Important Memorandum the Day after Gettysburg July 5th, 1863 where Lincoln asks all Department Heads of the cabinet to meet him at the Executive Mansion

Important July 5, 1863 Lincoln Civil War Memorandum – The Day After Gettysburg

A rare and significant Civil War-era memorandum dated July 5, 1863, in which Secretary of State William H. Seward was instructed to call a meeting of all cabinet department heads at the Executive Mansion (White House) on behalf of President Abraham Lincoln. This document highlights a critical moment in the Civil War, following the Union victories at the Battle of Gettysburg and the fall of Vicksburg.

The memorandum reads:

Department of State
Washington, July 5, 1863

Sir,
The President desires
a meeting with the Heads
of the Departments at the
Executive Mansion at
11 a.m. in the morning.
Signed,
"F.W. Seward"
Assistant Secretary of State
(To the Honorable Secretary of the Navy)

On July 5, 1863, President Lincoln met with his cabinet to discuss the ramifications of two major Union victories: the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863), where General George G. Meade’s Union forces defeated General Robert E. Lee’s Confederate army, and the fall of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863, which gave the Union control of the Mississippi River.

Beyond military strategy, Lincoln addressed two critical issues during this emergency meeting:

1. Negotiations with Alexander H. Stephens (Confederate Vice President): Lincoln read a letter from Stephens proposing discussions on prisoner exchanges. While the cabinet opposed negotiations with the Confederacy, Lincoln considered the proposal and decided to send an envoy to Fortress Monroe after careful deliberation.

2. The Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln revisited the idea of issuing the Emancipation Proclamation as a military measure. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton urged immediate action, supporting the proclamation's release.

Though Lincoln expressed satisfaction with the victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, he was concerned that General Meade might fail to aggressively pursue Lee's retreating forces, potentially missing an opportunity to deliver a decisive blow that could hasten the end of the war.

This memorandum is a unique artifact from a pivotal moment in American history.

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