an._
JEFFERSON DAVIS _President of the Confederacy._
JUDAH P. BENJAMIN _His Secretary of State._
JUDGE ROBERT OULD _Commissioner of Exchange._
ROBERT E. LEE _Commanding General._
A SISTER _Who begs for her brother's life._
A CONGRESSMAN _Who demands a hearing._
A LITTLE GIRL _From Virginia._
A MOTHER _With a baby._
A WOMAN _Who has lost two sons._
A TELEGRAPH OPERATOR _In the White House._
A DOORMAN _At Richmond._
COMMITTEEMEN, SOLDIERS AND GUARDS.

ACT I

SET SCENE: _The President's room in the White House, August 23, 1864.
A flat desk left center. At right a long table and chairs. Doors open
right and left. Large windows open center. Beside the center window
stands an upright desk. In one corner a rack with map rollers and
folios of maps on the floor and leaning against the wall._

AT RISE: _Colonel Nicolay, the President's Secretary, is seen writing
before an enormous pile of mail. He reads a letter and throws it down
in disgust. Reads another and hurls it into the waste basket. He
rises--turns back to the desk and hurls an armful of the letters into
the corner on the floor and removes enough letters to clear a space for
his Chief to write._

[EDWARD _enters dragging a mail bag._]

NICOLAY

[_Calling to the Doorman._]

Edward!

EDWARD

Yes, sir----

NICOLAY

Hold that door tight this morning----

EDWARD

Tight as a drum, sir----

NICOLAY

If any men of importance try to crowd in before their time----

EDWARD

I'll look out for them, sir--here's another bag of letters, Colonel
Nicolay----

NICOLAY

Another----?

EDWARD

And there's two more outside----

NICOLAY

My God----!

EDWARD

Don't blame me, sir--I didn't write 'em----

NICOLAY

No, I'll vouch for your loyalty to the President.

EDWARD

Where'll I put these----?

NICOLAY

Throw the bag in the corner--there's