PROPERTY OF A LADY
LINCOLN, Abraham. Autograph endorsement signed ("A. Lincoln") as President, to an unknown recipient, [Washington, D.C.], [21 December 1863]. 23 words plus signature on a "Headquarters Department of the Gulf" envelope, 1 page, 4 x 9¼ inches, from General Nathaniel P. Banks, with signature ("N.P. Banks"), slight smearing. [With:] LORING, F.W., Lieutenant. Autograph note signed, n.p., n.d. 1 page, small oblong.
Details
LINCOLN, Abraham. Autograph endorsement signed ("A. Lincoln") as President, to an unknown recipient, [Washington, D.C.], [21 December 1863]. 23 words plus signature on a "Headquarters Department of the Gulf" envelope, 1 page, 4 x 9¼ inches, from General Nathaniel P. Banks, with signature ("N.P. Banks"), slight smearing. [With:] LORING, F.W., Lieutenant. Autograph note signed, n.p., n.d. 1 page, small oblong.
LINCOLN GRAPPLES WITH OBSTACLES TO THE RECONSTRUCTION OF WARTIME LOUISIANA
An important Lincoln endorsement written at a crucial juncture of the war as he considered the important question of how to reconstruct the nation once the South was defeated. After the fall of New Orleans in April 1862 and the subsequent conquest of the Mississippi River in 1863, the state of Louisiana was prepared for its reentrance into the Union. Lincoln was eager to test his reconstruction policy and set things into motion in the summer of 1863. He depended heavily upon his generals in the state, particularly Nathaniel Banks. When the process was unexplainably delayed, Lincoln sent an angry letter to Banks on November 5th in which he pushed for action: "This disappoints me bitterly; yet I do not throw blame on you or on them [the temporary military government]. I do however, urge both you and them, to lose no more time." The unexpected delay influenced Lincoln to adopt his famous ten percent plan in the name of expediency.
On December 6th, Banks, who was upset by Lincoln's censure, wrote to the president expressing his surprise that Lincoln had "attached responsibility to my actions in regard to the execution of your wishes." Noting the political nature of any reconstruction, Banks asked "How then can I be held responsible for the failure to satisfy your expectations?" On the envelope which held Banks's letter, Lincoln has written, "Received this 21st of Dec. 1863 of Lieut. Loring, the dispatches of Gen. Banks dated the 6th Inst. & which were enclosed herein."
Lincoln responded to Banks on the 24th and offered his apologies for anything "which could give you pain, or uneasiness." Lincoln explained that he had always intended that Banks take charge of the reorganization of Louisiana and that he now expected him to do so. Unfortunately, Banks's continued concern that he had disappointed the President, led him to adopt a process of reconstruction that could be accomplished in a quicker fashion but alienated many unionists in the state, creating further delay. Louisiana did not officially reenter the Union until May of 1865. Loring's original note describing the nature of the dispatches he carried to Washington accompanies the endorsed envelope.
LINCOLN GRAPPLES WITH OBSTACLES TO THE RECONSTRUCTION OF WARTIME LOUISIANA
An important Lincoln endorsement written at a crucial juncture of the war as he considered the important question of how to reconstruct the nation once the South was defeated. After the fall of New Orleans in April 1862 and the subsequent conquest of the Mississippi River in 1863, the state of Louisiana was prepared for its reentrance into the Union. Lincoln was eager to test his reconstruction policy and set things into motion in the summer of 1863. He depended heavily upon his generals in the state, particularly Nathaniel Banks. When the process was unexplainably delayed, Lincoln sent an angry letter to Banks on November 5th in which he pushed for action: "This disappoints me bitterly; yet I do not throw blame on you or on them [the temporary military government]. I do however, urge both you and them, to lose no more time." The unexpected delay influenced Lincoln to adopt his famous ten percent plan in the name of expediency.
On December 6th, Banks, who was upset by Lincoln's censure, wrote to the president expressing his surprise that Lincoln had "attached responsibility to my actions in regard to the execution of your wishes." Noting the political nature of any reconstruction, Banks asked "How then can I be held responsible for the failure to satisfy your expectations?" On the envelope which held Banks's letter, Lincoln has written, "Received this 21st of Dec. 1863 of Lieut. Loring, the dispatches of Gen. Banks dated the 6th Inst. & which were enclosed herein."
Lincoln responded to Banks on the 24th and offered his apologies for anything "which could give you pain, or uneasiness." Lincoln explained that he had always intended that Banks take charge of the reorganization of Louisiana and that he now expected him to do so. Unfortunately, Banks's continued concern that he had disappointed the President, led him to adopt a process of reconstruction that could be accomplished in a quicker fashion but alienated many unionists in the state, creating further delay. Louisiana did not officially reenter the Union until May of 1865. Loring's original note describing the nature of the dispatches he carried to Washington accompanies the endorsed envelope.