Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 6 [Dec. 13, 1862-Nov. 3, 1863].

Annotation

[1]   ALS, IHi. Lincoln received a telegram from Maxwell at 1:31 P.M. on September 23, ``Will Buells testamentous Executor Geo Thomas ever let Rosecrans succeed? Is Bragg dumb enough to punish Thomas severely and disgraceingly?'' (DLC-RTL).

The story of Lincoln's reply, which was never sent, is related by Charles A. Tinker, cipher clerk in the War Department, in a letter to General George H. Thomas, May 27, 1867:

``I have had in my possession since the day it was written a telegram penned by our late loved President. Its history is this:---

``Robert A. Maxwell, A Quixotic individual resident of Philadelphia, has, during the war and since, humored a propensity for addressing numerous

dictatorial and sensational despatches to the President, his cabinet and prominent officers of the Government. By those who are familiar with his character no consideration is accorded to these despatches. On receipt of one of these despatches---a copy of which I enclose also---President Lincoln came to the Department and handed me his reply marked `cypher.' He lingered in the Office while I was preparing it for transmission and when nearly ready he remarked, `I guess on the whole, Mr Tinker, you need not send that---I will pay no attention to the crazy fellow.' I put it into my pocket and have preserved it as a precious autograph, hoping sometime to be honored with an opportunity to present it to you in person to whom I feel it justly belongs, a priceless tribute to a noble hero whose dauntless courage on that fatal day saved the Army of the Cumberland

``It gives me profound pleasure to hereby make the presentation.'' (ALS, IHi).