Abraham Lincoln's Memorandum Concerning His Probable Failure of Re-election, August 23, 1864

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

[Endorsed on the back:]

William H. Seward

W. P. Fessenden

Edwin M. Stanton

Gideon Welles

M. Blair

J. P. Usher

August 23. 1864.

SOURCES: SOURCE: Roy P. Basler, editor, Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Volume 7, p. 514; this memorandum can be found at the The Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress.