cott informed me that there was a plan already devised which, if
executed with secrecy, would open the Tennessee and save the
national cause. I went immediately to Mr. Lincoln and talked the
whole matter over. He said he did not himself doubt that the
plan was feasible, but said there was one difficulty in the way;
that no military or naval man had any idea of such a movement, it
being the work of a civilian, and none of them would believe it
safe to make such an advance upon only a navigable river, with no
protection but a gunboat fleet, and they would not want to take
the risk. He said it was devised by Miss Carroll, and military
men were extremely jealous of all outside interference. I pleaded
earnestly with him, for I found there were influences in his
Cabinet then averse to his taking the responsibility, and wanting
everything done in deference to the views of McClellan and
Halleck. I said to Mr. Lincoln: "You know we are now in the last
extremity, and you have to choose between adopting and at once
executing a plan which you believe to be the right one and save
the country, or defer to the opinions of military men in command
and lose the country." He finally decided he would take the
initiative; but there was Mr. Bates, who had suggested the
gunboat fleet, and wanted to advance down the Mississippi, as
originally designed; but after a little he came to see that no
result could be achieved on that mode of attack, and he united
with us in favor of the change of expedition as you recommended.

After repeated talks with Mr. Stanton I was entirely convinced
that, if placed at the head of the War Department, he would have
your plan executed vigorously, as he fully believed it was the
only means of safety, as I did. Mr. Lincoln, on my suggesting
Stanton, asked me how the leading Republicans would take it; that
Stanton was fresh from the Buchanan Cabinet, and many things were
said of him.[26] I insisted he was our man withal, and brought
him and Lincoln into communication, and Lincoln was entirely
satisfied. But so soon as it got out, the doubters came to the
front. Senators and members called on me. I sent them to Stanton
and told them to decide for themselves. The gunboats were then
nearly ready for the Mississippi expedition, and Mr. Lincoln