September 1, 1864
“Atlanta is ours and fairly won,” General William T. Sherman telegraphs to President Lincoln.
The political situation is fast changing with the nomination of General George B. McClellan by the Democratic National Convention meeting in Chicago and the capture of Atlanta by General William T. Sherman. President Lincoln is moving to unite the Republican Party and cut off the dissident candidacy of General John C. Fremont. President Lincoln wires. Montgomery Blair: “Please return here at your earliest convenience.” Illinois Congressman Elihu B. Washburne writes President Lincoln: “Can you not get a despatch immediately from Blair as to when he will be here.1 It is very important that Gov. [Alexander W.] Randal should leave here to-morrow night, but he dare not leave till he gets word that Blair will be here by Monday morning. Please get word from him at the earliest moment that he will be here Monday morning.”
Historian Allen Nevins wrote in The War for the Union Volume IV: “Seldom has so swift a change occurred in the political situation of the great republic. No sooner did the country learn of the Chicago platform than Bryant, Greeley, Charles Sumner, John A. Andrew, Richard Yates, Lyman Trumbull, and other influential Republican dissidents, one by one, fell in behind Lincoln, declaring they would put every ounce of strength into the fight against McClellan. After Mobile Bay and Atlanta, gold came down with a rush, easing the pressure on national finances and prices. Volunteers pressed forward…”
President Lincoln writes Army Colonel Henry S. Huidekoper: “It is represented to me that there are at Rock Island, Ills. as rebel prisoners of war, many persons of Northern and foreign birth, who are unwilling to be exchanged and sent South, but who wish to take the oath of allegiance and enter the military service of the Union. Col. Huidekoper on behalf of the people of some parts of Pennsylvania wishes to pay the bounties the government would have to pay to proper persons of this class, have them enter the service of the United States, and be credited to the localities furnishing the bounty money. He will, therefore proceed to Rock Island, ascertain the names of such persons (not including any who have attractions Southward) and telegraph them to the Provost Marshal General here, whereupon directions will be given to discharge the persons named upon their taking the oath of allegiance; and then upon the official evidence being furnished that they shall have been duly received and mustered into the service of the United States, their number will be credited as may be directed by Col. Huidekoper.”
Former Colonel Thomas Worthington pesters Lincoln from Ohio for reinstatement in command: “Col. T Worthington late of the 46th Regt O. V. I. respectfully represents that he has been dismissed the service without trial or any cause officially assigned beyond a verbal statement that he is dismissed under the law of July 17th 1862 authorising the president to dismiss any officer for any cause which in his judgement renders such officer unsuitable for, or whose dismission would promote the public service.
Claiming that he has transgressed no regulation of the service and no article of war, but granting that he has been dismissed for just cause, he urges in plea of his restoration the past performance of the following specified acts and duties which may operate in extenuation or mitigation of his fault what ever it may have been.
Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War 
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