision and action. Lincoln found that there was a moment when even sympathy and diplomacy must give way to the destiny of mankind; when it must work out its own salvation or destruction with the blood of men. It was five days after the battle of Antietam-the twenty-second day of September in 1862. Members of the cabinet were seated in secret session. Lincoln sat with a book in his hands. The faces of the statesmen were stern. He did not seem to notice them as they entered. Then, turning to them, he said: "Gentlemen, did you ever read anything from Artemus Ward? Let me read you a chapter that is very funny." A look of anger passed over the ministers. Lincoln laughed heartily; not a member of the cabinet smiled. "Well," he said, "let's have another chapter." He continued to read with great deliberation. The statesmen were astonished. Abruptly, he threw the book down, and exclaimed: "Gentlemen, why don't you laugh? With the fearful strain that is upon me night and day if I do not laugh I shall die, and you need this medicine as much as I do." His face and his tone became grave. Turning to his tall silk hat that lay upon the table, he took a paper from it. He gazed for a moment at his ministers. "I have called you here," he said slowly, "upon very important business. I have prepared a little paper of much significance I have said nothing to any one, but I have made a promise to myself and to my Maker. I am now going to fulfill that promise." Holding the sheets before him, he began to read. His voice was low but firm: "On the first day of January, in the year of our Lord 1863, all persons held as then slaves in any state or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforth and forever free." The statesmen were silent. The tremendous meaning of it all flooded upon them. The man upon whom they had looked as without power of decision, sat before them with grim determination. In the might of decision, he had with a single blow issued to the world a proclamation that was to break the shackles of bondage and to shake the foundations of civilization. The news swept through the army. "Lincoln has freed the slaves!" The North shouted in exultation. The South retorted in defiance. |