At Seward’s to-night we met Capt. Schultz who showed very
bad taste by alluding to the Chicago Convention and Seward. The President told
a good yarn.
One day in Springfield shortly after some of the lower
counties had held meetings and passed Resolutions eulogistic of Trumbull, John
Wentworth sitting near Lincoln at breakfast one morning, said: — “Lincoln, have
you seen them Resolutions?” “I have seen what I suppose you refer to.”
“Them Trumbull fellers are going to trick you again.”
“I don't see any trickery about it, and if there was, there
is no way to help the matter.”
“I tell you what, Lincoln,” said John, with a look of
unutterable sagacity; “You must do, like Seward does — get a feller to run you.”
It was vastly amusing to both the President and Secretary.
The Secretary of State talked about intercepted
correspondence, and the double-dealing and lying of our English friends Fergusson
and Bourke.
Going to McClellan’s with Banks, they talked about the
campaign. McClellan thought the enemy
were massing at Manassas. He said he was not such a fool as to buck against
that place in the spot designated by the foe. While there the President
received a despatch from Sherman at Annapolis, asking for the 79th New York,
the Highlanders. The President was vexed at this, and at Sherman’s intimation
that the fleet would not sail before Sunday. McClellan was also bored by the request, but Seward strongly seconded
it. McC. said he would sleep on it.
We came away, the Tycoon still vexed at Sherman. At Seward’s
door he turned suddenly and said: — “I think I will telegraph to Sherman that I
will not break up McClellan’s command, and that I haven't much hope of his
expedition anyway.”
“No,” said Seward, “You won't say discouraging things to a
man going off with his life in his hands. Send them some hopeful and cheering
despatch.”
The Tycoon came home and this morning telegraphed Sherman: —
“I will not break up McClellan’s army without his consent. I do not think I
will come to Annapolis.” This was all. I think his petulance very
unaccountable.
SOURCES: Clara B. Hay, Letters of John Hay and
Extracts from Diary, Volume 1, p. 44-6; Tyler Dennett, Lincoln and
the Civil War in the Diaries and Letters of John Hay, p. 28-30.
