yours showing that you specially object to his exchange. Meantime he has reached here and reported to me. It is an ungracious thing for me to send him back to prison, and yet inadmissible for him to remain here long. Cannot you help me out with it? I can conceive that there may be difference to you in days, and I can keep him a few days to accommodate on that point. I have not heard of my son's reaching A. LINCOLN.

you.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL J. M. PALMER

WASHINGTON, D. C., February 24, 1865. Major-General Palmer, Louisville, Ky.: Please telegraph me an exact copy of the order of John C. Breckinridge borne by Colonel Robert J. Breckinridge. A. LINCOLN.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL U. S. GRANT

WASHINGTON, February 25, 1865.

Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point, Va.: General Sheridan's despatch to you, of to-day, in which he says he "will be off on Monday," and that he "will leave behind about 2000 men,' causes the Secretary of War and myself considerable anxiety. Have you well considered whether you do not again leave open the Shenandoah Valley entrance to Maryland and Pennsylvania, or, at least, to the Batimore and Ohio Rairoad? A. LINCOLN.

LETTER TO HENRY WARD BEECHER

EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 27, 1865. My dear Sir: Yours of the 4th and the 21st reached me together only two days ago.

I now thank you for both. Since you wrote the former the whole matter of the negotiation, if it can be so called, has been published, and you doubtless have seen it. When you were with me on the evening of the 1st, I had no thought of going in person to meet the Richmond gentlemen. Yours truly,

A. LINCOLN.

TELEGRAM TO GENERAL U. S. GRANT

WASHINGTON, D. C., February 27, 1865. Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point, Va.: Subsequent reflection, conference with General Halleck, your despatch, and one from General Sheridan, have relieved my anxiety; and so I beg that you will dismiss any concern you may have on my account, in the matter of my last despatch. A. LINCOLN.

TELEGRAM TO GOVERNOR FLETCHER

EXECUTIVE MANSION, February 27, 1865. Governor Fletcher, Jefferson City, Mo.: Have you received my letter of the 20th? I think some such thing as therein suggested is

needed. If you put it before the people, I will direct the military to coöperate. Please answer. A. LINCOLN.

WASHINGTON, February 27, 1865.

Will Mr. Dickson, Chief Engineer of the Hibernia, please pump the water out of a certain well which Tad will show?

'A. LINCOLN.

LETTER TO GENERAL SCOTT AND OTHERS1

EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 1, 1865. Gentlemen: I have received your address on the part of the Bureau for the Employment of Disabled and Discharged Soldiers which has recently been established in connection with the Protective War Claim Association of the Sanitary Commission.

It gives me pleasure to assure you of my hearty concurrence with the purposes you announce, and I shall at all times be ready to recognize the paramount claims of the soldiers of the nation in the disposition of public trusts. I shall be glad also to make these suggestions to the several heads of departments.

I am, very truly, your obedient servant,

A. LINCOLN.

1 To Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott, President; Howard Potter, Wm. E. Dodge, Jr., and Theo. Roosevelt.-N. and H.

TELEGRAMS TO GENERAL U. S. GRANT.

WASHINGTON, D. C., March 2, 1865. Lieutenant-General Grant, City Point, Va.: You have not sent contents of Richmond papers for Tuesday or Wednesday. Did you not receive them? If not, does it indicate anything? A. LINCOLN.

WASHINGTON, March 3, 1865. 12 P. M.

Lieutenant-General Grant: The President directs me to say that he wishes you to have no conference with General Lee unless it be for capitulation of General's Lee's army, or on some minor or purely military matter. He instructs me to say that you are not to decide, discuss, or confer upon any political questions. Such questions the President holds in his own hands, and will submit them to no military conferences or conventions. Meanwhile you are to press to the utmost your military advantages.

EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS, March 4, 18651

F

ELLOW - COUNTRYMEN: At this

second appearing to take the oath of the presidential office, there is less occasion for an extended address than there was at the first. Then a statement, somewhat in detail, of a course to be pursued, seemed fitting and proper. Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies of the nation, little that is new could be presented. The progress of our arms, upon which all else chiefly depends, is as well known to the public as to myself; and it is, I trust, reasonably satisfactory and encouraging to all. With high hope for the future, no prediction in regard to it is ventured.

On the occasion corresponding to this four years ago, all thoughts were anxiously directed to an impending civil war. All dreaded itall sought to avert it. While the inaugural address was being delivered from this place, devoted altogether to saving the Union without

1 Both the Gettysburg address and the Second Inaugural mark the height of Lincoln's eloquence. The London Times called the latter the most sublime state paper of the century. Exactly two months later it was read over its author's grave.