occurred that furious carnage along the Antietam known as the bloodiest single day of the whole war.  Military men have disagreed, calling it sometimes a victory, sometimes a drawn battle.  In Lincoln’s political strategy the dispute is immaterial.  Psychologically, it was a Northern victory.  The retreat of Lee was regarded by the North as the turn of the tide.  Lincoln’s opportunity had arrived.

Again, a unique event occurred in a Cabinet meeting.  On the twenty-second of September, with the cannon of Antietam still ringing in their imagination, the Ministers were asked by the President whether they had seen the new volume just published by Artemus Ward.  As they had not, he produced it and read aloud with evident relish one of those bits of nonsense which, in the age of Dickens, seemed funny enough.  Most of the Cabinet joined in the merriment—­Stanton, of course, as always, excepted.  Lincoln closed the book, pulled himself together, and became serious.

“Gentlemen,” said he, according to the diary of Secretary Chase, “I have, as you are aware, thought a great deal about the relation of this war to slavery; and you all remember that several weeks ago I read you an order I had prepared on this subject, which, on account of objections made by some of you, was not issued.  Ever since, my mind has been much occupied with this subject, and I have thought all along that the time for acting on it might probably come.  I think the time has come now.  I wish it was a better time.  I wish that we were in a better condition.  The action of the army against the Rebels has not been quite what I should have best liked.  But they have been driven out of Maryland; and Pennsylvania is no longer in danger of invasion.  When the Rebel army was at Frederick, I determined, as soon as it should be driven out of Maryland, to issue a proclamation of emancipation, such as I thought most likely to be useful.  I said nothing to any one, but I made the promise to myself, and (hesitating a little) to my Maker.  The Rebel army is now driven out and I am going to fulfill that promise.  I have got you together to hear what I have written down.  I do not wish your advice about the main matter, for that I have determined for myself.  This, I say without intending anything but respect for any one of you.  But I already know the views of each on this question.  They have been heretofore expressed, and I have considered them as thoroughly and as carefully as I can.  What I have written is that which my reflections have determined me to say. . . .  I must do the best I can, and bear the responsibility of taking the course which I feel I ought to take."(15) The next day the Proclamation was published.