Executive Mansion,
Washington, August 11,
1862.
MY DEAR GEORGE:
You will have seen by the papers that Pope has been running
his head into a hornet's nest. He fought a desperate battle the other day — or rather
Banks did — Pope coming up at the end of it.
He stands now in good position, eager for another fight and
confident of licking the enemy.
The Tycoon has given orders that he shan't fight unless
there is a first-rate chance of cleaning them out. The Tycoon thinks a defeat
there would be a greater nuisance than several victories would abate.
There is no further news. It is horribly hot, all but me who
have gone to shaking again. Your infernal south windows always give me the chills.
Stone has broken them up, however, and doses me remorselessly to keep them
away.
If in the wild woods, you scrouge an Indian damsel, steal
her moccasins while she sleeps and bring them to me.
The Tycoon has just received a pair, gorgeously quilled, from
an Indian Agent who is accused of stealing. He put them on and grinned. Will he
remember them on the day when Caleb proposes another to fill the peculating
donor's office? I fear not, my boy! I fear not!
SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and
Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 59-60; Michael Burlingame, Editor, At
Lincoln’s Side: John Hay’s Civil War Correspondence and Selected Writings,
p. 24; Tyler Dennett, Editor, Lincoln and
the Civil War: in the Diaries and letters of John Hay, p. 43
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