[1] To Mr. SAMUEL SINCLAIR, of the _New York Tribune_, for the
introduction to Mr. Lincoln, and to FREDERICK A. LANE, Esq., of New
York, for the generous aid thus extended, I shall ever be indebted for
the accomplishment of my work.
[2] The authorship of this poem has been made known since this
publication in the _Evening Post_. It was written by William Knox,
a young Scotchman, a contemporary of Sir Walter Scott. He died in
Edinburgh, in 1825, at the age of 36.
The two verses in brackets were not repeated by Mr. Lincoln, but belong
to the original poem.
[3] Hon. Henry J. Raymond.
[4] Colonel Le Grand B. Cannon, of General Wool’s staff
[5] Raymond’s _Life of Lincoln_.
[6] Hon. H. J. Raymond.
[7] Mr. Lincoln’s friend Brooks, of the _Sacramento Union_, has given
to the public a somewhat different version of this story, placing its
occurrence on the day of the election in 1860. The account, as I have
given it, was written before I had seen that by Mr. Brooks, and is very
nearly as Hay and myself heard it,--the incident making a powerful
impression upon my mind. I am quite confident that Mr. Lincoln said it
occurred the day he was first nominated; for he related it to us a few
hours after having received intelligence of his renomination, saying,
“I am reminded of it to-night.” It is possible, however, that I am
mistaken in the date. Mr. Brooks’s statement that “Mrs. Lincoln” was
“troubled” about it, regarding it as a “sign that Mr. Lincoln would be
reëlected, but would not live through his second term,” is undoubtedly
correct.
[8] Holland’s _Life of Abraham Lincoln_.
[9] My “six months” proper, at the White House, terminated, as will
be seen, the last week in July, 1864. February and a part of March
following I passed in Washington, and was privileged with a renewal of
my previous intercourse with Mr. Lincoln.
[10] _San Francisco Bulletin._
[11] Noah Brooks, _Harper’s Monthly_, July, 1865.
[12] _Boston Watchman and Reflector._
[13] Abbott’s _History of the Civil War_.
[14] “Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou
be found guilty.”
[15] Speech at Charleston, September 18th, 1858.
[16] _Boston Commonwealth._
[17] _Rochester_ (New York) _Express_.
[18] Colonel Charles G. Halpine, _New York Citizen_.
[19] Correspondence of the _N. Y. Independent_.
[20] J. C Derby, Esq., of New York.
[21] Address in Philadelphia upon the death of Mr. Lincoln.
[22] This article was written and first published some months previous
to Mr. Lincoln’s reëlection, during the depression of the public mind
following the “raid” on Washington.
[23] Rev. Mr. Henderson, Louisville, Ky.
[24] Mr. Murtagh, of the _Washington Republican_.