The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-01-19
A War Renaissance.
TOW STANTON SAVED LINCOLN FROM SUI
CIDE.
IFron the PHILADELPHIA Post.

From the Philadelphia Post.
Mr.. Lincoln was very sensitive of
the criticisms Of the newspaper press,
believing 1t, as he asserted, the true
voice OF the people. The failures Of
Mcdowell and Mcclellan and Burn
side and Pope with The army Of the
Potomac. and the accompanying crit
icisms of the newspapers had almost
crazed him. Time and again he
would free himself from Che 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 resigning or pressing
on Congress the prop,iety OF giving
control Of the army and navy to mil
itary men. It was during this pc
Rod that he conceived the idea Of
putting Hooker in command Of the
army Of tie Potomac, and have him
make an effort for success. From
the time that Hooker began to march
untl the smoke Of battle had cleared
from the fatal field OF Chancellors-
vile he scarcely knew what ii was to
sleep. It viii be remembered the
fight lasted three days. During the
first two days it looked Us If Hooker
was about to accomplish what SO
Imany had failed to do, but on the
third day the usual half-hour Dis
patches began to make matters look
worse. That whole day 1Ir. 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 Presi-
dent walked from the White House
to the War Department and anxious
y inquired for Hooker The night
was dark and stormy-about as mean
q night rs was ever experienced IL
Washington. About 7 O'clock the
} President closed his visits to. the
War Department. An hour after
ward dispatch Of an indefinite char
acter was received, and Mr. Stanton
= hurried with it 10 the White House
lie found 1Ir. Lincoln walking the
room, and, as he entered, the agoni-
zing appearance OF the man SO terri
: fed him, that it was with difficulty
he could speak. 2Ir. Lincoln walk
ed to him like Wild man, and, sei2
ing the dispatch from lis hand, rose
1t, and simply remarked, Stanton
there's hope Yeti" At h(r. Stanton:
solicitation, he accompanied him K
the War Department, where the.
agreed 10 spend tho time toge5h.-
: until something definite WIS heard
from Cen. Hooker. For four hears
/ the longest ard moss wcaTiSomc O
his lie, said Mr.. Stanton, they wait
: ed before The dispGJch annou2cins
the retreat Of Hooker vas received
. When zIr. Iincoln read it, he t}iIe'
pp his hands and exclaimed, IN.
: God, Stanton, our cause is Lost. q,
Il are ruined, and such 4 fearful loss Q
1 life. ny God THIS IS more than
;, can endure" He stood trenholm
: Ike leaf, his face Of a gh8stlg hu'
: the pcrap;rntion rolling from hi
=. brow. EIo put on his hat end Goa
!. and began pacing the floor. hc
y i've minutes he was silent, and the
u turning to Stanton, ko said, eff
~ an not ahont early tomorrow don
! feel alarmed. Defeated again an
d so mary killed. What viii the pei
ole say 2" as he made the remal
, he went 10 open tho door to 50 OF
IS His action alarmed 1Ir. St,!A5or, ar
r.; he stopped him and entreatod hlm
=. - return, that they might talk and o
"a like men. With difficulty he b;
G. him return, and -Ir. Stanton beg.
to try to cheer him. He finally g
he him to assent to retire TO bed, 81
Id leave for the army together ne
>" morning, which they did. Linco
he af erward told Dir. Stanton that VIII
he spoke to him abouS not being
armed If he was not about the nc
morning, he had fully made up !
mind to go to the Potomac a,
~ drown himself. Mr.. Stanton said
thought at the time he contemplate
suicide, and never felt SO brighten
in his lifetime.
III - I'D. -