President Lincoln Petitioned for West Point Appointment

February 18, 1863

President Lincoln writes a memo regarding the request from Chicago Congressman Isaac N. Arnold regarding an appointment to West Point: “To-day, Hon. I. N. Arnold calls with Col. Tucker, of Chicago, and asks that his son, Henry Russell Tucker, 16 next July, be sent to West-Point. Col. T. has just lost his only other son in battle, & has himself been in charge of Camp Douglas.”

Meanwhile, the alliance between Republicans and War Democrats was continuing to deteriorate.  Historian Bruce Tap wrote: “On February 18 [Congressman Julian] delivered one of the most blistering philippics of the war, castigating Democratic opposition to Republican war measures as part of a giant proslavery conspiracy.  Blaming every military disaster on Democratic generals and principles, Julian dealt at length with the failures of George McClellan….Proslavery officers in the Army of the Potomac had forced the president o modify Fremont’s emancipation proclamation early in the struggles. Even though the policy eventually had been adopted, Democrats, Julian reasoned, who held four-fifths of the positions in the army, prevented Fremont’s return to an active command and kept many antislavery generals relegated to insignificant positions.  The president must change his policy and dismiss every advocate of slavery who occupied a public position.  Encouraging Lincoln to make war in earnest, Julian concluded with an appeal that every weapon necessary to put down the rebellion be used.”

President Lincoln writes Secretary of the State William H. Seward: “I have two not very important matters, upon which I wish to consult the Cabinet. Please convene them, say at 10 A.M. tomorrow.”

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