57 president, and Pinkster demonstrates that this encounter most likely occurred when the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia threatened Washington, D.C., in August of 1862. This period took place only a few weeks after the Union Army of the Potomac had been just outside the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia, before being driven back and less than a week before the armies clashed in the climatic Second Battle of Bull Run only about thirty miles away from the Old Soldier’s Home and the capital. It also came essentially two weeks prior to the bloodiest day in U. S. history, the battle of Antietam. Indeed, the Union’s position proved to be so perilous in those days that General George B. McClellan ordered a detachment of troops to guard President Lincoln and his family at the location then outside the city’s defense. He issued that order as one of the first actions he took after being restored to command of the Union army following the disastrous defeat at Second Bull Run. These events occurred against the backdrop of Lincoln’s pledge to issue a preliminary version of the Emancipation Proclamation, though only a very few knew of the president’s intent. Under such circumstances, one can understand why Lincoln might have been unusually angry and curt.11 With the much-needed isolation missing that Lincoln so desperately needed, he turned repeatedly to reading, including poetry, the Bible, and Shakespeare’s plays, which he kept handy at almost all times, and especially the publications of contemporary humorists. Lincoln’s two closest aides, his personal secretaries John Nicolay and John Hay, frequently referred to the occasions where humor provided a temporary respite or tiny sanctuary for the besieged president. For example, Hay referred to one such time at a critical moment in late April 1864, as Generals Grant, Sherman, Butler, and Sigel began to launch a giant, simultaneous advance against Confederate armies in Georgia and Virginia. Around midnight, as usual he and Nicolay worked late to finish correspondence. Lincoln, whom they privately labeled “the Tycoon,” appeared in a short night shirt with his long, hairy legs sticking out from underneath and entered their office laughing uproariously. He appeared that night as he did on many other occasions to share with his young friends some passages from one of his favorite humorists. Later, Hay wrote in his diary, “[o]ccupied all day with matters of vast moment, deeply anxious about the fate of the greatest army of the world, with his own fame & future hanging on the LEADERS, LEADERSHIP, AND “SANCTUARY”: A FOCUS ON SIX U.S. PRESIDENTS AND THE PROBLEM OF REST
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