Abraham Lincoln papers 1 From Lyman Trumbull to Abraham Lincoln , [1858] 1 This misdated letter is one of the relatively few that have survived in this collection from Lincoln's race for the Senate in 1858 against Stephen A. Douglas. Alton, Aug. 24, 1857. Dear Lincoln, I have just read & am delighted with the debate at Ottawa— In manner, temper, spirit, eloquence & every thing else you have obtained a complete triumph over the little pettifogger, for really that is all he is— It seems to me that the debate at Ottawa ought to be [about?] sufficient to decide the contest with all intelligent men, & it ought to be read by every man in the state— Things here look 2 3 quite as favorably as I expected— I am to speak here to-morrow evening & Blair & Brown of St. Louis have promised to come up to the meeting— Do not fail to be at Springfield on the 28th— I think it all important you should be there even at the omission of some appointment, if you cannot otherwise do so— 2 ID: Francis Preston Blair Jr. of St. Louis, a member of an illustrious political family, moved from Democratic to eventual Republican affiliation, and was an editor of the Missouri Democrat. He was a sometime member of Congress before and during the Civil War, and held positions of military command during the war. 3 ID: Benjamin Gratz Brown of St. Louis was affiliated with the anti-Nebraska Missouri Democrat. During the Civil War he held brigadier general's rank, and was elected to the United States Senate in 1863. A reaction has commenced against Douglas— He lost friends by coming to Edwardsville Very truly Yours Lyman Trumbull Abraham Lincoln papers http://www.loc.gov/resource/mal.0071900.