For Lincoln, January 10, 1862, was one of the worst days in the war. He dejectedly wrote to Cameron apropos of the negative responses from Halleck and Buell: “It is exceedingly discouraging. As everywhere else, nothing can be done.” On January 1, Lincoln said “with much feeling” to John A. Dahlgren, commander of the Washington Navy Yard: “No one seemed ready.” In despair, he turned to Montgomery Meigs, whose counsel he valued. (The president said Meigs “never comes [to the White House] without he has something to say worth hearing.”) “General,” Lincoln asked, “what shall I do? The people are impatient; Chase has no money and he tells me he can raise no more; the General of the Army has typhoid fever. The bottom is out of the tub. What shall I do?”
Source: Abraham Lincoln ∶ A Life ▫𓂃
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