10
Cleveland Ohio, September 20, 1861
President Lincoln greeted his Joint Cabinet and Congressional Executive Committee as they filed into the parlor of the Hargreaves Mansion. Mrs. Lincoln also greeted the members while setting the table with refreshments of food and drink with her own hands.
Old bachelor Senator Charles Sumner clasped her hands in his. “Thank you, My Dear, for seeing to our comfort, as you always do!”
“Yes, a hearty ‘Thank You’ to our gracious hostess!” said the equally dour Senator Ben Wade. The other men echoed their approval.
“You are very welcome, Sirs,” replied Mrs. Lincoln with a twinkle in her eye.
Mr. Lincoln smiled to himself. How those old Abolitionists love my Mary! And she, a Southern Belle, from a slave-owning family! They may think of me as an Illinois backwoods ‘sucker’, but she has won their affection by proving herself charming and as up to date on events as they are.
When all were served and seated Mr. Lincoln opened the meeting.
“Thank you, members of the Cabinet and Congress for coming here on such short notice. Before we get to today’s urgent topic of discussion, I would like to thank the Congressmen and Senators for your swift ratification of the Commercial Treaty that the Secretary of State has so ably negotiated with the Joint Assembly of East and West Canada. I also congratulate Congress on its prompt passage of the Legal Tender Act. That Act, along with the Canadian Treaty, bids fair to restore the circulation of our nation’s financial life’s blood.”
The men nodded in affirmation.
“I’ve asked you here because developments of an urgent military nature were brought to my attention yesterday afternoon by Alan Pinkerton, whose detective agency we have contracted to inform us of events in the Confederation Union.” He held up a binder.
“The Secretary of War and I have decided that the information is substantial enough to warrant the convening of this emergency meeting. Ben, John, and I will be leaving this afternoon to attend the Free State Rally in Columbus tomorrow. The rally is too important for us to miss. We wanted to make sure the rest of you are apprised of this information so that you will be prepared for any anything that may develop between tomorrow and our return on Friday.”
Mr. Lincoln picked up Pinkerton’s report and began reading.
“Pinkerton’s report is titled A Report of Recent Movements of Soldiers by Rail and Ship in the Confederate Union.”
The Cabinet Members, Senators, and Congressmen became silent.
“My agents in the Confederate Union report the widespread movement of men and equipment to the seaports, river ports, and railroad terminals on the Atlantic Coast and Mississippi Valley.
“In Virginia the movement is toward Hampton Roads.
“In North Carolina it is toward Wilmington.
“In South Carolina it is toward Charleston.
“In Georgia toward Savannah.
“In Florida toward Jacksonville.
“In Alabama toward Mobile.
“In Louisiana toward New Orleans.
“In Mississippi toward Vicksburg.
“In Arkansas and western Tennessee toward Memphis.
“In the central and eastern portions of Tennessee and in the northern portions of Alabama and Georgia, the movement of men and material is transiting through Nashville en route to Central Illinois. An increase in train arrivals from central and eastern Kentucky is reported at Louisville.
“These reports are based on arrivals and departures observed by my agents stationed in Atlanta, Chattanooga, Nashville, and Louisville.”
Lincoln flipped the page.
“The movement of Confederate Union men and material towards the Northwest is presumed to be preliminary to the renewal of the offensive against Grant’s line in Illinois and McDowell’s in Indiana.
“Conversations heard by our agents at the Confederate Union Atlantic seaports indicate that a simultaneous renewal of the campaign against Philadelphia is about to commence. It is indicated to be a combined assault by land and sea.”
“How did Mr. Pinkerton get this information to us?” asked Secretary of State Seward. “And how current is it?”
“Pinkerton works out of Louisville,” replied Mr. Lincoln. “He left there three days ago and came into our lines at Cincinnati.”
“So the Confederates are preparing to strike us again,” said Thad Stevens. “What are we going to do about that?”
“We have our reserve armies in training around Chicago, Columbus, and Albany,” Secretary of War Simon Cameron answered. “I’d suggest we get them on the way to Grant, McDowell, and Fremont at once. They can complete their training when they get to the line.”
John Sherman looked alarmed. “Shouldn’t we hold some men back for other contingencies? What if the Confederates are planning to make their main thrust against Cincinnati?”
“We could send half the reserve armies forward now and hold the other half back in case we need them at Cincinnati or some other place later,” suggested Iowa Congressman William Vandever.
“That would mean dividing the forces,” answered Cameron. “That might leave us with too few men to defeat the Confederates at the decisive points of attack.”
“We should make the best use of Pinkerton’s intelligence,” advised Senator Ben Wade. “Otherwise why did we hire him? If he says the attack will be directed at the Northwest and Philadelphia then I think we should concentrate our men on those lines to repel it.”
Lincoln threw his hands up. “This is what vexes me! I am advised on all sides of each military decision. Then, no sooner am I decided on a particular course, than I am advised to do something else. Fremont advises me that he should be unleashed to take the offensive to the Confederates and free their slaves. Yet I am advised by others to order him into New Jersey. Now I am advised by some to send our reserve armies to the front, and by others to hold them back! I am at a loss as to know what to do.”
John Sherman raised his head. “You’re not getting sound advice from military people. You’re getting it from us, and we don’t have military instincts. It’s no wonder the advice is inconsistent.”
“That point is well taken,” Lincoln acknowledged. “But where can I obtain expert military advice? Most of our prominent military men followed Lee and McClellan in remaining loyal to the Confederate Union. Winfield Scott and Henry Halleck are neutral and won’t help me. I don’t dare pull back Grant, McDowell, or Fremont to come here and advise me when they are urgently needed at the fronts. So who can I turn to?”
John Sherman didn’t answer the question, but he thought that perhaps his brother Cump could be useful in advising the President.
“Excuse me,” he said. “I’ve got to take care of a few errands before we leave. I’ll meet you at the station at three o’clock.” Then he left to telegraph his brother Cump in Lancaster to meet him in Columbus.
11
Columbus, Ohio, September 30, 1861
“How can you keep straddling the fence?” John Sherman asked his brother Cump. “The Confederates have rejected every fair offer of peace. They’re getting ready to strike us again. Won’t you please help us or else go back and fight for your Confederate friends? But for Lord’s sakes, do something.”
Cump Sherman looked skyward as he contemplated how to answer his brother. Dark clouds were scudding in from the north. He felt a gust of cool air blow across his face, the first fresh breeze of autumn. The breeze unfurled the “Gold Star” flags of the Republic of Free America and set them flapping around Capitol Square. A band played a spirited rendition of ‘Yankee Doodle’ near the speakers’ platform.
The Republican Wide Awakes who had not yet gone off to war stood in ranks holding torches and singing along. They were joined by some of the new recruits who had gone into training at Camp Dennison just outside the city. The uniformed recruits were conspicuous by the gold shirts they wore on top of their blue trousers. Many of the civilians in the crowd sang along too. Sherman looked at the lithographed flyer promoting this rally. The banner across the top showed the image of “Miss Columbia” wielding a sword while holding the Free State Flag.