His Father Marries Nancy Hanks.-The Family Move to

Indiana. Rude Life in the Wilderness.-The Death of

Nancy Hanks. His Father Marries Sarah Bush.—Lin-

coln's Early Education.-The Bare-Foot Lad at Work

in the Fields.-The Yearnings of an Ambitious Heart.

-The Lincoln Family Move to Illinois.-A Trip to New

Orleans.-Horrified by Slavery.-River-Pilot and Busi-

ness-Manager.-In the Black Hawk War.-A Pro-

nounced Whig.—His Odd Appearance on the Political

Platform.-Conducts a General Store.-Begins the

Study of Law.-Elected to the Legislature.-In Love

with Anne Rutledge.-Her Death and Lincoln's Melan-

choly." A Man with a heart Full of Kindness and a

Head Full of Sense.".

CHAPTER VII.

PAGE

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CONTINUED).

Lincoln's First Session in the Legislature.-Recognized as

an Able "Log-Roller."-Re-Elected to the Legislature.

-The Ambitious Schemes of the "Long Nine."-The

Seat of Government Moved from Vandalia to Spring-

field.-Lincoln's Resolution on the Slavery Question.-

Licensed to Practise Law.-Stephen A. Douglas Be-

comes Lincoln's Great Rival.-Lincoln Dislikes the

Drudgery of Law.-Nominated for Speaker in the Legis-

lature.-An Elector on the Harrison Ticket for Pres-

ident.-Mary Todd Enters Lincoln's Life.—Married to

Mary Todd.-Elected to Congress.-His Speech on Be-

half of General Taylor.-" Lone Star of Illinois."-The

Boston Advertiser's Estimation of Lincoln.-Beginning

to See Need of Grappling with Slavery Question.-Of-

fered the Governorship of the Territory of Oregon.-His

Speech on the Kansas-Nebraska Bill against Douglas.

-His Challenge to Douglas.-Kills Douglas's Chances

for the Presidency.-Extract from his Speech at Free-

port.-Recognized as one of the Great Anti-Slavery

Leaders.-Brilliant Speeches in the New England States. 92

CHAPTER VIII.

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CONTINUED).

PAGE

The Republican Convention of 1860.-" Honest Old Abe"

Nominated on the Third Ballot.-Northern Democrats

Nominate Stephen A. Douglas, the Southern John C.

Breckinridge.-John Bell Nominated by Constitutional

Union Party.-Lincoln Elected President. The

Southern States Secede.-Lincoln Tormented by Office

Seekers. His Farewell to his Springfield Friends.-A

Plot to Assassinate Him at Baltimore.--The Inaugura-

tion Ceremonies. His Inaugural Address.-Seward

and Lincoln.-Lincoln Forms his Cabinet.-Fort Sumter

Threatened.-Lincoln Calls for 75,000 men.-Relative

Strength of the North and South.-Stephen A.

Douglas Stands by the Union.-Opening Months of the

War.-Disastrous Battle of Bull Run.-General George

B. McClellan in Command.-Grant, "a Sledge Hammer

of War," Gains Victories on the Mississippi.-The Seiz-

ing of Mason and Slidell almost Precipitates War with

England.-France takes Advantage of War to Assert

Herself in Mexico.-Lincoln's Admiration for Grant.-

The Struggle at Sea between North and South.-Lin-

coln's Paramount Desire to Save the Union.-Makes

Enemies among the Abolitionists.-Preliminary Pro-

clamation Freeing the Slaves.-Louis Napoleon's offer

to Mediate between North and South Refused by Lin-

coln.-Lincoln's Famous Gettysburg Speech.-Grant's

Continued Successes.-Appointed General-in-Chief..... 107

CHAPTER IX.

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CONCLUDED).

The Battles in "the Wilderness."-Lincoln Renominated
by the Republicans for President.-His Opponent
General George B. McClellan.-Lincoln Re-elected
President.-The South Begins to Weaken.-Efforts to
Bring About Peace.-The Conference at Hampton

Roads.-Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address.-The

War Nearing its End.-Lee Surrenders at Appomattox

Court House.-Lincoln's Last Great Speech.-The Cost

of the War.-Lee's Farewell to his Army.-The Charac-

ter of Lee.-A Plot to Assassinate the Republican

Leaders.-The Attempt on Seward's Life.-The Assas-

sination of Lincoln in Ford's Theatre.-A Cruel Blow to

the South.-The North Stricken with Grief.-Walt

Whitman's Tribute to the Great Statesman.-Beecher's

Noble Words.-Lincoln's Place in the Hearts of the

American People.........

CHAPTER X.

PRESIDENT ANDREW JOHNSON.

(One Administration 1865-1869.)

Andrew Johnson Raised to the Presidency.-Like Lincoln
of Poor Parentage.-His Illiterate Earlier Years.-A
Tailor by Trade.-Self-Educated.-Marries Eliza Mc-
Cardle.-Takes an Active Interest in Politics.-Elected
to the State Legislature.-A Presidential Elector on the
Democratic Ticket.-Sent to the State Senate.-Elected
to Congress.-An Advocate of the Annexation of Texas.
-Governor of Tennessee.-Elected to the United States
Senate.-A Southerner, but Opposed to the South on
Slavery Question.-Speaks for the Union.-Wins the
Hatred of the South,-His Property Destroyed by His
Enemies.-Appointed Military Governor of Tennessee.
-His Able Administration Wins Admiration of Lincoln.
-Nominated for the Vice-Presidency in 1864.-Speaks
with Energy against the Secessionists.-Sworn in as
President. His Inaugural Address.-The Work of Re-
constructing the South Begins-Office of President too
Much for Johnson.-Struggle between Congress and the
President. The Tenure of Office Bill.-Suspends Secre-
tary of War Stanton.-"Swinging Round the Circle."
-Effort to Impeach him in Congress.-His Undignified
Speeches against Congress.-Narrowly escapes Impeach-

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129

PAGE

ment.-Loses the Respect of the Nation.-His Death

July 30, 1875.....

CHAPTER XI.

PRESIDENT ULYSSES S. GRANT.

(Two Administrations, 1869-1873, 1873-1877.)

Grant One of the Greatest Soldiers in History.-His

Family among the Oldest in America.-Of Puritan An-

cestry.-Mathew Grant Arrives at Boston on the "Mary

and John."-General Grant in Many Ways like Crom-

well. His Grandfather a Veteran of the Revolution.-

His Father, Jesse Grant, Born in Pennsylvania.-Jesse

Grant moves to Ohio.-Hiram Ulysses Grant born at

Point Pleasant.-How he Became Known as Ulysses S.

Grant. His Early Education.-A Boy Accustomed to

Toil.-Appointed a Cadet at West Point.-His Letters

Home.-A Careless Student.-An Expert Horseman.-

His Course Far from a Brilliant One.-A Lieutenant in

the 4th United States Infantry.-A Man whom but Few

would Suspect of Possible Greatness....

CHAPTER XII.

PRESIDENT ULYSSES S. GRANT (CONTINUED).

Stationed at Jefferson Barracks.-Applies for a Teacher-
ship in Mathematics at West Point.-In Love with Julia
Dent.--War Threatening with Mexico.-Conflict be-
tween Taylor's "Army of Occupation" and the Mexi-
cans.-Grant's Regiment sent to Texas.-Lieutenant
Grant does Gallant Service.—A Daring Ride.-Not in
Sympathy with Mexican War.-Married on His Return
from War.-Stationed at Detroit, at Sackett's Harbor,
and on the Pacific Coast.-Leaves the Army in Disgust.
-Settles on a Small and Poor Farm near St. Louis.-A
Struggle for Existence.-A Clerk in Galena.-The Civil
War Rouses his Military Ardor.-Given Command of a
Regiment.-Proves himself a Fine Organizer.-Raised

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177

to the Rank of Brigadier-General.-His First Military

Success at Paducah.-His Narrow Escape at Belmont.

-Captures Fort Henry.-Lays Siege to Fort Donelson.-

Captures Fort after Brilliant Fighting.-His Victories

Electrify the North.-Grant Under a Cloud.-The Con-

federates Hope to Crush Grant's Army.-The Battle of

Shiloh.-Grant's Description of the Field of Battle.-

Shiloh a Magnificent Victory for the North.-General

Halleck's Incomprehensible Treatment of Grant.-The

Delay before Corinth.-Grant Requests Leave of Ab-

sence.-Induced by Sherman to Remain on the Scene

of Conflict.-Military Administrator at Memphis.-

Wins a Victory over the Confederates at Corinth.-

Plans to Capture Vicksburg.—A Protracted Siege.-The

Surrender of Vicksburg.-His Plans once more Thwarted

by Halleck.-Severely Injured at New Orleans.—

Ordered to Report at Cairo.-Wins a Great Victory at

Chattanooga.-His Congratulations to his Soldiers.-

Honoured for his Victory.-Grant Raised to the Rank of

Lieutenant-General.-Appointed to the Command of all

the Union Armies.-Faces the Forces of Robert E. Lee.

-Lincoln Absolutely Confides in Grant.-The Battles in

the "Wilderness."-Meets with Reverses at Cold Har-

bour.-Lays Siege to Petersburg.-Lee Unable to Hold

out Longer.-Grant Demands Surrender of Army of

Confederate States.-Lee Flees from Richmond.-Sur-

renders to Grant at Appomattox.-Grant's Description

of Lee.-His Noble Treatment of His Vanquished Foe.—

Grant Proceeds to Washington.-Looks upon the Death

of Lincoln as a Calamity for the South.-The Grand

Review of the Troops in Washington at Close of War.—

Grant's Farewell Address to his Soldiers......

CHAPTER XIII.

PRESIDENT ULYSSES S. GRANT (CONCLUDED).

The United States Government Turns its Attention to
Mexican Matters.-The French Army Withdraws from

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188