s. Thus provided, they set forth.

Lincoln's thoughts were speedily claimed by an event which had no
Suggestion of peace. At no time since Jackson threw the government into
a panic in the spring of 1862, had Washington been in danger of capture.
Now, briefly, it appeared to be at the mercy of General Early. In the
last act of a daring raid above the Potomac, he came sweeping down
on Washington from the North. As Grant was now the active
commander-in-chief, responsible for all the Northern armies, Lincoln
with a fatalistic calm made no move to take the capital out of his
hands. When Early was known to be headed toward Washington, Lincoln
drove out as usual to spend the night at the Soldiers' Home beyond the
fortifications. Stanton, in whom there was a reminiscence at least of
the hysterical Secretary of 1862, sent after him post haste and insisted
on his returning. The next day, the eleventh of July, 1864, Washington
was invested by the Confederate forces. There was sharp firing in front
of several forts. Lincoln--and for that matter, Mrs. Lincoln also--made
a tour of the defenses. While Fort Stevens was under fire, he stood on
the parapet, "apparently unconscious of danger, watching with that grave
and passive countenance the progress of the fight, amid the whizzing
bullets of the sharp shooters, until an officer fell mortally wounded
within three feet of him, and General Wright peremptorily represented
to him the needless risk he was running." Hay recorded in his diary
"the President in good feather this evening . . . not concerned about
Washington's safety . . . only thought, can we bag or destroy the force
in our front." He was much disappointed when Early eluded the forces
which Grant hurried to the Capitol. Mrs. Lincoln was outspoken to the
same effect. The doughty little lady had also been under fire, her
temper being every whit as bold as her husband's. When Stanton with
a monumental playfulness proposed to have her portrait painted in a
commanding attitude on the parapet of Fort Stevens, she gave him the
freedom of her tongue, because of the inadequacy of his department.(9)

This incident had its aftermath. A country-place belonging to the
Postmaster General had been laid waste. Its owner thought that the
responsibility for permitting Early to come so near to Washington fell
chiefly on General Halleck. He made some sharp criticisms which became
public the General flew into a rage and wrote to the Secretary of Wa