The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-09-09
PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
A New and True Story Told Of the
Late President.


American war, the Colonel of New
Hampshire regiment lay for some weeks
extremely Ill of camp fever. near Hamp-
ton Roads, in Virginia. Hearing of his
critical condition, his wife left her North
ern home, and, after much difficulty,
made her way to hi. bedside. Her
cheerful presence and careful nursing so
far restored him that he was in a short
time to be transferred to Washington.
In the Potomac river the steamer in
which the invalid officer, Colonel Scott
and his family, had taken passage was
sunk, In collision with a larger vessel,
In the night time. The crew and nearly
all the soldiers on board were rescued OF
saved themselves: but amid the horrible
confusion of the scene Colonel Scott be-
came separated from his wife and she
was lost. The Colonel was picked UP il
the water by the crew of the larger steamer
and under his direction every effort was
made to discover his wife, or rather he,
body, fer all hope of finding her alive was
soon abandoned. The sad search was
fruitless; it was resumed in the morning,
the people along the shore, humane Con
federates, lending their aid. But the
sullen river refused to give up its dead
and the young officer, half frantic with
grief, was compelled to go on to Wash
ington. Within a week, however. he
received word that the lady had beer
washed on shore that those good coun.
try people, generous foes had secured it.
cared tor it and were keeping it for him.
1t happened that just at that time i'm
peratlve orders were issue from the Wal
Department prohibiting all intercourse
With the PENINSULA necessary precau
ton against the premature disclosure OF
important military plans. SOFT was with
some mlsglvings that Col. Scott applied
to Mr.. Secretary Stanton for leave to re-
turn to Virginia on his melancholy DUTY.
Impossible, Colonel" replied Mr..
Stanton, no one can have leave to 90
down the river at this time on any mi.
vate business whatever. Our present
exlgencies demand the most stringent
regulations, and [ hope | need not say to
you that no merely Reconsideration
should be allowed to interfere with great
national interests. Your case is sad one
but this is critical perilous time. THE
dead must bury the dead"
The Colonel would have entreated but
the busy Secretary cut him short with an
other impossible" from which there
was absolutely noappeal. He went forth
from his presence, and returned .o his
hotel quite overwhelmed
Fortunately, he was that afternoon Wis
tied by a friend, to whom he told the
story of his unsuccessful application and
perplexlty, and who Immediately exclaim.
ed, why not apply to the Presldent?'
The Colonel had but little hope, but &C
knowledging the plan was worth irving,
drove to the White House.
They were too late. 1t was Saturday
evening, and Mr.. Lincoln had gone to
spend Sunday at Soldiers Rest, his sum
mer retreat. This was but a few miles
from town, and the Colonel indomitable
friend proposed that they should follow
him out and they went. There was then
apopular belief that all the wronged, the
troubled and suffering could find refuge
in Father Abraham's capacious bosom !
belief that was not far out of the way.
Yet there were times when overburdepcd
Wearled, and tortured, the patriarch long
ed to clear that asylum of his forlorn in.
mates; to bolt and bar and double lock il
against the world times whenlife became
too hard and perplexing for his honest,
genial nature, too serious and tragic and
rascally thing by half
1t happened, unluckily, that the poor
Colonel and his friend found the Presi
dent In one of his most respondent and
Disguised moods. He was in his little
private parlor, alone in the cleaning.
He was lounging loosely in large rock
ing chair, jutrlng over it in all directions.
His slippered feet were exalted, his rough
head was thrown back, his long throat
bare-he was in his shirt-sleeves. Yes
dear, fastidious, English reader, it was
genuine Yankee abandon-make the most
of it.
He turned upon his ,isitors with look
OF almost savage inqu.4y. There was. in
deed, IN his usually pleasant eyes wild,
angry gleam-a something like the glare
OF a worried animal at bay.
Colonel Scott proceeded very modestly
to tell his story but the President inter
rupted him, to say brusauely go to
stanton; this is his business
Il have been to him, Mr.. President,
ana he will do nothing for me. +"
GU have been to him and got your
ansWeT, and still presume to come to me
am | to have no reSt-no privacy +?
Must De logged to my last fastness. and
worried to death by inches. Mr.. Stanton
mas done just right. He knows what he
Is about. Your demands are unreason-
But Mr.. Lincoln, 1 thought you
would feel for me.
Feel for you Good God I have to
ieei Tor i've hundred thousand more un.
fortunate than you. We are at war. SIR:
uon you know we are at war? Sorrow is
the lot OF all bear your share like man
and soldier nv q n'"''
I try to, Mr., President, but if seems
hard. My devoted wife lost her life
from coming to nurse me in nv sickness.
my children" ' "
well. she ought not to have come to
the army. She could have STAYED at
home: That is the place for women.
but II they will 60 tearing about the
country, in such times as these, and run
ming into all sorts of danger. they must
take the consequences. Not but that
am sorry for you, Colonel. As for YOUR
vile, she's at rest, and I wish [ were. {"
saying this the President leaned back
YEARLY IN his chair, and closed his ewes.
NJ. noticlng, except by a slight wave of
nus hand, the departure of his visitors
am not ashamed to confess that my
hero tossed restlessly that night upon a
pillow wet with many tears; that he was
desperate and resentful. utterly unre.
Hgned to the DEGREES of Providence and
the War Department; and that he thot'
Abraham Lincoln as hard as he was ugly
and as inhuman as he was ungainly.