Diary of John Hay: July 15, 1863

. . . . R. T. L. says the Tycoon is grieved silently but deeply about the escape of Lee. He said: — “If I had gone up there I could have whipped them myself.” I know he had that idea.

SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 86; Tyler Dennett, Editor, Lincoln and the Civil War in the Diaries and letters of John Hay, p. 67