Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-05-07
Thrilling Scene ina the War OMce after
HOOker's Defeat.

The Philadelphia Post publishes the follow
ing:
Mr.. Stanton said it panied him TO see the opiR-
ion so prevalent that Mr.. Lincoln was a habitual
joker, and never serious He said it was great
error and related the following incident to prove
the injustice of the popular impression. Mr..
Lincoln was very sensitive of the criticism OF
the newspaper press, believing it as he asserted,
the true voice of the people. The failures of
Mcdowell, Mcclellan, Pope and Burnside with
the army OF the Potomac, and the accompanying
criticism of the newspapers had almost crazed
him. Time and again he would free himself
from the white house and seek Mr.. Stanton S
little office, the only place in Washington, he
often remarked, where he was free from bores.
He often talked to Mr.. Stanton of resignng or
pressing on Congress the proprlety of giving to
military men the control of the army and navy.
| 1t was during this period that he conceived the
idea of putting Hooker in command of the army
| of the Potomac, and have him make effort tor
success. He had good opinion of Hooker,
thinking him an honest and sincere patriot and
soldier. He put him in command, and did
everything in his power to make him fight what
he wanted to make the closing battle of the war.
Accordingly, when Hooker got under way and
news came that at Charlottesville he would
make his fight, Mr.. Lincoln was in the greatest
state of excitement. From the time that Hooker
began to march until the smoke of battle had
he scarcely knew what it was to sleep. 1t will
be remembered the fight lasted three days. Dur
ing the first two days it looked as if Hooker was
about to accomplish what so many failed to do,
but early on the third day the usual haf-hour
dispatches began to make matters look worse
That whole day Mr.. Lincoln looked miserable.
He ate nothing, and would see no one but Mr..
Stanton. AS it grew dark the dispatches ceased
coming altogether. The President would walk
from the white house to the war department and
anXiously inquire for Hooker The night was
dark and xtormy-about as mean a night as was
ever experience in Washington. About seven
o clock the President closed his visits to the war
department. An hour afterward a dispatch of
an indefinite character was received, and Mr..
Stanton hurried with it to the white house. He
found Mr.. Lincoln walking the room he en-
tered, the agonizing appearance of the man so
terrified him that it was with difficulty that he
could speak Mr.. Lincoln talked to him like a
wild man, and, seizing the dispatch from his
hand, read it, and simply remarked g Stanton,
there's hope yet" At Mr.. Stantons soicta-
tion he accompanied MIN to the war department,
where they agreed to spend the time together
until something definite was heard from Hooker
For four hours, the longest and most wearsome
of his life, said Mr. Stanton, they waited before
the dispatch announcing the retreat of Hooker
was received. When Mr.. Lincoln read it, he
threw up his hands and exclaimed: My God
Stanton, our cause is lost. We are ruined and
such fearful loss of life. My God this is
more than | can endure" He stood trembling
like leaf, his face of ghastly hue the perspir-
alton rolling from his brow. lie put on his hat
and coat, and began pacing the floor. For five
minutes he was silent and then, turning to
Stanton, he said 81. | am not about early to-
morrow morning don't feel alarmed Defeated
again, and so many killed What will the peo-
pie sayP AS he made the remark he went to
fha tn lie ola a
Mr.. Stanton, and he stopped him and entreated
him to return that they might talk and act like
men. With difficulty he had him return, Mr..
Stanton began to try to cheer him. lie finally
got him to assent to retire to bed, and leave for
the army the next morning-which they did.
Lincoln afterward told Mr.. Stanton that when he
spoke to him about not being alarmed if he was
not about the next morning, he had fully made
up his mind to go to the Potomac and drown
himself. Mr.. Stanton said he thought at the
time he contemplated suicide and never felt so
frightened during his life time.