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?
THE DOORMAN
Why, how how do ye mean?
BENJAMIN
Find out anything about his people where
he came from, where he’s going to what
he’s doing in Richmond?
THE DOORMAN
Oh, no, sir! He’s full
of fun he kept me laughin’ most o’
the time
BENJAMIN
I see !
[Laughs.]
He knows his business. Show him in.
THE DOORMAN
Yes, sir
[BENJAMIN seats himself at one of
the small tables at left and examines his schedule
for the day’s work. THE DOORMAN opens
the door and shows VAUGHAN in, dressed
in Confederate uniform. BENJAMIN rises
and greets him cordially.]
BENJAMIN
Good morning, young man
[Gives VAUGHAN the Sign
of the Knights of the Golden Circle.]
VAUGHAN
[Returns Sign.]
Good morning, Mr. Benjamin I hope you’ve
rested well?
BENJAMIN
Not so well as usual the
truth is I’ve been wrestling all night with
the problem of Jacquess and Gilmore. I’ve
confirmed your view that they have given their real
names. Gilmore is a reporter of the New
York Tribune and Colonel Jacquess is a Methodist
clergyman well known in the hospital service, in fact
famous for his kindly treatment of Southern prisoners
VAUGHAN
Just as I told you
BENJAMIN
I’ve allowed the Commissioner
of Exchange who has been holding them in custody to
bring them here this morning
VAUGHAN
Good!
BENJAMIN
Last night, I made up my mind to take
your advice and to let them see Mr. Davis
VAUGHAN
I’m glad
BENJAMIN
This morning I’m puzzling over it!
VAUGHAN
[Showing his disappointment.]
Why ?
BENJAMIN
I agree with you that we could use
the interview for our own purposes. But the trouble
is, Mr. Davis is soft-hearted sometimes. He may
refuse to take my advice. He may let these men
go.
VAUGHAN
You surely can depend on his allowing
you to hold them in Libby Prison until after the election?
BENJAMIN
I’m not sure of it. If
he takes a notion to let them go he’s
as stubborn as a mule.
VAUGHAN
All right Let me be present
at the interview and take notes. If Mr. Davis
makes an important declaration about peace and lets
them go, I’ll beat them to the North and give
your version of the interview first !
BENJAMIN
[Hesitating.]
I might do that yes !
VAUGHAN
I could not only head off any injury
from their report, but I could give it a twist that
would make it a boomerang on Lincoln
[BENJAMIN hesitates while
VAUGHAN watches him breathlessly.]
BENJAMIN
[Thinking.]
You could act as my special secretary
for the meeting and take shorthand notes or
pretend to
VAUGHAN
I take shorthand. I’ve been a reporter
in Washington
BENJAMIN
Then it would be easy.
VAUGHAN
No matter what is said, I can make
a report that will harden the purpose of our Societies
to swing the uprising on the night of the election.
BENJAMIN
You are sure the order for the revolt
against the Lincoln Government has been issued?
VAUGHAN
Absolutely sure.
BENJAMIN
I know they have discussed it and
may have decided to do it, but are the actual preparations
under way?
VAUGHAN
In every Lodge of the Knights of the
Golden Circle, the command is now on record.
Our forces are being drilled. I have read the
original order with the signature of the Commander
BENJAMIN
[Elated.]
It’s great news you’ve
brought us, young man great news!
[BENJAMIN hesitates and
VAUGHAN watches him.]
All right, we’ll risk it !
[VAUGHAN shows his secret joy
and deep excitement.]
These men are Lincoln’s spies
beyond a doubt but we’ll dig out of
them all the information possible, and then use them
for our purpose
[THE DOORMAN enters.]
THE DOORMAN
Judge Ould, the Commissioner of Exchange
[OULD enters.]
OULD
Our visitors are outside, Mr. Benjamin.
BENJAMIN
You understand, Judge Ould, that these
men are prisoners of war in your charge as Exchange
Commissioner?
OULD
I am painfully aware of that fact,
sir and the responsibility is not to my
liking.
BENJAMIN
While in Richmond, they are to be
held under the strictest guard and on no conditions
allowed a liberty except by my order, or the order
of the President.
OULD
I can trust them here with you, I
hope, for half an hour?
BENJAMIN
You can. Show them in.
[VAUGHAN takes his seat at the
small table near BENJAMIN who
gives him a note book and he prepares to take
notes. OULD
reenters conducting JACQUESS and
GILMORE.]
OULD
Colonel James F. Jacquess and Mr.
John R. Gilmore, Mr. Secretary of State
[OULD bows and exits, while
BENJAMIN advances with marked
cordiality to greet his visitors. He does
not shake hands but bows
politely.]
BENJAMIN
I am delighted to see you, gentlemen pray
be seated.
[The two men sit and GILMORE
shoots at VAUGHAN a look of
startled recognition which VAUGHAN fails
to return.]
You bring overtures from your Government I trust.
JACQUESS
No, sir, we bring no overtures
GILMORE
We have no authority from our Government.
JACQUESS
We have come simply as private citizens
to know what terms will be acceptable to Mr. Davis
for ending the war?
BENJAMIN
You are acquainted with Mr. Lincoln’s views,
however?
JACQUESS
One of us is fully
BENJAMIN
I supposed so. May I ask, did
Mr. Lincoln in any way authorize you to come here?
GILMORE
No, sir. We came on his pass
through the lines, of course, but not by his request.
JACQUESS
We came, Mr. Benjamin, simply as men
and Christians, not as diplomats, hoping in a frank
talk with Mr. Davis to discover some way by which
this war may be stopped.
BENJAMIN
On my advice, gentlemen, Mr. Davis will see you
JAQUESS
AND GILMORE
Thank you
BENJAMIN
I think he is here now
[BENJAMIN exits.]
GILMORE
[In low tones to VAUGHAN.]
What are you doing here?
VAUGHAN
Writing! I don’t know you
GILMORE
The hell you don’t!
VAUGHAN
No!
GILMORE
We worked on the same paper in Washington, once
VAUGHAN
Never saw you before
GILMORE
Get-word-through-will you! We’re in a trap!
VAUGHAN
Shut your damned trap! or we’ll
both make our breakfast on lead at sunrise to-morrow
morning! Get back to your seat!
[The sound of approaching steps
are heard. BENJAMIN enters as
GILMORE drops into his seat.]
BENJAMIN
Gentlemen: The President of the
Confederate States of America!
[DAVIS enters and bows to his visitors,
who rise. His figure is about five foot ten
and quite thin. His features are typically the
Southern scholar and thinker with angular cheeks
and high cheek bones. His iron gray hair
is long and thick and inclined to curl at the
ends. His whiskers are thin and trimmed farmer
fashion, on the lower end of his strong chin.
His eyes flash with strong vitality. His
forehead is broad, his mouth strong. He wears
a brown suit of foreign cloth which fits him perfectly.
His shoulders slightly droop. His manner
is easy and graceful, his voice charming and cultured.]
DAVIS
I am glad to meet you, gentlemen.
You are very welcome to Richmond.
GILMORE
We thank you, Mr. Davis.
DAVIS
Mr. Benjamin tells me that you have asked to see me
[He pauses and waits for his
visitors to finish the sentence.]
JACQUESS
Yes, sir. Our people want Peace.
Your people do. We have come to ask how it may
be brought about?
DAVIS
Very simply. Withdraw your armies
from the South, let us alone and Peace comes at once.
JACQUESS
But we cannot let you alone so long
as you seek to divide the Union.
DAVIS
I know. You deny us, what you
exact for yourselves the right of self-government.
JACQUESS
Even so, Mr. Davis, we cannot fight
forever. The war must end sometime. We must
finally agree on something. Can we not find the
basis of agreement now, and stop this slaughter?
[VAUGHAN takes notes rapidly.]
DAVIS
I wish peace as much as you do.
I deplore bloodshed. But I feel that not one
drop of this blood is on my hands. I can look
up to God and say this. I tried to avert this
war. I saw it coming and for twelve years I worked
day and night to prevent it. The North was mad
and blind and would not let us govern ourselves, and
now it must go on until the last man of this generation
falls in his tracks and their children seize their
muskets and fight our battle unless you
acknowledge our right to self-government.
We are not fighting for Slavery. We are fighting
for independence and that or extermination
we will have
JACQUESS
[Protesting.]
We have no wish to exterminate the
South! But we must crush your armies. Is
it not already nearly done? Grant has shut you
up in Richmond, and Sherman is before Atlanta.
DAVIS
[Laughs.]
You don’t seem to understand
the situation! We’re not exactly shut up
in Richmond yet. If your papers tell the truth,
it is your Capitol that is in danger, not ours.
Lee’s front has never yet been broken. He
holds Grant, invades the North and shells Washington.
Sherman, to be sure, is before Atlanta. But suppose
he is? His position is a dangerous one. The
further he goes from his base of supplies, the more
disastrous defeat must be. And his defeat may
be at hand.
JACQUESS
And yet, the odds are overwhelmingly
against you. How can you hope for success in
the end?
DAVIS
My friend, the South stands for a
principle their equal rights under the
Constitution which their fathers created. This
country has always been a Republic of Republics not
an Empire. We are fighting for the right of local
self-government which we won from the tyrants of the
old world. The states of the Union have always
been sovereign. We never paused to figure on
success or failure, sir. Five million Southern
freemen drew their sword against twenty millions because
their rights had been invaded.
JACQUESS
And yet, Mr. Davis, you know as well
as I that five millions cannot hold out forever against
twenty. Have we not reached the end?
DAVIS
Hardly! Do you think there are
twenty millions in the North still determined to crush
us? If so, let me tell you that I am better informed
on the present situation inside your lines than you
are. The North at this moment is hopelessly divided,
sir
[BENJAMIN exchanges signs with
VAUGHAN.]
JACQUESS
The dispute then with your government
is narrowed to this union or
disunion?
DAVIS
Let us say independence or subjugation.
We mean to govern ourselves. We will hold this
principle if we have to see every Southern plantation
sacked and every city in flames
[JACQUESS and GILMORE rise.
VAUGHAN catches GILMORE’S eye.]
JACQUESS
I am sorry, sir.
[DAVIS takes JACQUESS’
hand in both his in the same way LINCOLN did.]
DAVIS
I respect your character, Colonel
Jacquess and your motives and I wish you well every
good wish possible consistent with the interests of
the Confederacy
[He presses GILMORE’S
hand and follows them to the door.]
JACQUESS
Thank you.
DAVIS
[At door.]
And say to Mr. Lincoln that I shall
be pleased to receive proposals for peace direct from
him, at any time, on the basis of our independence.
It will be useless to approach me with any other.
[JACQUESS and GILMORE exit
and OULD reenters.]
OULD
[To Davis.]
And shall I conduct these gentlemen
back to Grant’s lines?
BENJAMIN
[Quickly.]
No, these men are spies straight from
Lincoln’s desk. It’s the slyest trick
the old fox has ever tried to play on us. He knows
that McClellan’s election on a peace platform
is a certainty. He’s after ammunition for
this campaign. We dare not play into his hands!
Our very life may depend on it! Make no mistake these
men must be locked up to-night and shot at sunrise.
OULD
[Shakes his head.]
I wouldn’t do it if I were you
BENJAMIN
Why?
OULD
For one reason this
[OULD unfolds a note.]
Ben Butler sent this note to me by
their hands. It was sealed. Read it.
DAVIS
[Interrupting.]
Just a moment
[To THE DOORMAN.]
General Lee is in the War Office ask
him if he can see me for a few minutes, please.
[THE DOORMAN bows and exits.]
Go on, gentlemen.
OULD
[To BENJAMIN handing
him the note.]
Read it!
BENJAMIN
[Reading.]
“If these men do not return
to my lines within ten days, I shall demand them,
and if you don’t produce them I’ll
execute two for one.
“(Signed) B. F. BUTLER.”
[Angrily.]
Bluff! Bluff!
DAVIS
He’s a beast. He’ll do it.
BENJAMIN
All right! Let him try it!
Two can play that game. We can execute four for
one
DAVIS
I don’t like these bloody reprisals.
There’s no end, once we begin.
BENJAMIN
The decision is yours, sir.
DAVIS
I reserve my decision. I’ll
give it to you presently. I want a word with
General Lee first if you will
give me this room.
BENJAMIN
Certainly, we’ll retire until you’re ready.
This way.
[BENJAMIN conducts VAUGHAN
and OULD into the room
right opposite the door through which
JACQUESS and GILMORE
made their exit. THE DOORMAN
enters and announces.]
THE DOORMAN
General Lee!
DAVIS
[Advances cordially and takes
LEE’S hand in both of his.]
Thank you, General. I wish to
consult you first on a peculiar matter of
small importance from one point of view of
tremendous importance from another. Two men have
been passed into our lines to sound me on the question
of Peace. I have just talked with them. I
am certain so is Benjamin that
they come straight from Lincoln though they have no
credentials. Benjamin demands their execution Judge
Ould protests. Are they spies?
LEE
Technically, yes morally, no.
DAVIS
Thank you. Before I decide whether
to let these men go with a message to the North, I
must ask you one or two questions
LEE
At your service, sir.
DAVIS
How long can you hold Grant?
LEE
Certainly a year unless
DAVIS
Yes?
LEE
Unless Atlanta falls.
DAVIS
And then?
LEE
If General Hood fails to hold Atlanta,
Sherman can cut the South in two and my supplies fail.
My men are living now on parched corn. If Sherman
takes Atlanta, I cannot get the corn.
DAVIS
What is the spirit of your men at this moment, General?
LEE
A more formidable force was never
set in motion than the army I command, sir. They
are our stark fighters men who individually
or in the mass can be depended on for any feat of
arms in the power of mortals to accomplish. I
know them from experience. They will blanch at
nothing yet they must have food.
DAVIS
You shall have it. But after one year then
what?
LEE
It’s solely a question of man
power, sir. I must have more men.
DAVIS
And you suggest?
LEE
That you immediately begin to arm
and drill 500,000 negroes for my command.
DAVIS
And you think they would make good soldiers?
LEE
Led by their old masters they’ll
fight to a man.
DAVIS
It would be necessary to give each
black volunteer his freedom?
LEE
Of course. I, as you know, freed
my own slaves before entering the service of the South.
It is one of the ironies of Fate that I am supposed
to be fighting for slavery I who refuse
to own a slave and my opponent General Grant is through
his wife’s estate a slaveholder. Slavery
is doomed, sir. It can never survive this tragedy.
The Legislature of Virginia came within one vote of
freeing her slaves, years ago.
DAVIS
I know. But the great Gulf States
and South Carolina with their majority of Negro population
will never agree to the arming of half a million slaves.
LEE
And you will allow Mississippi, Louisiana,
and South Carolina to defeat a plan necessary to save
the life of the Confederacy?
DAVIS
The States are sovereign, General
Lee for this principle we are fighting.
LEE
Then I think it may be time to ask
ourselves, heart to heart, the question whether the
Confederacy, as organized, does not carry within its
own body the seeds of death? The rights of a state
must somewhere yield to the supreme power of a nation.
The Negro will make a brave soldier, and he can save
the South. Will you use him?
DAVIS
I’ll consider your suggestion,
General, but I can’t see it I can’t
see it now. I won’t detain you longer.
[GENERAL LEE salutes and exits DAVIS
goes to the opposite
door opens it and calls.]
I am ready, gentlemen.
[OULD, BENJAMIN and VAUGHAN
reenter.]
BENJAMIN
You have decided?
DAVIS
Yes.
[He sits and writes a pass.]
It is probably a bad business for us
BENJAMIN
There can be no doubt about that, sir
DAVIS
But it would alienate many of our
Northern friends if we held these men. I have
decided to let them go. Give them this pass.
[Hands pass to OULD.]
Show them through the hospitals and
Libby Prison and conduct them back to General Grant’s
lines.
OULD
You have acted wisely, sir.
BENJAMIN
[With deep feeling to VAUGHAN.]
He has made exactly the blunder I feared
VAUGHAN
[With elation.]
We’ll hope for the best, sir!
With the twist I’ll give the news
CURTAIN
SCENE II
SET SCENE: The same as Acts
I and II, except that a small table has been placed
down center on the side near Lincoln’s desk.
A telegraph instrument has been installed on this
table.
AT RISE: At rise, the audience
sees only LINCOLN and OPERATOR, the
lights gradually rise until full day shows the entire
room. It is the morning of September 3, 1864.
LINCOLN
[Bending over the key.]
Try to get Atlanta again, my boy.
OPERATOR
It’s no use, sir
LINCOLN
We don’t seem to have any luck,
do we? My messenger should have reached Sherman!
He must be there now. He must be there he
can’t be lost!
[Laughs forlornly.]
Two whole days I’ve listened to that thing click
[The OPERATOR calls Atlanta,
with a peculiar loud call.]
Is that the word Atlanta you’re clicking off?
OPERATOR
Yes, sir calling over
this wire we have a direct connection to-day.
The trouble is Sherman’s old headquarters don’t
answer either.
LINCOLN
Call Atlanta again. Do it slowly.
I want to learn it Uncle Billy
[The OPERATOR clicks
off each letter in the Morse Code, spelling
it slowly.]
Must be there by this time!
OPERATOR
A T L A N T A
G A Atlanta, Ga.
LINCOLN
Once more.
[The OPERATOR repeats
the call and LINCOLN follows it
repeating after him.]
I want to catch that as quick as you do when
it comes!
[Aside.]
Oh, my God, why don’t it come! Why
don’t it come!
[NICOLAY enters.]
NICOLAY
The time’s up. Raymond
and his damned Committee are here, sir, and insist
on your final answer at Once
LINCOLN
Hold them back awhile. We’re
bound to hear something to-day. I promised them
my decision this morning, I know but I’m
still full of foolish hopes.
NICOLAY
They are not foolish hopes, Chief!
LINCOLN
This machine here seems to think they
are. The darn fool thing will talk one way but
won’t chirp the other.
NICOLAY
What shall I tell them?
LINCOLN
[Listening at the instrument.]
Anything tell them a funny story!
[Listening.]
They need a laugh the bunch
of undertakers! Waiting for me to deliver my
corpse to them! Restless, because I haven’t
given it up sooner!
[The sharp click of the
telegraph receiver catches his ear and
he starts to the table.]
No that wasn’t it
[Turns again to NICOLAY.]
Tell them positively, I will see them
within half an hour.
[NICOLAY exits and LINCOLN
returns to his vigil by the telegraph
table.]
How close can you get to Atlanta over
the Chattanooga line ?
OPERATOR
Twenty miles out is the last station
that answers and he don’t know what’s
the matter with the line.
LINCOLN
Strange we got closer than
that yesterday Sherman’s on the move....
[BETTY enters timidly.]
That’s certain.
[Looking up.]
Come right in, Miss Betty I know what you
want.
BETTY
Nothing yet from General Sherman?
LINCOLN
Nothing
BETTY
And no message of any kind from John since he left?
LINCOLN
Not yet.
BETTY
Why why hasn’t he reported?
LINCOLN
[Hopefully.]
I’m sure remember,
sure to a moral certainty that he
left Richmond safely.
BETTY
[Eagerly.]
You have a message then?
LINCOLN
Indirectly
BETTY
Oh
LINCOLN
[To EDWARD at door.]
Edward, ask Mr. Gilmore to step in here a minute.
EDWARD
Yes, sir.
LINCOLN
Gilmore’s report ought to be
worth half a million votes for me it may
be worth something to you
[GILMORE enters.]
Gilmore, did you see a handsome young
fellow in Confederate uniform taking notes at your
interview with Davis
GILMORE
Yes, sir, and I knew him too
BETTY
[Eagerly.]
It was Captain Vaughan?
GILMORE
Sure! He denied it, of course, but I knew him
all right.
BETTY
He was well?
GILMORE
I never saw him looking better.
He was scared stiff, of course, and so were we
BETTY
Thank you!
LINCOLN
That’ll do, Gilmore. I
wish you’d help Nicolay choke that Committee
off a little while and you come with them
when they break in will you?
GILMORE
Gladly, Mr. President.
[GILMORE exits.]
LINCOLN
[To BETTY lightly.]
Now you’ve had some good news
BETTY
[Forlornly.]
How long since any word came from General Sherman?
LINCOLN
Two days. I know the hole where
he went in at. But I can’t tell where the
old varmint’s going to come out
BETTY
[Chokes.]
If he ever comes out!
LINCOLN
Oh! He’ll come out
[He stops and listens at the
telegraph instrument again, and sighs
in disappointment.]
He’ll come out somewhere It’s
a habit Uncle Billy has
BETTY
[Hopelessly.]
They’ve no news at the War Department either.
LINCOLN
No news is generally good news from Sherman.
[BETTY turns away to hide her
tears and LINCOLN follows her with
tender pleading.]
Come, come, my dear these
tears won’t do! You’ve got to help
me now!
[BETTY brushes the tears away.]
I may have sent your lover to his
death. I know that! But he went with a smile
on his face and a great joy in his heart for the service
he was doing his country
BETTY
Yes I know I know I’m
proud of the honor you did him.
LINCOLN
[Whispering.]
Give me a little lift, then
[Pauses.]
I’m just whistling to keep up my courage!
[He pauses again in an agony
of suffering.]
I know that he got to Atlanta
[Pauses.]
Sherman has disappeared!
BETTY
Forgive me I forgot. You’re
going to win. I feel it. I know it!
LINCOLN
That’s the way to talk!
That’s the way I’m talking to myself though
I’m scared within an inch of my life
[He pauses and goes over to
the OPERATOR BETTY following.]
Say, boy can’t you
beat it a little harder and make the blame thing talk
for us?
OPERATOR
I wish I could, sir.
LINCOLN
Try him again
[The OPERATOR calls Atlanta
and pauses LINCOLN and BETTY
bend over with breathless suspense. The
instrument gives one
click LINCOLN starts. The
instrument stops.]
Didn’t the thing start to answer?
[The OPERATOR shakes
his head.]
Call the War Office and ask Stanton
to step over here My God why
can’t we hear!
BETTY
[Wistfully.]
I’m not going to cry again but
I just want to ask one question you
won’t mind?
LINCOLN
As many as you like!
BETTY
He he had to enter Atlanta a
spy, didn’t he?
[Sobs and catches herself.]
LINCOLN
Yes of course
BETTY
Well, if he should be captured could they
execute him without our knowing it?
LINCOLN
They might but he’s
a very bright young man! He’ll be too smart
for them
BETTY
[Hopelessly.]
I don’t know I don’t know !
LINCOLN
Now listen ! I’m
going to tell you something I know!
I’ve a sort of second sight that tells me things
sometimes, my dear. After the battle of Gettysburg
I saw General Daniel E. Sickles in the hospital.
They told me that he was mortally wounded and could
not possibly live. I told General Sickles that
he would live and get well, and he did!
I saw his living body that day at work in health and
strength as plainly as I see you! We have not
heard from Captain Vaughan yet, but it will come !
He has reached Atlanta. The General got my message.
I know that. I felt it flash through the air
from his soul to mine! I can see you and your
lover at this moment seated side by side smiling and
happy
BETTY
[In awe.]
You see this !
LINCOLN
[In dreamy tones.]
As plainly as I see the sunlight dancing
on the leaves outside that window now
[STANTON enters and LINCOLN
turns to meet him eagerly.]
STANTON
You’ve no news?
LINCOLN
I sent for you, to ask that
STANTON
Nothing
LINCOLN
[In low tones.]
What does it mean?
STANTON
A storm swept Atlanta yesterday the
wires may be all down
LINCOLN
You think that’s it ?
STANTON
No I don’t.
LINCOLN
Neither do I
STANTON
Something big has happened! Sherman
has either taken Atlanta or Hood has cut his communications
and his army may be imperiled.
LINCOLN
[His head droops.]
That’s what I think too God help
us!
[The sharp click of the telegraph
instrument causes him to start quickly, cross
to the table and listen. The committee headed
by RAYMOND and STEVENS crowd through
the door against the protests of NICOLAY.]
NICOLAY
I promised you an answer in half an
hour, gentleman! you must wait.
RAYMOND
Not another minute!
STEVENS
[Waving a telegram.]
The matter is too urgent!
LINCOLN
All right John let ’em
in I’m ready.
RAYMOND
We have just heard a most painful
and startling piece of news from the War Department
LINCOLN
[To STANTON.]
War Department
[Low voice.]
What is it, Stanton?
STANTON
Something I didn’t believe and wouldn’t
repeat to you.
LINCOLN
[Whispering to OPERATOR.]
Pull for me, boy, pull for me keep
picking at that thing!
STEVENS
[Triumphantly.]
You were advised to withhold the new
draft of men until after the election! Well,
read that copy of a telegram from New York, just received
by General Halleck, sir!
[Offers telegram to LINCOLN
and he refuses to take it.]
LINCOLN
I don’t want to read it, Stevens.
Your face is enough for me. It must be bad, or
you wouldn’t be so happy. You’re almost
smiling!
STEVENS
Read it!
LINCOLN
[Ignoring the proffered telegram.]
You know, Stevens, you remind of an
old farmer I knew in Illinois
[The committee gather around
LINCOLN eager for the story,
glancing at STEVENS.]
STEVENS
Go on, give ’em the joke. It’s your
funeral not mine!
LINCOLN
[Facing the committee.]
This old farmer raised the biggest
hog ever seen in the county. He was so fat the
news of his size spread over the country and people
came from far and near to see this wonder in pork.
A stranger came up one day and asked the farmer to
see him. The old man said: “Wal I’ve
got sech a animal an’ he’s the biggest
one I ever seed. I’ll say that. But
so many folks are comin’ here pesterin’
me to look at him, I’ve decided to charge a
shillin’ a look.” The stranger put
his hand in his pocket, pulled out the money, paid
the shilling, stared at the old man, turned and walked
away. The farmer called after him “Hi there ain’t
yer goin’ ter see the hog?” “No” the
fellow answered “I’ve seen you!
I’ve got my money’s worth.”
[All laugh except STEVENS.
During the laugh LINCOLN bends over
the telegraph instrument in
low tones.]
How goes it, boy? How goes it?
[The OPERATOR shakes
his head.]
Not a click ?
[Operator shakes his
head again and LINCOLN’S face
contracts
in suffering.]
STEVENS
Just a minute, Mr. President, I’ll
give you the telegram if you won’t read it.
LINCOLN
Fire away, Stevens, if it makes you happy.
STEVENS
[Reading.]
“New York, Sep, 1864.
“The Federal authorities have
just discovered a nation-wide conspiracy to resist
by force of arms the new draft. It will be necessary
for General Grant to detach half his army from Lee’s
front immediately to put down this counter revolution.
Send these soldiers without delay to our great cities.”
The signature is in code.
RAYMOND
It’s the blackest news yet, sir and
it’s true.
STEVENS
You must realize that we cannot delay
a moment in placing another man at the head of the
ticket.
[There is a moment of dead silence
while all watch LINCOLN’S face.
Suddenly the sharp click of the telegraph instrument
begins to spell the word A-T-lanta. LINCOLN
starts his face flashing with excitement.]
LINCOLN
What’s that?
[He follows breathlessly the
spelling of the full word his face
expressing his joy.]
OPERATOR
Mr. President It’s come! It’s
here!
[LINCOLN rushes to the table,
the crowd following.]
It’s for you, sir!
LINCOLN
Out with it, boy, word for word as you get it!
OPERATOR
[Click-click.]
Atlanta
[Click-click.]
Georgia
[Click-click-click.]
September 3, 1864.
LINCOLN
Glory to God!
OPERATOR
[Click-click.]
Atlanta
[Click-click.]
is ours
[Click click click.]
and fairly won W. T. Sherman
LINCOLN
O my soul, lift up thy head!
[To BETTY.]
Go tell Mother, quick, tell her to come here!
[BETTY exits running.]
NICOLAY
Three cheers for General William Tecumseh Sherman!
ALL SHOUT
Sherman! Sherman! Sherman!
[When the shout dies away
LINCOLN lifts his head solemnly and
cries.]
LINCOLN
Unto thee, O God, we give all the
praise now and forever more!
[MRS. LINCOLN enters with
BETTY and rushes to meet the
President. He takes her in his arms.]
Mother! It’s all right! Uncle
Billy’s there!
MRS. LINCOLN
You’ll never doubt again?
LINCOLN
Never!
[Turning to the committee.]
My friends! A poem is singing in my heart!
“Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the coming of the Lord!
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes
of wrath are stored:
He has loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible
swift sword
His truth is marching on!
“He has sounded forth the trumpet
that shall never call retreat!
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His
judgment seat:
Oh! Be swift my soul to answer Him!
Be jubilant my feet!
Our God is marching on!”
STANTON
That draft will be all right, Stevens! Now all
together!
[STANTON leads and all sing.]
[LINCOLN listens with bowed
head.]
We are coming, Father Abraham, three
hundred thousand more,
From Mississippi’s winding stream and from
New England’s shore;
We leave our plows and workshop, our wives and
children dear,
With hearts too full for utterance, with but a
single tear,
We dare not look behind us but steadfastly before,
We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand
more!
CHORUS
We are coming, we are coming, our
Union to restore!
We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand
more,
We are coming, Father Abraham, three hundred thousand
more!
LINCOLN
And remember, gentlemen, U. S. Grant
sent Sherman on that mission. You know I didn’t
remove him! Well, Raymond, what say you, now!
RAYMOND
It’s glorious. It’s
a miracle! Lee’s army can’t survive.
The end is sure! McClellan is beaten the
Union is saved!
LINCOLN
What say you all?
A COMMITTEEMAN
Your triumph is sure!
ANOTHER
COMMITTEEMAN
You’ll sweep the nation, sir!
NICOLAY
Three cheers for the old President
and three cheers for the new!
ALL
Lincoln! Lincoln! Lincoln!
[All join except STEVENS,
whose face remains a mask.]
LINCOLN
Come on, Stevens, smile! Take
a chance. It may kill you, but my Lord, man,
take a chance!
STEVENS
You’re not elected yet, sir and
such levity ill becomes a Nation’s Chief in
these tragic hours
LINCOLN
[Laughs.]
If I couldn’t laugh I’d have died long
ago at this job!
CURTAIN