The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-03-09
From the Philadelphia Post. |


Mr.. Stanton said it panied him to
see the opinion so prevalent that MI.
Lincoln was a habitnal joker, and
never serious. He said it was a great
error, and related the following Incl
dent to prove the injustice of the pop
ular impression: Mr.. Lincoln was
very sensitive of the criticisms of the.
newspaper press, believing it. as he
asserted, the truc voice Of The pe0nle.
The failures of Mcdowell and McClel-
Ian, and Burnside and Pope, with the
Army ofthe Potomac, and the accom-
panying criticisms of the newspapers,
had almost crazed him. Time and
again he would free himself from the
White House, and seek Mr.. Stantou's
little Office, the only place in Washing
ton, lie often remarked. where he was
free from bores. He often talked TO
Mr.. Stanton of resigning, or pressing
on Congress the propricty of giving
the control of the army and navy 10
military men. 1t was during this
period that lie conceived the idea of
pntting Hooker in command. Of The
Army of the Potomac, and have him
make an effort tor success. He had n
good opinion Of Hooker, thinking him
AN honest and sincere patriot and sol
der. He put him in command. and
ana everything in Shis power to make
nm hight what he wanted to make the
closing battle of the war. According
ly, when Hooker got under way, news
came that at charlottesville, he would
make his fight, Mr.. Lincoln was in the
f,fA of al
From the time that Hooker began to
march. until the smoke of the battle
had cleared from the fatal field of
charlottesville he scarcely knew
what it was to sleep. 1t will be re-
mcmbered the fight lasted three days.
Daring the first two days it looked rs
iT Hooker was about to accomplish
what SO many failed to do, but early
on the third day the usual half hour
dispatches began to make mattess look
worse. That whole day Mr.. Lincoln
was miserable. He ate nothing and
would see no one bnt MIR. Stanton. As
il grew dark the dispatches ceased COM
ing altogether. The President would
walk from the White House to the War
Department and anxiously inquire for
Hooker. The. night was dark and
stormy--about as mean night as ever
WAS experienced in Washington
Ahont Z o'clock the President closed his
visits to the War Department.
An hour afterward dispatch of an
Indefinite character was received, and
Mr.. Stanton hurried with it to the
White House. He fonnd Mr.. Lincoln
walking the room, and as he entered,
the agonizing appearance of the man
so terrified him that it was with diff
Guilty he could speak. Mr.. Lincoln
talked to him like Wild man, and
seizipg the dispatch from his hand,
read it and simply remarked: "Stan-
ton, there's hope yet! AT Mr.. Stanton's
solicitation, he accompanied him to
the War Department, where they
agreed to spend the time together I'M
til something definite was heard from
Hooker. For four hours, the longest
and most wearisome of his life, said
Mr.. Stanton, they waited before the
dispatch announcing the retreat OF
Hooker was received. When Mr.. Lin
cotu read it, he threw up his hands,
and exclaimed: ANY God, Mr. Stanton
our canse is lost. We are ruined: and
such Il fearful loss of life. My God
this is more than can endure" tic
stood trembling like a leaf, bis face OF
a CHASTITY hue, the PRECIPITATION rolling
from his brow. He put on his hat and
coat, and began pacing the floor. Fol
| five minutes he was silent, and then;
turning to Stanton, he said: "If | am
not abont early Tomorrow, don't fee
alarmed Defeated again, ard ST
many killed. What will the people
sayw AS he made the remark, he went
to open the door to go ont. His ac
tons alarmed Mr.. Stanton, and he
stopped him and entreated him to re
turn that they might talk and act like
men. With difficulty he had him to. re
turn, and Mr.. Stanton began to, try t.
cheer him. He finally got him to as
sent TO retire to bed, and leave for thu
army together next moruing-whict
I they did. Lincoln afterward told NJ,
Stanton that when he spoke to hin
about not being alarmed if he was no
about next morning, he had fully mad
up his mind to go to the Potomac ant
drown himself. Mr.. Stanton said h.
thought, at the time, that he centemp
lated suicide, and never felt SO fright
ened during his lifetime.
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