Abraham Lincoln and William H. Herndon William H. Herndon: “was about five feet nine inches in height and well proportioned; his movements were swift; he was a rapid thinker, writer and speaker, and usually reached his conclusions quickly and expressed them forcibly and positively,” wrote Charles Zane, who became Herndon’s law partner… Abraham Lincoln’s Contemporaries […]

Abraham Lincoln and Salmon P. Chase Salmon P. Chase was “dignified, able and ambitious, likewise he is the special antipathy of the New York Herald, and the mirror of perfection for the New York Times, whose Washington staff of correspondents are the favorites of Mr. Chase,” wrote journalist Noah Brooks. “Mr. Chase … Abraham Lincoln’s […]

Abraham Lincoln and The Radicals As a group, the Republican Radicals in Congress lacked the sense of a humor that Abraham Lincoln had in abundance. Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner was especially humorless and obstinate. Wisconsin Republican Carl Schurz observed that “Mr. Lincoln was a constant … Abraham Lincoln’s Contemporaries Article >

Abraham Lincoln and Black Soldiers One of the first Union casualties of the Civil War in April 1861 was a black militiaman from Pennsylvania, Nicholas Biddle. Another early black casualty was George Keckley, son of Elizabeth Keckley, the emancipated black dressmaker to Mary Todd Lincoln. Prior to the… Abraham Lincoln’s Contemporaries Article >

Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant General Ulysses S. Grant came to the attention of President Lincoln and the nation when in February 1862 Grant captured two Confederate garrisons on the Tennessee River, Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. “U. S.” Grant got the nickname “Unconditional Surrender” Grant after… Abraham Lincoln’s Contemporaries Article >

Abraham Lincoln and Alexander H. Stephens In June 1863, Alexander H. Stephens urged Jefferson Davis to open negotiations with the Union government regarding the exchange of military prisoners: ‘I think I might do some good – not only on the immediate subject in hand,” wrote the Confederacy’s vice president… Abraham Lincoln’s Contemporaries Article >

Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas and Their Friend John Calhoun Illinois – a large state with a small population in the 1830s – produced an unusual collection of men (they were virtually all men) who shaped the future of the country. Abraham Lincoln was one. Stephen A. Douglas was another. Their mutual friend and colleague, […]

Abraham Lincoln Makes Friends Abraham Lincoln was a friendly man. Critical to Mr. Lincoln’s ability to forge friendships was the warm way that he greeted new and old acquaintances. Journalist William O. Stoddard recalled meeting Mr. Lincoln in Champaign, Illinois in 1859: “He greeted me cordially… Abraham Lincoln’s Contemporaries Article >

Abraham Lincoln and Women Lincoln’s relationships with women were unsure and uneven – especially in his youth. He had not been schooled in social graces so he was not sometimes artless in his conversation with women. His move in 1831 to New Salem, a small Illinois settlement, was his first… Abraham Lincoln’s Contemporaries Article >

Abraham Lincoln and Horace Greeley The relationship between Horace Greeley and Abraham Lincoln was problematic long before the Illinois lawyer was elected President. Lincoln scholar Roy P. Basler wrote: “The course of Greeley’s opinion and treatment of Lincoln was peculiar and tortuous.”1 Greeley… Abraham Lincoln’s Contemporaries Article >