EverySaturdayafternoontheMarineBandgaveanopen-airconcertinthegroundsoftheWhiteHouse。OneafternoonLincolnappearedupontheportico。Therewasinstantapplauseandcriesforaspeech。“Bowinghisthanksandexcusinghimself，hesteppedbackintotheretirementofthecircularparlor，remarkingtoCarpenterwithadisappointedair，ashereclinedonasofa，’Iwishtheywouldletmesittherequietlyandenjoythemusic。’Hiskindnesstootherswasunfailing。itwasthisharassedstatesmanwho“cameintothestudioonedayandfoundCarpenter’slittleboyoftwosummersplayingonthefloor。AmemberoftheCabinetwaswithhim；butlayingasideallrestraint，hetookthelittlefellowinhisarmsandtheyweresoononthebestofterms。“Whilehisyoungerson“Tad“waswithhismotheronajourney，Lincolntelegraphed：
　　“TellTad，fatherandthegoatsarewell，especiallythegoats。“[14]HefoundtimeonebrightmorninginMaytoreviewtheSunday-schoolchildrenofWashingtonwhofiledpast“cheeringasiftheirverylivesdependeduponit，“whileLincolnstoodatawindow“enjoyingthescene……makingpleasantremarksaboutafacethatnowandthenstruckhim。“[15]CarpentertoldhimthatnootherpresidentexceptWashingtonhadplacedhimselfsosecurelyintheheartsofthepeople。“Homely，honest，ungainlyLincoln，“saidAsaGray，inalettertoDarwin，“istherepresentativemanofthecountry。“
　　However，twogroupsofmeninhisownpartyweresullenlyopposedtohim——therelentlessVindictivesandcertainirresponsiblefreelanceswhonamedthemselvesthe“RadicalDemocracy。“Inthelattergroup，Fremontwasthehero；WendellPhillips，thegreatestadvocate。Theywereextremistsinallthings；manyofthemAgnostics。FuriousagainstLincoln，butunwillingtogoalongwiththewaitingpolicyoftheVindictives，thesevisionariesheldaconventionatCleveland；
　　voteddownaresolutionthatrecognizedGodasanally；andnominatedFremontforthePresidency。Awittycommentonthemovement——onethatgreatlyamusedLincoln——wasthecitationofaverseinfirstSamuel：“Andeveryonethatwasindistress，andeveryonethatwasindebt，andeveryonethatwasdiscontented，gatheredthemselvesuntohim；andhebecameacaptainoverthem；andtherewerewithhimaboutfourhundredmen。“
　　IfanythingwasneededtokeepthedissatisfiedSenatorsinthepartyranks，itwasthisrash“bolt。“ThoughFremonthadbeentheirmaninthepast，hehadthrownthefatinthefirebysettingupanindependentticket。Silently，thewiseopportunistsoftheSenateandalltheirhenchmen，stoodasideatthe“Unionconvention“——whichtheycalledtheRepublicanConvention——Juneseventh，andtooktheirmedicine。
　　Therewasnodoubtofthetempestofenthusiasmamongthemajorityofthedelegates。ItwasaLincolnovation。
　　Inrespondingthenextdaytoacommitteeofcongratulation，Lincolnsaid：“Iamnotinsensibleatalltothepersonalcomplimentthereisinthis，andyetIdonotallowmyselftobelievethatanybutasmallportionofitistobeappropriatedasapersonalcompliment……IdonotallowmyselftosupposethateithertheConventionorthe[NationalUnion]LeaguehaveconcludedtodecidethatIamthegreatestorbestmaninAmerica，butrathertheyhaveconcludedthatitisbestnottoswaphorseswhilecrossingtheriver，andhavefurtherconcludedthatIamnotsopoorahorsethattheymightnotmakeabotchofittryingtoswap。“[16]
　　Carpenterrecordsanothersortofcongratulationafewdayslaterthatbroughtoutthegracefulsideofthismanwhommostpeoplestillsupposedtobehopelesslyawkward。IthappenedonaSaturday。Carpenterhadinvitedfriendstositinhispaintingroomandoverseethecrowdwhilelisteningtothemusic。“Towardsthecloseoftheconcert，thedoorsuddenlyopened，andthePresidentcamein，ashewasinthehabitofdoing，alone。Mr。andMrs。Cropseyhadbeenpresentedtohiminthecourseofthemorning；andashecameforward，halfhesitatingly，Mrs。C。，whoheldabunchofbeautifulflowersinherhand，trippedforwardplayfully，andsaid：’Allowme，Mr。
　　President，topresentyouwithabouquet!’Thesituationwasmomentarilyembarrassing；andIwaspuzzledtoknowhow’HisExcellency’wouldgetoutofit。Withnoappearanceofdiscomposure，hestoopeddown，tooktheflowers，and，lookingfromthemintothesparklingeyesandradiantfaceofthelady，said，withagallantryIwasunpreparedfor’Really，madam，ifyougivethemtome，andtheyaremine，IthinkIcannotpossiblymakesogooduseofthemastopresentthemtoyou，inreturn!’“[17]
　　Ingainingthenomination，Lincolnhadnot，asyet，attainedsecurityforhisplans。Grantwasstilltobereckonedwith。
　　Byacuriousirony，thesignificanceofhisstrugglewithLeeduringMay，hissteadyadvancebytheleftflank，hadbeenmisapprehendedintheNorth。Lookingatthemap，thecountrysawthathewaspushingsouthward，andagainsouthward，onVirginiasoil。McClellan，Pope，Burnside，Hooker，withthemithadbeen：
　　“HewhofightsandrunsawayMaylivetofightanotherday。“
　　ButGrantkepton。HestruckLeeinthefuriousbattleoftheWilderness，andmovedtotheleft，farthersouth。“Victory!“
　　criedtheNorthernnewspapers，“Leeisn’tabletostophim。“
　　ThesamedelusionwasrepeatedafterSpottsylvaniawherethesoldiers，knowingmoreofwarthandidthenewspapers，pinnedtotheircoatsslipsofpaperbearingtheirnames；
　　identificationofthebodiesmightbedifficult。Thepopularmistakecontinuedthroughoutthatdreadfulcampaign。TheConventionwasstillunderthedelusionofvictory。
　　Lincolnalsoappearstohavestoodfirmuntilthelastminuteinthecommonerror。ButthereportofGrant’slosses，morethanthewholeofLee’sarmy，filledhimwithhorror。Duringthesedays，CarpenterhadcompletefreedomofthePresident’sofficeand“intentlystudiedeverylineandshadeofexpressioninthatfurrowedface。Inrepose，itwasthesaddestfaceI
　　everknew。ThereweredayswhenIcouldscarcelylookintoitwithoutcrying。DuringthefirstweekofthebattlesoftheWildernesshescarcelysleptatall。Passingthroughthemainhallofthedomesticapartmentononeofthesedays，Imethim，cladinalong，morningwrapper，pacingbackandforthanarrowpassageleadingtooneofthewindows，hishandsbehindhim，greatblackringsunderhiseyes，hisheadbentforwarduponhisbreast-altogethersuchapictureoftheeffectsofsorrow，care，andanxietyaswouldhavemeltedtheheartsoftheworstofhisadversaries，whosomistakenlyappliedtohimtheepithetsoftyrantandusurper。“[18]
　　Despitethesesufferings，Lincolnhadnottheslightestthoughtofgivingway。Notinhimanylikenesstothe-sentimentalists，Greeleyandallhiscrew，whowereexultantmartyrswhenthingsweregoingright，andshriekingpacifiststhemomentanythingwentwrong。Inoneofthedarkestmomentsoftheyear，hemadeabriefaddressataSanitaryFairinPhiladelphia。
　　“Speakingofthepresentcampaign，“saidhe，“GeneralGrantisreportedtohavesaid，’Iamgoingtofightitoutonthislineifittakesallsummer。’Thiswarhastakenthreeyears；itwasbegunoraccepteduponthelineofrestoringthenationalauthorityoverthewholenationaldomain，andfortheAmericanpeople，asfarasmyknowledgeenablesmetospeak，Isaywearegoingthroughonthislineifittakesthreeyearsmore。“[19]
　　HemadenoattempttoaffectGrant’scourse。Hehadputhiminsupremecommandandwouldleaveeverythingtohisjudgment。
　　AndthencamethecolossalblunderatColdHarbor。GrantstoodagainwhereMcClellanhadstoodtwoyearsbefore。Hestoodtheredefeated。HecouldthinkofnothingtodobutjustwhatMcClellanhadwantedtodo——abandontheimmediateenterprise，makeagreatdetourtotheSouthwest，andstartanewcampaignonadifferentplan。Twoyearswithalltheirterribledisasters，andthiswasallthathadcomeofit!Practicallynogain，andadeath-rollthatstaggeredthenation。AwailwentovertheNorth。Afterall，wasthewarhopeless？WasLeeinvincible？WasthebestoftheNorthernmanhoodperishingtonoresult？
　　Greeley，perhapsthemosthystericalmanofgeniusAmericahasproduced，madehispapertheorganofthewail。Hewrotefranticappealstothegovernmenttoceasefighting，dowhatcouldbedonebynegotiation，andifnothingcouldbedone-atleast，stop“theseriversofhumanblood。“
　　TheVindictivessawtheiropportunity。Theywouldcapitalizethewail。ThePresidentshouldbedealtwithyet。
　　NowthattheVindictiveshadmadeuptheirmindstofight，anoccasionwasattheirhands。Virtually，theydeclaredwaronthePresidentbyrefusingtorecognizeaStategovernmentwhichhehadsetupinArkansas。CongresswouldnotadmitSenatorsorRepresentativesfromtheReconstructedState。Butonthisissue，Lincolnwasasresolutetofighttoafinishaswereanyofhisdetractors。HewrotetoGeneralSteele，commandinginArkansas：
　　“IunderstandthatCongressdeclinestoadmittoseatsthepersonssentasSenatorsandRepresentativesfromArkansas。
　　Thesepersonsapprehendthat，inconsequence，youmaynotsupportthenewStategovernmentthereasyouotherwisewould。
　　Mywishisthatyougivethatgovernmentandthepeopletherethesamesupportandprotectionthatyouwouldifthemembershadbeenadmitted，becauseinnoevent，norinanyviewofthecase，canthisdoharm，whileitwillbethebestyoucandotowardsuppressingtherebellion。“[1]
　　ThesamedayChaseresigned。Thereasonheassignedwas，again，thesquabbleoverpatronage。HehadinsistedonanappointmentofwhichthePresidentdisapproved。Exactlywhatmovedhimmaybequestioned。Chasenevergavehiscompleteconfidence，noteventohisdiary。WhetherhethoughtthattheVindictiveswouldnowtakehimupasarivalofLincoln，continuesdoubtful。Manymenwerestaggeredbyhisaction。
　　Crittenden，theRegistraroftheTreasury，wasthrownintoapanic。“Mr。President，“saidhe，“thisisworsethananotherBullRun。PrayletmegotoSecretaryChaseandseeifIcannotinducehimtowithdrawhisresignation。Itsacceptancenowmightcauseafinancialpanic。“ButLincolnwasinafightingmood。“Chasethinkshehasbecomeindispensabletothecountry，“hetoldChittenden。“HealsothinksheoughttobePresident；hehasnodoubtwhateveraboutthat。Heisanablefinancier，agreatstatesman，andatthebottomapatriot……
　　heisneverperfectlyhappyunlessheisthoroughlymiserableandabletomakeeverybodyelsejustasuncomfortableasheishimself……HeiseitherdeterminedtoannoymeorthatI
　　shallpathimontheshoulderandcoaxhimtostay。Idon’tthinkIoughttodoit。Iwilltakehimathisword。“[2]
　　Heacceptedtheresignationinanotethatwasalmostcurt：
　　“OfallIhavesaidincommendationofyourabilityandfidelity，Ihavenothingtounsay；andyetyouandIhavereachedapointofmutualembarrassmentinourofficialrelationswhichitseemscannotbeovercomeorlongersustainedconsistentlywiththepublicservice。“[3]
　　TheselectionofasuccessortoChasewasnoeasymatter。TheVindictivesweretheleadersofthemoment。WhatiftheypersuadedtheSenatenottoconfirmLincoln’schoiceofSecretary。“IneversawthePresident，“saysCarpenter，“undersomuchexcitementasonthedayfollowingthisevent“OnthenightofJulyfirst，Lincolnlayawakedebatingwithhimselfthemeritsofvariouscandidates。Atlength，heselectedhismanandimmediatelywenttosleep。
　　“Thenextmorninghewenttohisofficeandwrotethenomination。JohnHay，theassistantprivatesecretary，hadtakenitfromthePresidentonhiswaytotheCapitol，whenheencounteredSenatorFessendenuponthethresholdoftheroom。
　　AschairmanoftheFinanceCommittee，healsohadpassedananxiousnight，andcalledthisearlytoconsultwiththePresident，andoffersomesuggestions。Afterafewmoments’
　　conversation，Mr。Lincolnturnedtohimwithasmileandsaid：
　　’Iamobligedtoyou，Fessenden，butthefactis，IhavejustsentyourownnametotheSenateforSecretaryoftheTreasury。
　　Hayhadjustreceivedthenominationfrommyhandasyouentered。’Mr。Fessendenwastakencompletelybysurprise，and，verymuchagitated，protestedhisinabilitytoaccepttheposition。Thestateofhishealth，hesaid，ifnootherconsideration，madeitimpossible。Mr。Lincolnwouldnotaccepttherefusalasfinal。HeveryjustlyfeltthatwithMr。
　　Fessenden’sexperienceandknownabilityattheheadoftheFinanceCommittee，hisacceptancewouldgofartowardreestablishingafeelingofsecurity。Hesaidtohim，veryearnestly，’Fessenden，theLordhasnotdesertedmethusfar，andHeisnotgoingtonow——youmustaccept!’
　　“Theyseparated，theSenatoringreatanxietyofmind。
　　Throughouttheday，Mr。LincolnurgedalmostallwhocalledtogoandseeMr。Fessenden，andpressuponhimthedutyofaccepting。Amongthese，wasadelegationofNewYorkbankers，who，inthenameofthebankingcommunity，expressedtheirsatisfactionatthenomination。ThiswasespeciallygratifyingtothePresident；andinthestrongestmanner，heentreatedthemto’seeMr。Fessendenandassurehimoftheirsupport。’“[4]