Any news from the front, this morning?

NICOLAY

[_Handing him a telegram._]

From General Grant's lines--only this, sir----

LINCOLN

[_Reads._]

"Confederate Cavalry raiders capture a Brigadier General and fifty army mules."--Too bad--rush a regiment after the mules--they're worth $200 a piece--Jeff Davis can have my Brigadier General----!

NICOLAY

[_Laughs._]

Yes, sir--and this came in code from Sherman--

[_Hands_ LINCOLN _another telegram._]

LINCOLN

[_Eagerly._]

Word from Sherman! Good!

[_Reads._]

--"Scouts report Hood's trenches before Atlanta are impregnable--carefully considering a flank movement--but as yet, I cannot find the position or strength of Hood's second line----" W. T. Sherman----

[_Pauses._]

Grant's deadlocked with Lee at Petersburg--If-Sherman-could-only-give-us-Atlanta!----

[_Pauses._]

I've a notion to telegraph Sherman an order direct----!

NICOLAY

I wouldn't go over General Grant's head, sir, with a military order--he's sensitive----

LINCOLN

It might make trouble--Grant might resent my interference with his plan of campaign----

NICOLAY

It would have to be filed in the War Department----

LINCOLN

Yes--I know. Anything else----?

NICOLAY

[_Handing him a large doc.u.ment._]

Baker's full report of the secret service on the Copperhead Societies---- He asks for the immediate arrest of their leaders--and I think he's right----

LINCOLN

[_Shakes his head._]

It won't do--it won't do just now--it's an ugly business--too ugly for haste--I'll look it over carefully----

[_Lays the report on his desk._]

I'm ready now to see the people----

NICOLAY

The Republican National Committee are in town, sir----

LINCOLN

What on earth are they doing here----?

NICOLAY

That's what everybody's asking----

LINCOLN

They should be in their States, leading the Party to victory---- What do they want?

NICOLAY

To see you----

LINCOLN

Umph----!

NICOLAY

Henry Raymond, their Chairman, is with them, and has just sent word demanding a hearing before your public reception this morning.