Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-09-10


ington.
In the Potomac River the stenmcr in
which the invalid officer, Colonel Scott
1 and his wife had taken passage was sunk,
in collision with larger vessel in tAc
night time. The crew and nearly all the
soldiers on board were rescued or saved
themselves; but amid the horrible coniu-
sion Of the scene, Colonel Scott became.
separated from his wife, and she was LOST
The colonel was picked up in the water
the crew of the larger steamer, and und
his direction every effort was made to di
cover his wife, or rather her body, for
/ hope Of finding her alive was soon aba
doncd. The sad search was fruitiess \
was resumed in the morning, the pee
along the shore, humane confedera
lending their aid. But the gray, su
river refused to givo up its dead, and
| young officer, half frantic with grief,
/ compelled to go on TO Washington. wit q
/ in a week, however, he received wO'
| from below that the body of the lady ha'V
/ been washed on shores that those good
country people, generous foes had secured
| il, cared for it, and were keeping ii for him.I
II happened that just at that time impcrI,
ative orders were issued from the War De-
partment, prohibiting all intercourse with
| the pennsula-a necessary precaution
against the premature disclosure of i'm
| portant military plans. So it was with
some misgvings that Colonel Scott appl-
cd to Mr.. Secretary Stanton for leave to re-
| turn to Virginia, on his melancholy duty.
"Impossible, Colonel" replied Mr.. STAN
ton, firmly; "no one can have leave to 60
down the river, at this time on any private
mission whatever. Our present exigencics
demand the most stringent regulations;
and l hope 1 need not say that no mere
| ly personal considerations should be allow
ed to Interfere with great national interests.
| Your case is a sad one; but this is 4 critic
al, perilous, cruel time. 'The dead must
| bury the dead"
The Colonel would have ontrcated, but
the busy Secretary cut him short with an
other "impossiblo," 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 visit
of his unsuccessful application and sad
perplexity, and who Immediately oxclaim-
ed, "why not apply toehc Presdcnt2"
The colonel had but little hope but ac-
lInowlcging that the plan was worth try
ing, drove with his friend 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
mor retreat. This was but a few miles from
town, and the colonel's indomitable friend
proposed that they should follow him out,
and they went.
There was then popular belief that all
the wronged, the troubled, and suffering
could find refuge ia Father Ablahani's"
capacious bosom; belief that was not far
out of the way, Yet there were times
when ovcrburdoned, wearied, tortured,
the patriar h longed to clear that asylum
of his iorlorn inmates, to bolt and bar and
doublc-lock it against the world; times
when life became too hard and pcrplexing
for his genial, honest nature, too serious
and tragic and rascally thing by half.
1t happened unluckily that the poor col
onel and his friend found the President in
one of his most despondent and disgusted
moods. lie was in his little private par
| lor, alone in tho cleaning. He was loung-
ing loosely in u large rocking chair, jutting
over it in all directions. His slippered feet
were exalted, his rough head thrown back,
bis lopr throat boro-bo was in bis sbirt.
| sloovos Yos do,r c,stid;ors rro,li,t
reader If was conriro Yorl,oo oba,,,a,,
make tbo most of II
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riod animal NJ ho,,
Colnrol Scott ,troooo5od VAN. n,odosn,.
g., toII his stor,. I,,, 10 pnosido,t ir.o,
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