Surratt Courier

[SSlater]

(07-06-2016 08:16 PM)wpbinzel Wrote:  

(07-06-2016 02:13 PM)SSlater Wrote:  [quote='wpbinzel' pid='59857' dateline='1467595469']
[quote='SSlater' pid='59832' dateline='1467515008']

Early on he 14th of April, the War Department received a telegram from the Provost Marshal in Portland Maine, saying that Jacob Thompson was in Portland, what should he do?
Stanton saw the msg first and said "Arrest Him", and passed the msg to Dana, and in turn, to Lincoln. Lincoln said "no!" and gave us
his "elephant Quote".
Stanton was furious. Thompson was a prize, Why let him go? Stanton decided keep Thompson, but had to do it without Lincoln knowing it.
Stanton believed that the Provost Marshal hold Thompson until he was told otherwise.
Lincoln then asked Eckert to accompany him to Ford's. Eckert's answer was that he had work to do for Stanton.
When Lincoln left the Office, Stanton and Eckert began their secret plan - except, because the provost Marshal did not receive an immediate reply, he released Thompson, who scrambled back to Canada.
BY then, Stanton realized that he had lost his chance to lock Thompson up, so he sent Eckert home (It was too late to change the plans that Lincoln had settled on.)
My original piece had all the footnotes, and copies of messages, and sources - that support, etc. of all that is said here. I also found reports of what Thompson was doing all this Time. (He had been to Washington - trying to see Lincoln - he was using the code name "Kate Thompson".(his wife's name).

John -

If you can find the original text of your article, I would be most interested in seeing the footnotes and sources. If you send me a private message, I would be happy to send you my email address.

The "original" source that I have found on what you describe above is Dana's account, which differs from what you describe; to wit:

"On the afternoon of the 14th of April--it was Good Friday--I got a telegram from the provost marshal in Portland, Me., saying: 'I have positive information that Jacob Thompson will pass through Portland to-night, in order to take a steamer for England. What are your orders?' . . . I took the telegram and went down and read it to Mr. Stanton. His order was prompt: 'Arrest him!' But as I was going out the door he called to me and said: 'No wait; better go over and see the President.'
"At the White House all the work of the day was over, and I went into the President's business room without meeting any one. Opening the door, there seemed to be no one there, but as I was turning to go out, Mr. Lincoln called to me from a little side room where he was washing his hands.
"'Halloo, Dana!' said he. 'What is it? What's up?'
"Then I read him the telegram from Portland.
"'What does Stanton say?' he asked.
"'He says arrest him, but that I should refer the question to you.'
"'Well,' said the President slowly, wiping his hands, 'no, I rather think not. When you have got an elephant by the hind leg, and he's trying to run away, it is best to let him run.'
"With that direction, I returned to the War Department.
"'Well, what says he?' asked Stanton.
"'He says that when you have got an elephant by the hind leg, and he is trying to run away, it is best to let him run.'
"'Oh, stuff!' said Stanton."
-- Dana, Recollections, pp. 273-4.

If there is a different version/source of that story, I certainly would be interested in reading it. Thanks.

I have recently moved from "my home" to a one bedroom apt. So, all my books, notes, folders, etc. are in storage. If I say I will search, It will be some time before I could unpack boxes, and repack them, May I suggest that you contact the Librarian at the Research Center, and ask for a print of the proper Courier. It is filed under Lincoln-Stanton- Eckert (or another combination of these three names.)
Are you interested in Thompson's version of the same Story? He knew nothing about what was happening in the War Department. But he confirms his part in the fiasco.
The part that interested me the most was Stanton's explicit action that deceived Lincoln, which led me to believe there may be more, and there was. I can't remember what I called that. You know what - I'll bet Laurie knows. I hate to make you wait, but I have no choice. I will do it if necessary.