The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-05-06
Bloody Chancellorsville.

A short time before his death the late
Secretary Stanton said it panied him to
see the opinion so prevalent that Mr..
Lincoln was an habitual joker,a and that
he was never serious. Mr.. Stanton said
1t was a great error, and related the fol-
lowing incident to prove the injustice
of the popular impression:
Mr.. Lincoln was very sensitive of the
criticisms of the newspaper press, be-
lieving it, az he asserted, the true voice
of the people. The failures Of Mellow
ell and Mcclellan and Burnside and
Pope with the Army of the Potomac,
and the accompanying 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, he often remarked, where
he was free from bores.
He often talked to Mr.. Stanton of re-
signing, or of pressing upon Congress
the propriety of giving to military or
naval men the control of the army and
navy. 1t was during this period that
he conceived the idea of putting Hook
er in command of the Army OF the Po-
tomac and have him make an effort for
success. He had a good opinion Of
Hooker, thinking him to be an honest
and sincere patriot and soldier. He
put him in command, and did every
thing 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 great
est state of mental excitement From
the time that Hooker began to march,
until the smoke of battle had fairly
cleared from the fatal field of Chancel-
lorsville, the President scarcely knew
what it was to sleep. 1t will be remeln-
bered that the fight lasted three days.
During the first two days 1t looked as if
Hooker was about to accomplish what
so many had failed to do, but early on
the third day the usual half hour dis
patches began to make matters look
worse. That whole day Mr.. Lincoln
was miserable. He ate nothing, and
would see no one but Mr.. Stantor. Al
it grew dark the dispatches ceased com
ing. The President would walk from
the White House to the War Depart
ment and anxiously inquire for Hooker
The night was dark and stormy-about
as mean night as was ever eXperienc.
ed in Washington. About seven O'Clock
the President ceased his visits to the
War Department.
AN hour afterward despatch of al
indefinite character was received, and
Mr.. Stanton hurried with it to the
White House. He found Mr.. Lincoln
walking the room, and, as he entered
the agonizing appearance Of the Presi
dent so terrified the Secretary that il
was with difficulty he could speak. Mr
Lincoln talked to him like wild man,
and seizing the dispatch from his hand
read it, and simply remarked: "Stan
ton there is no hope yetW At Mr.
Stanton's solicitation, the President ac
companied him to the War Department
where they agreed to spend the tim
together until something definite wa
heard from Hooker For four hours
the longest and most Wearisome of hi
life, said Mr.. Stanton, they waited be
fore the dispatch announcing the re
treat of Hooker was received. Wher
Mr.. Lincoln had read it, he threw vi
his hands and exclaimed: "My God
Stanton our cause is lost. We are ruin
ed! We are ruined! And such a fear
full loss of life. My God this IL NOR
than l can endure, He stood tremh
ling like leaf, the perspiration roliin
from his brow. He put on his hat an
coat, and began pacing the floor. FC
five minutes he was silent, and the
turning TO Stanton he said: "lf l al
not about tomorrow morning, don
. feel alarmed. Defeated again, and s
, many killed. What will the peopl
r say 2" AS he made the remark he wen
to open the door to 60 out His action
alarmed Mr.. Stanton, and he stoppe'
him, and entreated him to return, tina
they might talk and act like men
With difficulty he had him return
and Mr., Stanton began to try to chez
| him. He finally got him to assent t
f retire to bed, and leave for the arm.
the next mornpg-which he did. Lin
) coin afterwards told Mr.. Stanton tina
when he told him about not beinI
: alarmed if he was not about the mex
3 morning, he had fully made up hi
. mind to go to the Potomac and drow
himself Mr.. Stanton says he though
at the time the President contemplate
suicide, and never felt so frightene
during his lifetime.