Republican Convention Delegates Visit Washington

June 3, 1864

Republican delegates pass through Washington to visit President Lincoln on their way to the Union Convention in Baltimore. Count Adam Gurowski writes sarcastically: ‘Washington is overrun with politicians, with contractors, and with busy-bodies of al kinds and sizes….The Baltimore Convention is at the door, and the ravens make due obeisance to the White House.”

President Lincoln wrote to F. A. Conkling rejecting an invitation to speak at Union Square on June 4:   “Your letter inviting me to be present at a mass meeting of loyal citizens to be held at New York on the 4th inst., for the purpose of expressing gratitude to Lieutenant General Grant for his signal services, was received yesterday. It is impossible for me to attend. I approve, nevertheless, whatever may tend to strengthen and sustain Gen. Grant and the noble armies now under his direction. My previous high estimate of Gen. Grant has been maintained and heightened by what has occurred in the remarkable campaign he is now conducting; while the magnitude and difficulty of the task before him does not prove less than I expected. He and his brave soldiers are now in the midst of their great trial, and I trust that at your meeting you will so shape your good words that they may turn to men and guns moving to his and their support.”

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