Inside the White House in War Times

by Stoddard, William O.

• ISBN13: 9780803292574
• ISBN10: 0803292570
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-04-01
• Publisher: Univ of Nebraska Pr

Summary

Of the three secretaries who assisted President Abraham LincolnJohn G. Nicolay, John Hay, and William O. Stoddardonly Stoddard wrote an extended memoir about his time in the Executive Mansion. First published in 1890, the book vividly depicts the president's agonizing reaction to the defeats at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, the difficulties encountered (and presented) by Mary Lincoln, the president's relations with George B. McClellan and other generals, and the anxiety preceding the Merrimack's epic battle with the Monitor. In 1866 Stoddard also penned thirteen "White House Sketches" about his time in Lincoln's service. Originally published in an obscure New York newspaper, these essaysnever previously collectedsupplement Stoddard's memoir. Together the memoir and sketches provide an intimate look at the sixteenth president during a time of crisis.

Author Biography

William O. Stoddard was a journalist and an author of boys’ fiction. Michael Burlingame, a history professor at Connecticut College, is the author or editor of several books on Abraham Lincoln, including A Reporter’s Lincoln (Nebraska 1998).

Table of Contents

Editor's Introduction	p. vii
Inside the White House in War Times	p. 1
Opening the Door	p. 3
Persons and Papers	p. 11
Weapons and War Ships	p. 19
Gifts and Visitors	p. 26
The Critics and the Gamblers	p. 33
Bronzes and Earthworks	p. 40
The Reception	p. 47
A Variety of Uniforms	p. 54
The Two Chieftains	p. 61
The Monitor and the Union League	p. 68
The Capitol and the Future	p. 75
Sentries and Passes	p. 82
A Battle Summer	p. 89
The Echoes of the Proclamation	p. 96
Realities and the Drama	p. 103
A Vigil and a Victory	p. 110
July 4th, 1863	p. 117
The Contrabands and the New Captain	p. 121
Pictures and Reports	p. 127
There Is an End of All Things	p. 134
White House Sketches	p. 141
Sketch 1	p. 143
Sketch 2	p. 148
Sketch 3	p. 153
Sketch 4	p. 156
Sketch 5	p. 160
Sketch 6	p. 165
Sketch 7	p. 170
Sketch 8	p. 176
Sketch 9	p. 180
Sketch 10	p. 184
Sketch 11	p. 189
Sketch 12	p. 193
Sketch 13	p. 198
Notes	p. 203
Index	p. 221
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