Lincoln’s Blind Memorandum of August 23, 1864

On August 23, 1864, Abraham Lincoln met with his cabinet. He circulated amongst his ministers a folded piece of paper, and asked them to sign it without looking at its contents. They did (as the LOC website is down until tomorrow, the image will appear here then).

Inside, one would have found the following words:

Executive Mansion
Washington, Aug. 23, 1864.
This morning, as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this Administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to so co-operate with the President elect, as to save the Union between the election and the inauguration; as he will have secured his election on such ground that he can not possibly save it afterwards.
A. LINCOLN

Coming just days after Lincoln had set aside suggestions that he abandon emancipation in the Confederacy as a war aim, this memorandum suggests that the president did not think his chances for reelection were very good.

Here one can read what Matthew Pinsker says about the document, or you can watch him here.

Allen Guelzo offers his take here:

Quote of the Week: August 17-23, 2014

Courtesy of Ray Ortensie:

Verona was inspired by Valdosta, Georgia, and sits in approximately the same location, in extreme south Georgia, just a half-hour north of the Florida line. But the fictional town is not Valdosta with the name changed. There are many similarities, however. Incidentally, I have never been to Valdosta.

Discuss.

MIA: Susan Hathaway and Tripp Lewis

We hear a lot about the gallant Virginia Flaggers and how they are stretching thin their numbers to have at least a token presence (read Grayson Jennings or Barry Isenhour) everywhere in order to claim that “they” were there (really, “he” was there).

Yet we still have not seen Susan Hathaway at Washington and Lee University (her continued absence from the “front lines” at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is now a matter of public knowledge). Nor have we seen the always entertaining Norwood “Tripp” Lewis at either Washington and Lee University or the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.

Now, we know that the Virginia Flaggers are keeping quiet when it comes to other missing persons, by one wonders why these two are also missing in action at the Flaggers’ primary venues? Oh, I know, Susan’s fans will claim she has a busy speaking schedule, as if that serves as sufficient excuse, but can they say the same for Tripp?

Maybe Tripp’s busy preparing all those suits against police and security personnel at the VMFA. Haven’t heard about that for a while.

UPDATE: I had a report that Tripp Lewis finally showed up again at the VMFA within hours of this appearing! Coincidence? 🙂 Now let’s await his arrival at Lexington.