The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1870-01-13
A CORRESPONDENT of the Phil

inc uSdtH vi MI. DNdutOn, lells
OF visit to him at the time he
was holding the Office Of Sec
retary OF War:
Mr.. Stanton said it pained
him 10 SEQ the opinion so pre-.
valeht that Mr.. Lincoln was a
habitlal joker, and never seri.
Gus. He said it was a great
error, and related the following
incident TO prove the injustice
OF the popular impression: Mr..
Lincoln was very sensitive OF
the criticisms of the newspaper
press, believing it, as he assert.
ed, the true voice of the peo.
pie. The failures of Mcdowell
and Mcclellan, and Burnside
and Pope, with the Army Of
the Potomac, and the accom-
panying criticisms of the news.
papers, had almost crazed him.
Time and again lie would free
himself from the White House,
and seek Mr.. Stanton's little
office, the only place in Wash
iDgton, he often remarked,
where he was free from bores.
He often talked to Mr.. Stanton
of resigning, or pressing on
Congress the propriety Of Civ
ing control of the army and
navy to military men. 1t was
during this period that he con
ceived the idea of putting
Hooker in command of the Ar.
my Of the Potomac, and have
him make an effort for success.
He had a good opinion Of Hook
er, 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 want
ed TO make the closing battle
Of the war. Accordingly when
Hooker got under way and
news came that at Chanceilors-
vile he would make his fight
MIR. Lincoln was in the great
est state of mental excitement. |
From the time that Hooker
had cleared rlom the fatal field |
of Charlottesville, 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 accomp-
lish what so many failed to do,
but early on the third day the
usual half hour dispatches be-
gan to make matters look
worse. That whole day Mr..
Lincoln was miserable. He
ate nothing, and would see no
one but Mr.. Stanton. AS it
grew dark the dispatches ceas-
ed coming altogether. The
President would walk from the
White House to the War De,
partment and anxiously III
quire for Hooker. The night
was dark and stormy-aboutas as
mean IA night as was ever
in Washington.
A bout 7 o'clock the President
closed his visits 10 the War De-
parlment.
An hour afterwards a dis
patch Of an indefinite character
was received, and Mr.. Stanton
hurried with it to the White
House. lie found Mr.. Lincoln
walking the room, and, as he
the agouizing appear
ance of the man so terrified
him that it was with difficulty
he could speak. Mr.. Lincoln
walked to him like a wild man,
and seizing the dispatch from
his hand, read it, and simply
remarked: stanton, there's
hope yet!' AT Mr.. Stanton's So
licitation, he accompanied him
10 the War Department, where
they agreed to spend the time
together until something de-
finite was heard form Hooker.
For four hours, the longest and
most wearisome OF his life, said
Mr.. Stanton, they waited be.
fore the dispatch announcing
the retreat of Hooker was re
ceived. When Mr.. Lincoln
read it, he threw up his hands
and exclaimed, "My God, Stan.
ton, our cause is lost. We are
ruined, we are ruined; and
such a fearful loss of life. My
God, this is more than l can
endure" lie stood trembling
like a leaf, his face of a ghastly
hue, the perspiration rolling
from his brow. He put on his
hat and coat, and began pacing
the floor. For five minutes he
was silent, and then turning to
Stanton he said: eff am not
about early tomorrow, don't
fool a1orrY,ad nofoa oafod onoio