Feb. 4, 1862

Feb. 4, 1862: George Templeton Strong writes in his journal: "Fifty years hence John Brown will be recognized as the Hero or Representative Man of this struggle up to 1862. He will be the Wycliffe of the anti-slavery Reformation. A queer, rude song about him seems growing popular:
John Brown’s body lies a-mouldering in the grave (repeat)
But his soul’s a-marching on.
Glory Hally Hallelujah,
Glory Hally Hallelujah,
But his soul’s a-marching on."

–Near Ft. Henry, Gen. Grant lands his 15,000 troops on both banks of the Tennessee River. He faces Gen. Lloyd Tilghman, who has fewer than 3,000 troops to garrison the fort.

Grant and Foote Move on Ft. Henry and the Tennessee River Valley

–In the February 1 issue of Harper’s Weekly, a column by The Lounger (a pen name for George William Curtis) extends praise to Lincoln for crossing party lines and including Democrats (Stanton and Bates) as well as former rivals (Seward and Chase) in his administration:

THE President certainly gives proof of the fact that he regards the question of the suppression of the rebellion to be a purely national question, entirely independent of party. The policy of his Administration, falling upon so critical a time, has been to gather to the national standard all loyal men, whether they were Republicans or Democrats. The peril of the nation annihilates party, and whoever forgets that fact, the President does not. He is the most purely national and loyal Chief Magistrate we have had for many a year.