work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom-and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

This wonderful address, so compact of wisdom and the simplest elements of eloquence, was received with becoming solemnity. Many were moved to tears. But it must be admitted that the oration of the silvertongued Everett, then one of the most admired of American orators, momentarily attracted greater attention. The very shortness of Lincoln's little speech caused it to be almost overlooked at the time. But in a few days, when the people of the country at large had fairly digested it, and its patriotic and human lesson had sunk into the minds of men, public opinion seized upon it and glorified it as one of the few masterpieces in oratory that the world has received. As time has rolled away, these pregnant sentences have become classic, and generations yet unborn may wonder that they did not at once arouse great enthusiasm.

About this time, too, Lincoln put forth another remarkable utterance. In his visits to the army he had been pained to see that the Sabbath was very scantily observed by the men while in camp, and that much and frequent needless profanity disfigured

the talk of men and officers. He issued an order. He knew that an army could not be expected to be a strict keeper of the Sabbath, but he saw that many of the occupations of the soldiers were glaringly and unnecessarily out of harmony with the day. But in this letter, for it was only a circular and hardly an order, he said:

"The importance for man and beast of the prescribed weekly rest, the sacred rights of Christian soldiers and sailors, a becoming deference to the best sentiment of a Christian people, and a due regard for the Divine will demand that Sunday labor in the army and navy be reduced to the measure of strict necessity. The discipline and character of the national forces should not suffer, nor the cause they defend be imperilled, by the profanation of the day or the name of the Most High."

And on the latter-mentioned habit, that of profane swearing, he took occasion to admonish a certain general, himself addicted to the vice, to use his authority to correct it among his men.

The year closed auspiciously, so far as military operations in the West were concerned. In October, Grant took command of a large force, being stationed at the head of the military division of the Mississippi, with head-quarters at Louisville, Kentucky. The departments of the Ohio and the Cumberland were merged in this division, General George H. Thomas being in command of the latter army. Hooker, with fifteen thousand men, was sent from the East to the West, and Sheridan and Sherman were subordinate commanders in this new and formidable

combination under Grant. The battles of Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, and Chattanooga followed, and the Rebels were sent flying out of Tennessee. Burnside was shut up in Knoxville, Tennessee, for a time, and there was great solicitude all over the country on his account, as his communications with the North were temporarily cut off. One day Washington was startled. The long silence concerning Burnside's movements was broken by an urgent call from him for succor. Lincoln, relieved by the news that Burnside was safe, at least, said that he was reminded of a woman who lived in a forest clearing in Indiana, her cabin surrounded by hazel-bushes, in which some of her numerous flock of children were continually being lost. When she heard a squall from one of these in the distance, although she knew that the child was in danger, perhaps frightened by a rattlesnake, she would say: "Thank God! there's one of my young ones that isn't lost."

Sherman was sent to the relief of Burnside, and, by forced marches, reached him and sent the Rebel army under Longstreet back into Virginia. The loyal mountaineers were delivered from their persecutors, and Tennessee was delivered from what proved to be the last formidable attempt to hold the State for the Confederacy.

CHAPTER XXIV.

POLITICAL COMPLICATIONS.

A "President-Making" Congress-Activity of Lincoln's OpponentsGrant Appointed Lieutenant-General—Beginning of an Aggressive Campaign-Federal Successes in the Southwest-Sheridan in the Valley of the Shenandoah-Political Troubles in Missouri -Lincoln Renominated-McClellan the Democratic NomineeA Diversion in Favor of Frémont-Peace Negotiations at Niagara -Five Hundred Thousand Men Called Out-Lincoln Re-elected -Renewed Talk of Peace-A Peace Conference at Hampton Roads "The President's Last, Shortest, and Best Speech"The Second Inauguration.

URING the winter of 1863-4 there was no little President-making in Congress; for the session before the time for nominating Presidential candidates is usually known as a President-making Congress. This time, however, there was less of this sort of political skirmishing than ever before or since. The Democrats, whose stock-in-trade, so to speak, was opposition to the war, were largely in a minority. The Republicans, although divided in their counsels, were bent on a more energetic support of the administration than ever, believing as many did that the war was now nearing its close, and that it would really come to an end before the next Presidential term ended-March 4, 1869. The Republican opposition to Lincoln came from those who did not consider him sufficiently radical for the time. These demanded radical measures affecting slavery in the

border States; and they thought that a more vigorous prosecution of the war might be had under the leadership of a more determined and alert President. The radical Republicans, as a rule, favored the nomination of Mr. Chase, the Secretary of the Treasury. Some, however, expressed a preference for General Frémont, whose unfortunate career in Missouri had excited their sympathies, if not their indignation against Lincoln.

On his part, Lincoln made no sign of anxiety for a renomination by his party. With more sagacity than most of his friends possessed, and with all the springs of action within his reach, he doubtless knew that events would so shape themselves that his renomination was inevitable. He made no secret, among his personal friends, of his desire to be elected to a second term. In conversation with one of these he said: "I am only the people's attorney in this great affair. I am trying to do the best I can for my client-the country. But if the people desire to change their attorney, it is not for me to resist or complain. Nevertheless, between you and me, I think the change would be impolitic, whoever might be substituted for the present counsel." To another he said, with his inveterate habit of putting a large truth in the form of a pleasantry: "I don't believe it is wise to swap horses while crossing a stream." In truth, after men had anxiously canvassed the names of all who were in the least worthy to be considered eligible to the Presidency, succeeding Lincoln, they almost invariably returned to him as the only man to be thought of with seriousness.