. . . . Webster has just returned here from the North. He
says New York is absolutely safe; that Weed is advising his friends to bet; that
Dean Richmond is despondent — saying the Democratic party are half traitors.
Things looked very blue a month ago. A meeting was held in
New York (to which Geo.Wilkes refers) of Union men opposed to Lincoln, and it
was resolved that he should be requested to withdraw from the canvass. But
Atlanta and the response of the country to the Chicago infamy set matters right.
. . . .
Grant is moving on Lee. This morning early the President
telegraphed to Grant expressing his anxiety that Lee should not reinforce Early
against Sheridan. Grant answered that he had taken measures to prevent it by
attacking Lee himself. He is moving in two columns; Ord south, and Birney north
of the James. Stanton was much excited on hearing the news and said “he will be
in Richmond to-night.” “No,” said the President; “Halleck, what do you think?” Halleck
answered that he would not be surprised if he got either Richmond or Petersburg
by the manoeuvre.
SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and
Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 229-30; Michael Burlingame and John R.
Turner Ettlinger, Editors, Inside Lincoln’s White House: The Complete
Civil War Diary of John Hay, p. 234.
