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細節
LINCOLN, Abraham. Autograph letter signed ("A. Lincoln") as President, to General John P. Slough (1829-1867), Military Governor of Alexandria, Virginia, Washington, D.C., 20 August 1864. 1 full page, 8vo, on Executive Mansion stationery, integral address leaf, minor nick at top edge, small mend in right margin, otherwise in very good condition.
LINCOLN PREPARES FOR A RUMORED "OVERTHROW OF THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT" IN UNION-HELD ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
An unusual letter to Slough, a Coloradoan who commanded the First Colorado Volunteers. In March 1862, defying orders, Slough had marched his ragtag regiment of former hard-rock miners and prospectors through winter snows to fight the battle of La Glorieta Pass, decisively denying the Confederates control of the vast Arizona and New Mexico territories. Rewarded with a promotion to Brigadier General, Slough was appointed military governor of Alexandria, directly across the Potomac from the Union capital. The town, which had seen the shooting of Elmer Ellsworth, the first Union officer killed in line of duty, had become a disorderly hotbed of drunks, Union deserters and Confederate spies. Slough handily cleaned up the town, closing saloons and arresting deserters. Evidently, Lincoln had received intelligence that the many rebel sympathizers in Alexandria might stage some sort of disturbance or insurrection, and he strongly cautions Slough to strictly limit himself to military matters:
"Gen Pierpont fears that there is likely to be some disturbance, or possibly, an overthow of the civil government in and about Alexandria. I have been compelled to study the general subject to which this would pertain, a good deal lately; and my conclusion is that you are only to do what is what is necessary to your military operations, leaving all else alone, and that, of such necessity, you, as commander, are to be the sold judge, in aid of petitions, or elections. Please act on this view."
Lincoln's reference here to his having been "compelled" to consider the subject of insurrections is enigmatic, but certainly alludes to the ongoing jurisdictional disputes between Genl. Benjamin F. Butler ("Beast Butler"), military governor of Norfolk, Virginia, and Governor Peirpont, head of the "restored" Union civil authority in Union-held areas of Virginia (see Lincoln's letter to Butler, 9 August 1864, Basler 7:487-488). In the end, no insurrection of rebel Alexandrians materialized, and Slough remained as Governor until relieved in July 1865. He was later killed in a duel. Evidently unpublished, not in Collected Works, ed. R.P. Basler, or supplements.
LINCOLN PREPARES FOR A RUMORED "OVERTHROW OF THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT" IN UNION-HELD ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA
An unusual letter to Slough, a Coloradoan who commanded the First Colorado Volunteers. In March 1862, defying orders, Slough had marched his ragtag regiment of former hard-rock miners and prospectors through winter snows to fight the battle of La Glorieta Pass, decisively denying the Confederates control of the vast Arizona and New Mexico territories. Rewarded with a promotion to Brigadier General, Slough was appointed military governor of Alexandria, directly across the Potomac from the Union capital. The town, which had seen the shooting of Elmer Ellsworth, the first Union officer killed in line of duty, had become a disorderly hotbed of drunks, Union deserters and Confederate spies. Slough handily cleaned up the town, closing saloons and arresting deserters. Evidently, Lincoln had received intelligence that the many rebel sympathizers in Alexandria might stage some sort of disturbance or insurrection, and he strongly cautions Slough to strictly limit himself to military matters:
"Gen Pierpont fears that there is likely to be some disturbance, or possibly, an overthow of the civil government in and about Alexandria. I have been compelled to study the general subject to which this would pertain, a good deal lately; and my conclusion is that you are only to do what is what is necessary to your military operations, leaving all else alone, and that, of such necessity, you, as commander, are to be the sold judge, in aid of petitions, or elections. Please act on this view."
Lincoln's reference here to his having been "compelled" to consider the subject of insurrections is enigmatic, but certainly alludes to the ongoing jurisdictional disputes between Genl. Benjamin F. Butler ("Beast Butler"), military governor of Norfolk, Virginia, and Governor Peirpont, head of the "restored" Union civil authority in Union-held areas of Virginia (see Lincoln's letter to Butler, 9 August 1864, Basler 7:487-488). In the end, no insurrection of rebel Alexandrians materialized, and Slough remained as Governor until relieved in July 1865. He was later killed in a duel. Evidently unpublished, not in Collected Works, ed. R.P. Basler, or supplements.