Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Diary of John Hay to John G. Nicolay, April 9, 1863

Alas for the pleasant prognostications of the military men! The General this morning received the despatches, which you will see before this, confessing that the attack has been a failure. I do not as yet, know all the results of this bitter disappointment. Charleston is not to be ours as yet, and another instance is added to the many, of the President having clearer perceptions of military possibilities than any man in the Cabinet or the field. He thought it would fail.

SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 72-4;  Michael Burlingame, Editor, At Lincoln’s Side: John Hay’s Civil War Correspondence and Selected Writings, p. 33 where the entire letter appears.

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