The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1870-01-13
A STORY ABOUT LINCOLN.
How Mr.. Stanton Prevented Him
from Committing Suioide.

The Philadelphia Post publishes some
"reminiscences of the late Mr.. Stanton,
among which is the following:
Mr.. Lincoln was very sensitive of the
criticisms of the newspaper press, believing
it, as he asserted, the true voice Of the
people. The failures of Mcdowell aud
Mcclellan and Burnside and Pope with
the Army of the 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.. Stanton's little office, the
only place in Washington, be often remark
ed, where he was free from bores. He
often talked to Mr.. Stanton of resignig
or pressing on Congress the propriety of
giving control of the army and navy to
military men. 1t was during this period
that he conceived the idea of putting Hook
er in command of the Army of the Poto-
mac, and have him make an effort for sue
cess. From the time that Hooker began
to march until the smoke Of battle had
cleared from the fatal field of Chancellors-
Vile, he scarcely knew what it was to sleep.
1t will be remembered the fight lasted
three days. During the first two days it
looked as if Hooker was about to accom-
plish what so many had failed to do, but
on the third day the usual half hour dis
patches began to make matters look worse.
That whole day Mr.. Lincoln was misera-
bic. He ate nothing, and would see no
one but Mr.. Stanton. As it grew dark
the dispatches ceased coming altogether.
The President walked from the White
House to the War Department and anx-
iously inquired for Hooker, The night
was dark and stermy-about as mean a
might as was ever, experienced in Wash
4 ington. About Z o'clock the President
closed his visits to the, War Department
| An hour atterward dispatch of an indef.
mite character was received and Mr.. Stan
ton hurried with it to the White House
He found Mr.. Lincoln walking the room
and as he entered, the agoni2iug appear.
ance of the man so terrified him that i
was with difficulty he could speak. Mr.
Lincoln walk to him like wild man, an(
seizing the dispatch from his hand, read it
and simply remarked, "Stanton, there
hope yet p At Mr.. Stanton's solicitation
7 he accompanied him to the War Depart
/ ment, where they agreed to spend tn
: time together until some thing definite wa
, heard from Hooker For four hours, tn
Z; longest and most wearisome of his life
said Mr.. Stanton, they waited before tn
dispatch announcing the retreat of Hook
er was received, When Mr.. Lincoln rea
it, he threw up his hands and exclaimed
"My God, Stanton, our cause is lost. w
are ruined, we are ruined, and such feaI
, full loss of life. Ny God, this is more tina
6 l can en6ure." He stood trembling lik
! leaf, his face of ghastly hue, the pei
spiration rolling down his brow. He pr
on his hat and coat, and began pacing tn
g floor. For five minutes he was silent, an
then turning to Stanton, he said, eff [ al
> not about early tomorrow don't feel alarm
: ed. Defeated again and so many killed
); What will the people say?" As he mad
the remark he went to open the door
d 90 out. His action alarmed Mr.. Stanto
I, and he stopped him and entreated him
= return, that they might talk and act lii
b men. With difficulty they had him y
Vt turn, and Mr.. Stanton began to try
: cheer him. He finally got him to assel
+ to retire to bed, and leave for the army t
gether next morning-which they di
,. Lincoln afterward told Mr.. Stanton tn
Y when he spoke to him about not beir
i alarmed if he was not about the next NOR
i ing, he had fully made 40 his mind to
+ to the Potomac and drown himself. NJ
/ Stanton said that he thought at the tir
y he contemplated suicide, and never fe
n SO frightened during his
:; A Wonderful Man,
/. A newspaper in Minnesota processes
o have in its employ tho most extraordina
It man on record. 1t says
Is We have now employed in this off ce
,e man whohas been in the English army
!. over 35 years; was at the siege Of Luo
at now, and had Both ears cut off while site
n iugrhis head out of sally-port. He {
+ terward; served on the staff of Wellingtc
at Waterloo, and subsequently, acconr
ID MED Bopaparto in his celebrated Egypt
y campaign, where he was arrested for CO
+ niving at an elopement with the Sphir
IN and was confined in the pyramids for TIN
'e weary years. lie has been in 48 pitch
ID battles, and great many that were I
e; pitched, Every body has read Of the butc
id er who was killing a beef for the Comm
y. sary when the Balaklaya's charge v
D, sounded ,.and who seized an axe. mount