CHAPTER XV

Lincoln at the Helm--First Days in Washington--Meeting Public--Men
and Discussing Public Affairs--The Inauguration--The Inaugural
Address--A New Era Begun--Lincoln in the White House--The First
Cabinet--The President and the Office-Seekers--Southern Prejudice
against Lincoln--Ominous Portents, but Lincoln not Dismayed--The
President's Reception Room--Varied Impressions of the New
President--Guarding the White House


CHAPTER XVI

Civil War--Uprising of the Nation--The President's First Call for
Troops--Response of the Loyal North--The Riots in
Baltimore--Loyalty of Stephen A. Douglas--Douglas's Death--Blockade
of Southern Ports--Additional War Measures--Lincoln Defines the
Policy of the Government--His Conciliatory Course--His Desire to
Save Kentucky--The President's First Message to Congress--Gathering
of Troops in Washington--Reviews and Parades--Disaster at Bull
Run--The President Visits the Army--Good Advice to an Angry
Officer--A Peculiar Cabinet Meeting--Dark Days for Lincoln--A
"Black Mood" in the White House--Lincoln's Unfaltering
Courage--Relief in Story-Telling--A Pretty Good Land
Title--"Measuring up" with Charles Sumner--General Scott "Unable as
a Politician"--A Good Drawing-Plaster--The New York Millionaires
who Wanted a Gunboat--A Good Bridge-Builder--A Sick Lot of
Office-Seekers