Title Lincoln's sanctuary : Abraham Lincoln and the Soldiers' Home / Matthew Pinsker

Published New York : Oxford University Press, 2003

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Description 1 online resource (xiv, 256 pages) : illustrations Series OUP E-Books Contents Foreword; Introduction: "I see the President"; Part One: 1862; Part Two: 1863; Part Three: 1864; Conclusion: "There is something else there"; Afterword; Chronology: Lincoln at the Soldiers' Home; Notes; Bibliography; Acknowledgments; Index Summary After the heartbreaking death of his son Willie, Abraham Lincoln and his family fled the gloom that hung over the White House, moving into a small cottage outside Washington, on the grounds of the Soldiers' Home, a residence for disabled military veterans. In Lincoln's Sanctuary, historian Matthew Pinsker offers a fascinating portrait of Lincoln's stay in this cottage and tells the story of the president's remarkable growth as a national leader and a private man. Lincoln lived at the Soldiers' Home for a quarter of his presidency, and for nearly half of the critical year of 1862, but most Americans (including many scholars) have not heard of the place. Indeed, this is the first volume to specifically connect this early "summer White House" to key wartime developments, including the Emancipation Proclamation, the firing of McClellan, the evolution of Lincoln's "Father Abraham" image, the election of 1864, and the assassination conspiracy. Through a series of striking vignettes, the reader discovers a more accessible Lincoln, demonstrating what one visitor to the Soldiers' Home described as his remarkable "elasticity of spirits."; At his secluded cottage, the president complained to his closest aides, recited poetry to his friends, reconnected with his wife and family, conducted secret meetings with his political enemies, and narrowly avoided assassination attempts. Perhaps most important, he forged key friendships that helped renew his flagging spirits. The cottage became a refuge from the pressures of the White House, a place of tranquility where Lincoln could refresh his mind. Based on research in rarely tapped sources, especially the letters and memoirs of people who lived or worked at the Soldiers' Home, Lincoln's Sanctuary offers the unexpected-a completely fresh view of Abraham Lincoln-through the window of a place that helped shape his presidency Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-238) and index Notes English Print version record Subject Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Homes and haunts -- Washington (D.C.) Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Family. SUBJECT Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865. fast (OCoLC)fst00030184 Subject United States Soldiers' Home -- History -- 19th century SUBJECT United States Soldiers' Home. fast (OCoLC)fst00516835 Subject Cottages -- Washington (D.C.) -- History -- 19th century HISTORY. Buildings. Cottages. Families. Homes. Politics and government. SUBJECT Washington (D.C.) -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85145354 Washington (D.C.) -- Buildings, structures, etc United States -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85140441 Subject United States. Washington (D.C.) Genre/Form History. Form Electronic book LC no. 2003001215 ISBN 1423784952 9781423784951 1280532807 9781280532801 9780198036692 0198036698 9786610532803 661053280X 9780195162066 0195162064 0199923973 9780199923977

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