It must be observed that up to this time, in the autumn of 1863, the President had not only superintended the Army of the Potomac, but had borne the chief burden of the government and the war at large.  Cabinet meetings, reports of generals, quarrels of generals, dissensions of political leaders, impertinence of editors, the premature pressure to emancipate slaves, Western campaigns, the affairs of the navy, and a thousand other things pressed upon his attention.  It was his custom to follow the movements of every army with the map before him, and to be perfectly familiar with all the general, and many of the detailed, problems in every part of the vast field of the war.  No man was ever more overworked.  It may be a question how far he was wise in himself attending to so many details, and in giving directions to generals in high command, and sometimes against the advice of men more experienced in military matters.  That is not for me to settle.  He seemed to bear the government and all the armies on head and heart, as if the responsibility for everything was imposed upon him.  What had been the history?  In the East, two years clouded by disasters, mistakes, and national disappointments, with at last a breaking of the day,—­and that, in the West.

Was ever a man more severely tried!  And yet, in view of fatal errors on the part of generals, the disobedience of orders, and the unfriendly detractions of Chase,—­his able, but self-important Secretary of the Treasury,—­not a word of reproach had fallen from him; he was still gentle, conciliatory, patient, forgiving on all occasions, and marvellously reticent and self-sustained.  His transcendent moral qualities stood out before the world unquestioned, whatever criticisms may be made as to the wisdom of all his acts.

But a brighter day was at hand.  The disasters of the East—­for Gettysburg was but the retrieving of a desperate situation—­were compensated by great success in the West.  Fort Donelson and Columbus in 1862, Vicksburg and Port Hudson in 1863, had been great achievements.  The Mississippi was cleared of hostile forts upon its banks, and was opened to its mouth.  New Orleans was occupied by Union troops.  The finances were in good condition, for Chase had managed that great problem with brilliant effect.  The national credit was restored.  The navy had done wonders, and the southern coast was effectually blockaded.  A war with England had been averted by the tact of Lincoln rather than the diplomacy of Seward.

Lincoln cordially sustained in his messages to Congress the financial schemes of the Secretary of the Treasury, and while he carefully watched, he did not interfere with, the orders of the Secretary of the Navy.  To Farragut, Foote, and Porter was great glory due for opening the Mississippi, as much as to Grant and Sherman for cutting the Confederate States in twain.  Too much praise cannot be given to Chase for the restoration of the national credit, and Lincoln bore patiently his adverse criticism in view of his transcendent services.