Joseph Medill to Abraham Lincoln, April 15, 1861

Chicago, April 15 1861.

President Lincoln

There is but one opinion in Chicago -- Douglas Dems and Lincoln Reps are a unit, and that is, that Sumter must be retaken, Moultrie retaken, Pinckney retaken, the custom house retaken, and the Stars & Stripes -- the National Emblem, must float over the Federal property in Charleston. Chicago will send you a gallant regiment on call, and Illinois fifty more England & France met Russia at Sebastipol -- localized the war and whipped her there. She has been tame and quiet ever since. Charleston of all spots, is the place to settle our national difficulties. There meet the secessionists and there crush them. If 50,000 men is not enough call for 100,000, and if that is not sufficient call for 500,000. But crush the head of the rattle-snake. There is where the trouble was hatched. The tories live there -- let them die there. The North West will back you with their last man dollar and bushel of corn. The authority of the Govt. must be made good. Do your duty; the people are with you.

J. Medill