Lincoln's Sanctuary: Abraham Lincoln and the Soldiers' HomeOxford University Press, 2003 M09 4 - 272 pages After the heartbreaking death of his son Willie, Abraham Lincoln and his family fled the gloom that hung over the White House, moving into a small cottage in Washington, D.C., on the grounds of the Soldiers' Home, a residence for disabled military veterans. In Lincoln's Sanctuary, historian Matthew Pinsker offers a fascinating portrait of Lincoln's stay in this cottage and tells the story of the president's remarkable growth as a national leader and a private man. Lincoln lived at the Soldiers' Home for a quarter of his presidency, and for nearly half of the critical year of 1862, but most Americans (including many scholars) have not heard of the place. Indeed, this is the first volume to specifically connect this early "summer White House" to key wartime developments, including the Emancipation Proclamation, the firing of McClellan, the evolution of Lincoln's "Father Abraham" image, the election of 1864, and the assassination conspiracy. Through a series of striking vignettes, the reader discovers a more accessible Lincoln, demonstrating what one visitor to the Soldiers' Home described as his remarkable "elasticity of spirits." At his secluded cottage, the president complained to his closest aides, recited poetry to his friends, reconnected with his wife and family, conducted secret meetings with his political enemies, and narrowly avoided assassination attempts. Perhaps most important, he forged key friendships that helped renew his flagging spirits. The cottage became a refuge from the pressures of the White House, a place of tranquility where Lincoln could refresh his mind. Based on research in rarely tapped sources, especially the letters and memoirs of people who lived or worked at the Soldiers' Home, Lincoln's Sanctuary offers the unexpected--a completely fresh view of Abraham Lincoln--through the window of a place that helped shape his presidency. |
Contents
Gone to the country | |
Forever free | |
Part Two 1863 | |
Whatever is is right | |
Bibliography | |
Acknowledgments | |
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Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln Papers Allegheny College August battle Burlingame and Ettlinger cabinet Captain Civil claimed Collected commander Company Confederate Cutter Papers David Democratic Derickson Diary entry Diary of Orville draft Early’s Emancipation Proclamation family’s George Gideon governor Halleck Hay’s historians Historical Society husband Illinois Inside Lincoln’s White John Hay July July 11 June Knox College Lee’s letter Library of Congress Lincoln family Lincoln Studies Center Lincoln’s White House Mary Lincoln Mary Todd Lincoln McClellan Meadville morning National Nicolay nineteenthcentury Noah Brooks noted November October Orville Browning Orville Hickman Browning Pease and Randall Pennsylvania political Potomac President Lincoln president’s Rebel recalled recollection reported Republican returned ride Riggs Robert Lincoln Secretary Senator September September 22 Seward slavery slaves Soldiers Stanton story summer Tad Lincoln Tarbell Papers Transcribed and annotated troops University Press Virginia wartime Washington White House Whitman wife Willard Cutter William wrote York