The life and public services of Abraham Lincoln ... together with his state papers, including his speeches, addresses, messages, letters, and proclamations, and the closing scenes connected with his life and death. By Henry J. Raymond. To which are added anecdotes and personal reminiscences of President Lincoln, by Frank B. Carpenter.

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THE LIFE, PUBLIC SERVICES, AND

fighting and flanking the enemy over something more
than a hundred miles of territory.
Both of these movements are now recognized as having
been splendid successes. But it is not to be denied that
from the time of the commencement of the siege of Petersburg there was a growing feeling of doubt and anxiety in
the country in reference to the operations of the army of
the Potomac. It had been often announced that Lee's
army was cut to pieces and fleeing in disorder, and yet
that army had thus far, by repeated stands, been able to
prevent Grant from breaking through its lines. Even
Petersburg was declared to have been taken by assault
on the first attack; and yet it was found that, instead of
this, our army was not able at once to draw its lines
around the place far enough to cut off the Weldon Railroad. The losses of the army were greatly exaggerated
by the opposition, the difficulties of its position magnified,
the lack of water and the dust and heat were dilated
upon, and even the visit which the President paid to the
arny on the 22d of June was dwelt upon as an event
showing that the difficulties of the situation were great,
if not insuperable.
The army, however, did not look at it in that light.
The President's visit was for them a gratification, not a
cause for anxiety, and they cheered him, as he rode along
the lines, with a heartiness which expressed their confidence in him and in the leaders whom he had given them.
The President's confident expressions as to the state of
affairs on his return went far to encourage the country;
for the people had already come in great measure to
have that abounding confidence in Mr. Lincoln which
displayed itself so wonderfully during the rest of his life.
He appreciated in his turn the confidence which the
people felt in him. "I do my best to deserve this," said
he to a friend, " but I tremble at the responsibility that
devolves upon me, a weak, mortal man, to serve such a
great and generous people in such a place as I hold, in
such an awful crisis as this. It is a terrible responsibility;