Lincoln's Letter to Horace Greeley (August 22, 1862)
This page contains Abraham Lincoln's letter to Horace Greeley (both the original and a transcription), a wordle recreation of the letter, and a close reading video exploring the context of the letter. Carefully examine all of the sources and documents to better answer the question: to what end was Lincoln using his anger?
Wordle of Lincoln's Letter to Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley
Greeley's Inciting Letter
Courtesy of Library of Congress
Published Letter to Greeley
Lincoln's Original Letter to Horace Greeley
Hon. Horace Greely: Executive Mansion,
Dear Sir Washington, August 22, 1862.
I have just read yours of the 19th. addressed to myself through the New-York Tribune. If there be in it any statements, or assumptions of fact, which I may know to be erroneous, I do not, now and here, controvert them. If there be in it any inferences which I may believe to be falsely drawn, I do not now and here, argue against them. If there be perceptable in it an impatient and dictatorial tone, I waive it in deference to an old friend, whose heart I have always supposed to be right.
As to the policy I “seem to be pursuing” as you say, I have not meant to leave any one in doubt.
I would save the Union. I would save it the shortest way under the Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored; the nearer the Union will be “the Union as it was.” If there be those who would not save the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct errors when shown to be errors; and I shall adopt new views so fast as they shall appear to be true views.
I have here stated my purpose according to my view of official duty; and I intend no modification of my oft-expressed personal wish that all men every where could be free.Yours,
A. LINCOLN
Transcription of Lincoln's Letter to Horace Greeley
Timeline of Selected Events in 1862 & 1863
Close Reading Video of Lincoln's Letter to Horace Greeley
Courtesy of House Divided Project|Dickinson College
Sources for Further Context
(Click on underlined titles to link to digital readings)
Primary Sources
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"Letter to Horace Greeley (August 22, 1862)." Lincolns Writings
Secondary Sources
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Borchard, Gregory A. Abraham Lincoln and Horace Greeley. Carbondale: Southern Illinois UP, 2011.
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Foner, Eric. The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery. New York: W.W. Norton, 2011.
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Guelzo, Allen C. Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2004.
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Kashatus, William C. Abraham Lincoln, the Quakers, and the Civil War: "A Trial of Principle and Faith". Santa Barbara: Praeger, 2014.
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Oakes, James. Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861-1865. New York: W.W. Norton, 2013.
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White, Ronald C. The Eloquent President: A Portrait of Lincoln Through His Words. New York: Random House, 2011.