LINCOLN

For this reason I'm sending you on this urgent and dangerous business.
Tell General Sherman for me, that if he can take Atlanta at once, the
blow will lift our people from despair, carry the election, and save
the Union! I send by you the order for him to strike. If he wins, the
order will remain a secret--the credit shall all be his! If he strikes
and loses, I'll publish my order and take the blame on myself.--You
_think_ you can _do this_----?

VAUGHAN

[_Quietly._]

I'll do it--or I'll die trying, sir----

LINCOLN

[_Writing on the back of his card._]

All right, take this card to Stanton's Office and tell him what I've
told you. Ask him to arrange to send you by boat to Aquia, Virginia, by
horse from there. This card to Baker's Office--Return here for your
papers, and say good-by to your sweetheart----

VAUGHAN

At once, sir----

LINCOLN

My boy--I trust you implicitly! My mother's God has been talking to me
since you entered this room! You've lifted my spirit to the heights!

[VAUGHAN _exits._]

CURTAIN

ACT III

SCENE I

SET SCENE: _Jefferson Davis' room in the Confederate Capitol at
Richmond, two days later. A long table is on the right. Two small
tables on left. Doors right and left, and mantel center._

AT RISE: A DOORMAN _in Confederate uniform arranges the chairs about a
long table as if for a Cabinet Meeting._

[BENJAMIN _enters._]

BENJAMIN

Mr. Davis has not yet arrived----?

THE DOORMAN

Not yet, Mr. Benjamin--I am expecting him at ten o'clock--it's now a
quarter of----

BENJAMIN

I've asked a young man to wait in your room for me--has he come----?

THE DOORMAN

He's there now--sir----

BENJAMIN

You've talked with him freely----?

THE DOORMAN

[_Laughs._]

Oh, yes, sir--we've been swappin' yarns for half an hour----

BENJAMIN

I thought so--that's why I asked him to wait in your room----

THE DOORMAN

Well, I always try to be sociable----!

BENJAMIN

I know! Did you get much out of him?

T