Tarbell on Otto Eisenschiml

[John Stanton]

Anyone who has read my "THE MYSTERY OF APRIL 14TH" does not have to read this - you already know. No.1. Just after the fall of Richmond, Lincoln met with Confederate Judge John Campbell and they agreed that the Virginia Legislature should meet, in order to withdraw Confederate Troops from the field. Stanton opposed this, because it might gain an Official Status for the legislature. Stanton then issued orders to disobey Lincoln's instructions.He then later convinced Lincoln to withdraw his orders. That takes guts!.
No.2. On April 14th, Jacob Thompson was seen in Portland , Maine. The resident Provost Marshal wired Wash. "what should he do?". When Stanton got the msg in Wash., he said ARREST HIM!. (and expected a return Msg to go out immediately.) Then following protocal, he sent Charles A. Dana to Lincoln with the wire from Portland. When Dana returned, Stanton wanted to know Lincoln's reaction. Lincoln's words were "When you have an elephant by the hind leg, and he is trying to run away, it's best to let him run." Stanton instructed Dana not to send anything to Portland. He was planning to arrest Thompson, but he didn't want Lincoln to know it. There is more to this story, but I picked this out to show his contempt of Lincoln, when it suited his purpose.