Lincoln (130 page)

In addition to the Herndon-Weik Collection, this chapter rests heavily on several excellent secondary works. Benjamin P. Thomas,
Lincoln’s New Salem
(New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1954), is an indispensable study, both charming and informative. It can be supplemented at points by John Mack Faragher,
Sugar Creek: Life on the Illinois Prairie
(New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press, 1986), a model study of another community in the Sangamon valley, some forty miles from New Salem. William E. Baringer,
Lincoln’s Vandalia: A Pioneer Portrait
(New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press, 1949), offers a vigorous, entertaining account of life in the state capital. The authoritative work on Lincoln’s years in the legislature is Paul Simon,
Lincoln’s Preparation for Greatness: The Illinois Legislative Years
(Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1971).

38
“of floating driftwood”: Herndon’s Lincoln,
1:79.

39
“on the boat”: Day by Day,
1:14.

39
“were, by himself”: CW,
4:64.

39
was perfectly suited:
See, in addition to Benjamin P. Thomas’s admirable
Lincoln’s New Salem,
Thomas P. Reep,
Lincoln at New Salem
(Petersburg, Ill.: Old Salem Lincoln League, 1927).

39
“done with the Bible”: Herndon’s Lincoln,
1:79–80.

40
“of Genl Washington”:
A. Y. Ellis, undated statement to WHH, HWC.

40
no special point:
See Benjamin P. Thomas, “Lincoln’s Humor: An Analysis,”
Abraham Lincoln
Association Papers, 1935
(Springfield, III.: Abraham Lincoln Association, 1936), pp. 61–83.

40
“to take part”:
Robert L. Wilson to WHH, Feb. 10, 1866, HWC.

40
and the invalid: Herndon’s Lincoln,
1:82.

40
“wooling and pulling”:
Henry McHenry, statement to WHH, Oct. 10, 1866, HWC.

41
“all were amazed”: HL,
p. 314.

41
“kindness and honesty”:
Mentor Graham to WHH, May 29, 1865, HWC.

41
“old law functionary”:
Jason Duncan to WHH, [1865], HWC.

42
“dollars per month”: CW,
1:320.

42
“plenty of friends”: Roy P. Basler, ed., “James Quay Howard’s Notes on Lincoln,”
ALQ
4 (Dec. 1947): 391.

43
“in the country”:
All quotations in the following paragraphs are from this announcement.
CW,
1:5–9.

43
“cabin steamer
Talisman”: For a detailed account, see Harry E. Pratt, “Lincoln Pilots the Talisman,”
ALQ 2
(Sept. 1943): 319–329.

44
“brain rattling man”:
Hardin Bale to WHH, May 29, 1865, HWC.

44
down the river:
Mentor Graham to WHH, May 29, 1865, HWC.

44
“petered out”: Herndon’s Lincoln,
1:85.

44
Black Hawk War:
For detailed accounts of Lincoln’s military experiences, see Harry E. Pratt, “Lincoln in the Black Hawk War,”
Bulletin of the Abraham Lincoln Association,
no. 54 (Dec. 1938): 3–13, and Pratt’s article on the same subject in O. Fritiof Ander, ed.,
The John H. Hauberg Historical Essays
(Rock Island, III.: Augustana Book Concern, 1954), pp. 18–28.

44
sworn in to service:
Wayne C. Temple,
Lincoln’s Arms, Dress and Military Duty During and After the Black Hawk War
(Springfield: State of Illinois Military and Naval Department, 1981), p. 12.

44
and joined them:
Reep,
Lincoln at New Salem,
p. 40.

44
“have had since”: CW,
3:512.

45
“to do so”:
W. G. Greene to WHH, May 30, 1865, HWC.

45
“often very hungry”: CW,
1:509–510.

45
“than enlist again “: Herndon’s Lincoln,
1:100.

46
“Rivers of Illinois”:
Henry McHenry to WHH, May 29, 1865, HWC.

46
“and a straw hat”: Herndon’s Lincoln,
1:103.

46
“or Clay, man”:
Lincoln’s corrections in W. D. Howells,
Life of Abraham Lincoln
(Springfield, Ill.: Abraham Lincoln Association, 1938), p. 40.

46
“old woman’s dance”: Herndon’s Lincoln,
1:104.

46
“of the people”: CW,
4:64.

46
“to go to”:
Ibid., pp. 64–65.

47
“of the whole”: Herndon’s Lincoln,
1:107.

47
selection of shoes:
Beveridge, 1:127.

47
and American novelists:
The story that Lincoln read the sentimental novels of Caroline Lee Hentz at this time is incorrect, since Mrs. Hentz’s first novel was not published until 1846. Roy P. Basler, ed.,
Abraham Lincoln: His Speeches and Writings
(Cleveland: World Publishing Co., 1946), p. 6.

47
“and transcendent genius”: CW,
8:237.

48
“inexpressibly touching”:
Carpenter,
Six Months,
p. 59.

48
Sir Walter Scott:
Ibid., pp. 60–61.

48
“I am ruled”:
M. L. Houser,
Lincoln’s Education and Other Essays
(New York: Bookman Associates, 1957), pp. 117–118.

48
“he now does”: CW,
4:62.

48
“in constant agitation”:
William J. Wolf,
The Almost Chosen People: A Study of the Religion of
Abraham Lincoln
(Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Co., 1959), p. 42.

49
“opinion in argument”: CW,
1:382.

49
“a thriftless soul”:
Lincoln let this characterization go uncorrected in Howells,
Life of Abraham
Lincoln,
p. 42.

50
“in the world”:
William H. Townsend,
Lincoln and Liquor
(New York: Press of the Pioneers, 1934), remains authoritative. See also Wayne C. Temple, “Lincoln’s Tavern License,”
LH
82 (Fall 1980): 463–464.

50
“winked out”: CW,
4:65.

50
“of a hollow”:
Townsend,
Lincoln and Liquor,
p. 37.

50
to purchase liquor:
Jason Duncan to WHH, [1866], HWC.

50
“politics an objection”: CW,
4:65.

50
“he wanted before”:
Basler, ed., “James Quay Howard’s Notes on Lincoln,”
ALQ
4 (Dec. 1947): 388.

50
were not onerous:
The following paragraphs rely heavily on Benjamin P. Thomas’s excellent study, “Lincoln the Postmaster,”
Bulletin of the Abraham Lincoln Association,
no. 31 (June 1933), pp. 1–9.

50
$150 and $175:
For information on this point I am indebted to Dr. Richard John, who has closely examined the
Official Registers
of the period. See also Pratt,
Personal Finances,
pp. 16–17.

51
“to ‘Frank’ it”:
Thomas, “Lincoln the Postmaster,” p. 7. Marsh’s letter was written a few weeks after Ann Rutledge’s death, when Lincoln may have been more careless than usual in managing the post office.

51
“pay it again”: CW,
1:25.

51
receipts, $248.63:
Thomas,
Lincoln’s New Salem,
pp. 98–99.

51
“went at it”: CW
, 4:65.

51
to the field:
Adin Baber, A.
Lincoln with Compass and Chain
(Kansas, Ill., 1968), is the authoritative treatment of Lincoln as surveyor.

51
“poore [sic] man’s lot”:
Mrs. E. Abell to WHH, Feb. 15, 1867, HWC.

51
quarter section surveyed:
Thomas,
Lincoln’s New Salem,
p. 103.

52
“the matter satisfactorily”:
Robert L. Wilson to WHH, Feb. 10, 1866, HWC.

52
“in the Croud”:
J.R. Herndon to WHH, May 28, 1865, HWC.

52
“other democratic candidates”:
John G. Nicolay, notes on a conversation with S. T. Logan, July 6, 1875, Lincoln MSS, LC.

53
the Democrats’ support:
Thomas,
Lincoln’s New Salem,
pp. 113–114.

53
“I ever saw”: Herndon’s Lincoln,
l:181n.

53
“in good earnest”: CW,
4:65.

53
“in the legislature”:
Coleman Smoot to WHH, May 7, 1866, HWC.

53
a memorable one:
My account of Lincoln’s service in the legislature is drawn almost entirely from Paul Simon’s authoritative
Lincoln’s Preparation for Greatness,
but I have also used William E. Baringer’s spirited
Lincoln’s Vandalia.

53
their first term:
Simon,
Lincoln’s Preparation for Greatness,
p. 20.

54
Clayborn Elder Bell:
Ibid., pp. 22, 27.

54
“troubling the legislature”: CW,
1:31.

54
his “national debt”:
Basler, ed., “James Quay Howard’s Notes on Lincoln,”
ALQ
4 (Dec. 1947): 398. For an informed discussion of Lincoln’s troubled finances, see Thomas F. Schwartz, “Lincoln’s National Debt” (unpublished paper, 1992), to which I am much indebted.