President Lincoln Meets with Woman Soldier

September 6, 1864

President Lincoln talks with Mary E. Wise, an orphan who joined 34th Indiana Regimen as “William Wise” and served for two years until wounded at Chickamauga and

Lookout Mountain when her gender was discovered and she was discharged without the proper paperwork. The Army’s paymaster refused to pay her for five months’ pay. Lincoln orders payment.

President Lincoln writes John J. Meier: “You write me under date of the 2d inst. that your boy who is at school at Dusseldorf, has for the last eighteen months been “saving up his pennies,” and has sent you the proceeds, amounting to five dollars which you enclose, to “help the sick and wounded of our brave boys fighting for the glorious cause of truth and freedom” as he is himself “not yet old enough to fight.”

The amount is duly received and shall be devoted to the object indicated. I thank your boy, not only for myself, but also for all the children of the nation, who are even more interested than those we those of us, of maturer age, that this war shall be successful, and the Union be maintained and perpetuated.

New York Republicans are still in disarray. New York Post Editor William C. Bryant remains angry with President Lincoln over patronage changes in New York. He publishes an editorial: “No Negotiations with the Rebel Government.” Presidential aide John Nicolay writes New York Independent editor Theodore Tilton: “There is no truth whatever in the report that Mr Lincoln said he was “a beaten man”. I felt quite sure of it, when I saw you, though of course I could not positively know the fact as I do now. We have encouraging news from all quarters. The Atlanta victory alone, ought to win the Presidential contest for us.” Tilton, heretofore a Lincoln opponent, replies:

I thank you for your note. If the President has not said that he was “a beaten man”, he will hereafter have no occasion to say it. We are going to win the Presidential election. The divisions are going to be healed. I have never seen such a sudden lighting up of the public mind as since the late victory at Atlanta. This great event, following the Chicago platform — the most villanous political manifesto known to American history! — has secured a sudden unanimity for Mr. Lincoln. As for myself, never having been a partisan for Mr Lincoln’s re-election, but the reverse, I shall give all the influence I can use, for the triumph of the Baltimore platform and candidates. I have blown the trumpet heartily in to-day’s Independent. Rather than have Chicago and McClellan triumph, I would cheerfully give up my life, with only an hour’s preparation for death. My hands are tired with writing private letters, far & near, counseling all my friends to unite on Mr. Lincoln.

The American Minister to Mexico Thoms Corwin, a former Ohio governor and senator, writes President Lincoln: “I wish my resignation to be filed as of its date It is important that I should not be an office holder. It cripples me in both private & public Matters especially the latter. When Mr. Seward comes home if there is any objection I will take it back & be reappointed.”

Tennessee Governor Andrew Johnson writes President Lincoln: “In regard to the execution of Thos R Bridge on friday next you state in your dispatch to col Geo Bridges that if I desire the suspension it would be granted I would suggest that it be extended twenty days persons who are reliable inform me that facts & circumstances are being developed which will go a great way in mitigation of the offence if not to entirely exhonorate him.” President Lincoln grants the delay and eventually postpones the execution indefinitely.

Louisiana attorney Cuthbert Bullitt writes President Lincoln: “The elections are over & all is right,1 the people are for the free State Constitution & the Congressmen are to a man, for you, first last & all the time amongst whom is A. P. Field,2 though not my choice at first, was perhaps the best could be done under all the Circumstances– I wrote him a letter & propounded questions to him, whether he would vote for you, Support the measures of the administration & the free State Constitution, to all of which he agreed to, unhesitatingly,–

You see I have taken the Marshalship, for which I am indebted, for your goodness, — I will do my best to promote the interests of the Government & your administration–

From Louisiana, Governor Nathaniel Banks writes President Lincoln: “The constitution was submitted to the People of Louisiana yesterday at an election held in all the Parishes within our lines for this purpose and for the election of members of Congress and a State Legislature. I am gratified to be able to report that the Constitution was ratified by a very large majority of votes, and that intelligent able and patriotic men have been elected to Congress, after a thorough canvass, in which men of all parties participated and which was conducted with perfect freedom. The vote is not so large as we expected. Two weeks before the election an order was issued from the Head Quarters of Major General Canby, directing a general enrollment of the militia.

Interested parties secretly represented that all citizens Registered or voting in the election would be forced into the military service of the Country–

No representations could disabuse them of this fear. Many of the men employed by the govt declined to vote or to register for this reason. The officers of the Govt civil or military have not assisted with energy. With exception of Mr Dennison,1 collector, no aid has been given by the Treasury Department.

It is not improbable they may have voted but nothing more. Nevertheless about nine thousand (9000) votes have been given by the unquestionably loyal people of the State, seven thousand of which will be in favor of the Constitution and two thousand against it. Full returns are not received yet, but enough to make the result above stated certain.

This is a large vote, considering these circumstances: 1st There was no serious opposition to the Constitution. 2d The factious opposition manifested in the north encouraged opponents of your administration here, some in high office silently to resist its adoption and to prevent voters from coming out 3d The election, in September, the fever month, found many of the most prominent and influential registered voters absent in the North, and rendered it difficult on account of the great heat for a large class of men to participate in the contest: 4″ The poverty of the People and the State and City goverments has made it impossible to appropriate money for the election, as heretofore when voters have been invariably brought to the Polls: 5th The time allowed for the canvass was unusually short–

Nevertheless a good and honest vote has been given for and against the Constitution– No person, citizen or soldier, has voted who had not the right by the laws of the State. Every voter in the city of New Orleans is registered: and every soldiers vote throughout the state. The election was open and quiet: The city was in perfect order, and no arrests were made during the day or night.

Vermont votes Republican in state and congressional elections.

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