The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1869-10-01

DEER LODGE CITY, FRIDAY, OCT. l,
Precedent Ltmc0im.
A Nee and True Story told cf tie Late Presi
dent.
Prom Dickens All the Year Round.
During the summer Of the most dieastrou,
and doubtful year Of the late American war
The Colonel Of New Hampshire regimen
lay for several weeks extremely iii of caml
fever. near Hampton Roads, Virginia. Hear
tng.of his critical condition. his wife left bel
made her way TO his bedside. Her cheerful
presence and careful nursing so far restored
him that he WAS fit in short time ~ bt
transferred 10 Washington.
In the Potomac river the steamer In which
the invalid officer. Colonel Scott, and his
family had taken passage, was sunk, in a
collision with larger vessel in the night
time. The crew and nearly all the soldiers
On board were rescued or saved themselves !;
but amid the horrible confusion Of the scene.
Colonel Scott became separated from his
wife and she was lost. The Colonel was
picked up in the water by the crew of tho
larger steamer, and under his direction every
effort was made to discover his wife, or
rather her bDdy, for oil hope Of finding her
alive was soon abandoned. The sad search
WAS fruitlcss; II was resumed In the morn
ing, the people along the shore, humane
Confedcrntes, lending their aid. But the
grSy, sullcn river refused to give its dead,
and the young. officer, half frantic with
grief, was compelled to 90 on To Washing
ton. Within = week, however. he received
word that the lady had been washed on
shore that those good country people, gen.
erous foes, had secured 1t, cared for it, and
were keeping 1t for him.
It happened that just at that time impcra-
tive orders were issued from the War De-
partment prohibiting all intercourse with
the peninsula "A necessary precautiOn
against the premature disclosure ut import
ant military plans. So it was with some
misyivings that Colonel Scott applied to Mr..
Secretary Stanton for leave TO return to Vir
Impossible, Colonel" replied Mr.. STAN
ton; no one can have leave to 60 down
the river, st this time, on any private mis-
sion whatever. Our present cxigercies de-
mxnd the most stringent regulations, and
hope l need not say TO you that no merely
personal consideration should be allowed TO
Interfere with great national interests. Your
case IL ssd one, but this IL critical peril.
GUS, cruel time, The dead must bury the
dead"
The Colonel would have cntrcatcd, but
the busy Secretary cut him short with IN.
other ''impossible," from which there was
absolutely no appeal. lie went forth from
the presence. and returned to his hotel quite
overwhelmed.
Fortunately he was that afternoon visited
by friend. 10 whom he told the story of
lis unsuccessful application and sad per
''Why not apply 10 the Presidcnt?"
The Colonel had but little hope, but &C.
knowlcdging that tlIe plan was worth trying,
drove TO Inc White House.
They were too late. 1t was Saturday even
ing, and Mr.. Lincoln had gone TO spend Sun
day at Soldiers Rest, bis summer retreat
This WAS but few miles from town, and
the Coloncl's indomiia able friend proposed
following him out, and out they went.
There was then popular belief that all the
wr,nged, the troubled and suffering could
find refuge in Father Abn.ham's capa
cious BISON :" belief that WAS not far out
Ut the way. Yet there were times when
ovcrburdcned, wearied, tortured, the patri-
arch longing to clear that asylum of its for
lorn inmates, 70 holt and Tar and double
lock It against the world; times when life
became too hard and pcrplexing for his gen.
ial, honest nature, t0O serious and tragic and
rsscally thing by half.
II happened, unluckily, that the poor Col
onel and his friend found the President in
one Of his most respondent and disguised
moods. lie was alone in his little private
psrlor, alone in the cleaning. He was
lounging loosely in q large rocking chair,
jutting over it in all directions. His slip
pered feet were exalted. his rough head was
thrown back. his long throat bsre-he was
in his shirts sleeves. Yes, dear, fastidi0us
English reader, 1t was genuine Yankee aban.
don--make the most of it.
He looked upon his visitors with look Of
almost savage inquiry. There was, indeed,
In his usually pleasant eyes, . wild. angry
gleam-a something like the glare of wor-
RED animal Ut bay.
Colonel Scott proceeded very modestly to
tell his story but the President interrupted
him, to say brusquely. "Go to Stanton; this
10 bic business" .s.#.S
II have been to him. Mr.. President, and
be will do nothing for me-"
"You have been to him and got your an
ever, and still presume 10 come to me Am
I to have no rest B? no privacy? Must I be
dogged to my last fastncss, and worried to
death by inches? Mr. Stanton has done
just right He knows what he Is about.
Your demands are unreasonable, SIR"
but, Mr. Lincoln, thought you would
feel for me- -.
Feel for you! Good God! I have to
feel for i've hundred thousand more unfor-
tunate than you. We IRE ut war, sir; don't
you know We are ut war? Sorrow Is the lot
IF sll; bear your share like man and sol
der"
II try to, MI: President, but it seems
hard. Ny devoted wife host her life from
coming to nurse me in my sickness and l
csnnol even take her body home to my chill.
drun"
"Weli, she ought not to have como down
10 the army. She could have stayed at home.
That 10 the place for women. But II they
will ~ tearing about the country, In such
times ~ these, and running into al sorts Of
danger, they must take the consequences
Not but that am sorry for you, Colonel
A. for your wife, she's At rest, and l wish !
were. .-.
Saying this tho President leaned back
wearily II his chair, and closed his eyes, not
noticing. except BY saight wave Of his
hand. the departure of his vieitorA
I am not ashamed 70 confess that my hero
aa>>A 49, ~>f1