"The uncleared forest, the unbroken soil, The iron bark that turns the lumberer's axe; The rapid that o'erbears the boatman's toil, The prairie, hiding the mazed wanderer's tracks; The ambushed Indian, and the prowling bear,- Such were the needs that helped his youth to train. Rough culture; but such trees large fruit may bear, If but their stocks be of right girth and grain."

Lincoln served as a flatboatman on the Mississippi, and after a trip to New Orleans returned to New Salem, a town twenty miles from Springfield, and became a clerk in a country store. At the outbreak of the Black Hawk War he was elected captain of a company, and went on a campaign into Wisconsin. From 1833 to 1836 he tried business for himself, but a dissolute partner brought him to bankruptcy. He then began the study of law, for which he had always had a preference; soon gained the attention of his fellowmen, and rose to distinction. His peculiar power, manifested at all periods of his life, of seizing the most difficult thought, and presenting it in such homely phrase as to make the truth appreciable by all men, made him a natural leader of the people. In 1847-49 he served in Congress for one term, where he distinguished himself as a humorous speaker. As candidate for the office of United States Senator from Illinois in 1858, he first revealed to the nation, in his great debates with Senator Douglas, the full scope and originality of his genius. Two years afterwards he was nominated and elected to the Presidency. On his accession to office he was fifty-two years of age. He came to the Presidency under such a burden of care and responsibility as had not been borne by any ruler of modern times. On the occasion of his inauguration he delivered a carefully prepared address, declaring his fixed purpose to uphold the Constitution, enforce the laws, and preserve the integrity of the Union. From the first it was his policy to ignore the action of the seceded States as a thing in itself null, void, and of no effect.

At the head of the new Cabinet was placed William H. Seward, of New York, as Secretary of State. Salmon P. Chase, of Ohio, was appointed Secretary of the Treasury, and Simon Cameron, Secretary of War; but the latter, in the following January, was succeeded in office by Edwin M. Stanton. The office of Secretary of the Navy was conferred on Gideon Welles. In his inaugural address and first official papers the President outlined not only his theoretical, but his practical policy. The latter was, in brief, to repossess the forts, arsenals, and public property which had been seized by the Confederates, and to reestablish the authority of the Federal Government in all parts. The first military preparations and movements were made with this end in view. Meanwhile, on the 12th of March, a body of commissioners from the seceded States sought to obtain from the National Government a recognition of their independence, but the negotiations were of course unsuccessful. Then followed a second attempt on the part of the Government to reinforce the garrison at Fort Sumter; and with that came the beginning of actual hostilities.

The defenses in Charleston harbor were held by Major Robert Anderson. His whole force amounted to but seventy-nine men. Owing to the feebleness of his garrisons, he deemed it prudent to withdraw from Fort Moultrie and concentrate his whole force in Fort Sumter. By this time Confederate volunteers had flocked to the city, and powerful land batteries were built around the harbor, bearing on Sumter. When it was known that the Federal