I would rather be defeated with the soldier vote behind me than to be...

[RJNorton]

Roger, I do not know for certain that your statement that "Democratic soldiers were kept in the field" is true. But if your statement is true, you make a very good point and it is not a good thing.

It's my guess that if what I read is true, the orders would have come from Stanton, not Lincoln. IMO, Stanton would do whatever he could to help with Lincoln's re-election in 1864.