Lincoln almost lost his head over the controversy of whether Jefferson Davis was truly a President. Towards the end of the Civil War, President Lincoln received numerous requests for peace conferences with officials of the Confederate Nation. Lincoln didn’t consider the southern confederation of states a nation and since they were not really a legitimate, separate and duly formed government, the President did not recognize the rebel leader, Jefferson Davis as President. Let it be understood, President Lincoln wanted to defeat the armed rebellion, have the southern states rejoin the union of their own accord and recognize the Emancipation Proclamation. There was really no legitimate emissary that could represent all the states, there was no Government of the Confederacy, hence Jefferson Davis could not be a President. It appeared that the blood bath could continue indefinitely.
Lincoln was a word-smith extraordinaire, eloquent and humorous. He had a tendency for subtle sarcasm, that could cut to the core or defer a decision, using backwoods tales and logic. The President had become weary over the pressure of the never-ending nightmare of the civil conflict. One of his staff, shared an idea with Lincoln that he thought might solve the negotiation stalemate. The staffer referred to the correspondence between Charles the First and his correspondence with the parliament as a precedent for a negotiation between a constitutional ruler and rebels. Lincoln’s face reflected a thoughtfulness and then a sly smile graced his lips, he then replied;
“Upon questions of history, I must refer you to Mr. Seward, for he is posted in such things, and I don’t profess to be; but my one distinct recollection of the matter is, that Charles lost his head.”
Bummer
How a mercurial Union general won the dramatic, bloody Battle of Stones River.
Peter,
Bummer can’t get over Rosecrans’ Chickamauga humiliation. Then his display of uselessness after the retreat to Chattanooga. Today it might be called an extreme case of PTSD. Rosie may have been a great logistician and Catholic, but his behavior doesn’t rate him a great General, in Bummer’s top two, Grant and Sherman. They were both willing to pull the trigger, when others wouldn’t. They relied on each other to accomplish Southern defeat at any cost. Total War was what would bring the Southern States to their knees. Sherman said it best, “Grant stood by me, when they said I was crazy.” I stood by Grant, when they called him a drunk.” And that’s how we fight the war, standing by each other.
Bummer
Dec 30, 1862 – Another defeat in the West. Sherman’s attempt to take Vicksburg from the north ends in failure. http://bit.ly/GDEpoW
Reporter,
Be patient, Grant and Sherman are a victorious pairing, they know what it takes to win the war. It will get worse before it gets better, however there can be no doubt to the final out come, as long as the citizens don’t lose their faith.
Bummer
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Read your page every day. Civil War Bummer Posts a new read daily. Thanks for reading.
Bummer