To Edward Everett1Jump to section
My dear Sir: Nov. 18. 1861
Your kind note of the 15th. inclosing a copy of a letter to yourself from Mr. Donnell, is received, and I am greatly obliged for both. There was a gentleman of that name in congress from North-Carolina, when I was a member (from Dec./47 to March/49) but I think this is not the same. His letter, however, is an interesting one, and on a very interesting subject.
The items of news coming in last week were all satisfactory, except the very last---the capture of one of our foraging parties across the river from here, on Saturday, consisting of about 50 men. The success at Port-Royal was both splendid and important. The military men are taking what they consider all necessary steps to hold the places taken. And then the capture of Mason & Slidell! Your Obt. Servt. A. LINCOLN.
Annotation
[1] ALS, MHi. Everett's letter of November 15, 1861, with enclosure, is not in the Lincoln Papers, but a copy preserved in the Everett letterbook (MHi) explains that Everett enclosed a communication from ``. . . a gentleman living in New York. . . . He is a brother of Judge Donnell of New Bern, formerly I believe Chief Justice, certainly one of the Superior judges of North Carolina, a gentleman of wealth and influence. . . .'' Richard S. Donnell of New Bern, North Carolina, was a Whig member of congress 1847-1849, but in the absence of the letter which Everett forwarded, accurate identification of Everett's correspondent has not been possible.