[some parts of the following letter make curious reading now. They are, however, interesting, not merely as an individual opinion at that time, but as reflecting the contemporary sentiments of a large body of intelligent men.]
Headquarters Army of Potomac November 10, 1864
They have been singularly niggardly to us about election returns; but we have reliable intelligence to-night that
Lincoln is re-elected, the coarse, honest, good-natured, tolerably able man!
It is very well as it is; for the certainty of pushing this war to its righteous end must now swallow up all other considerations.
I am still more content that there has been a powerful opposition to him, even from respectable men, an opposition strong enough to carry several states.
This will caution him, or better, his party, to proceed cautiously and to make no fanatical experiments, such as we too often have seen, but to proceed firmly, and according to rule and law.
Lincoln has some men of ability about him — pre-eminent,
Mr. Seward, whom the ultras have thrown over, but whom I think the strong man of the cabinet.
Mr. Fessenden is said to be a very superior person, and his face is certainly a bright one, very.
There is another important advantage in keeping on as we are: the machine is in running order and it is always a drawback to change midst a season of public trial.
And again we have done with
Lincoln what the
Rebels have successfully done with their generals, let him learn from his own misfortunes
