Executive Mansion,
Washington, Dec. 26,
1864.
My dear General Sherman.
Many, many, thanks for your Christmas-gift – the capture of
Savannah.
When you were about leaving Atlanta for the Atlantic coast,
I was anxious, if not fearful; but feeling that you were the better
judge, and remembering that “nothing risked, nothing gained” I did not
interfere. Now, the undertaking being a success, the honor is all yours; for I
believe none of us went farther than to acquiesce. And, taking the work of Gen.
Thomas into the count, as it should be taken, it is indeed a great success. Not
only does it afford the obvious and immediate military advantages; but, in
showing to the world that your army could be divided, putting the stronger part
to an important new service, and yet leaving enough to vanquish the old
opposing force of the whole – Hood's army – it brings those who sat in
darkness, to see a great light. But what next? I suppose it will be safer if I
leave Gen. Grant and yourself to decide.
Please make my grateful acknowledgments to your whole army,
officers and men.
Yours very truly
A. LINCOLN.
SOURCES: Roy P. Basler, editor, Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln,
Volume , p. 181-2. This
letter can also be found among the Abraham Lincoln Papers
at the Library of Congress.
No comments:
Post a Comment