Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-01-12

finrofn .ffmosf q Snfcide.
A correspondent Of the Philadelphia
Post gets of the following remarkable
story about Lincolu's despair at the
battle Of Chauccllorvillc, which he
says was related TO him by tho late
Edwin NJ. Stanton
Mr.. Lincoln was very sensitive Of
the criticisms of tho newspaper press,
believing it, MS he asserted, the true
voice OF the people. The failures Of
Mcdowell aud 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 the White House
and seek Mr.. SIanton's little Office,
the only place in Washington, lie of
ten remarked, where ho was free
from bores. lie often talked to Mr.
Stanton of resigning or pressing on
Congress the propriety OF giving con
troll Of tho army and navy 10 military
men. 1t was during that he conceiv-
cd the idea Of putting Hooker in com
mand of the Army of the Potomac
and have him make an effort for sue
cess. Hehad a good opinion of Hooker,
thinking him an honest and sincere
patriotand soldier. lie uthim in com
mand and did every thing Ia his pow
err 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 Chancel
lorvile he wonld make his fight, Mr.,
Lincoln was in the greatest state of
nvuIiu eAcItement' FROM the time
that Hooker began to march until the
smoke Of battle had cleared from the
fatal field OF Chancelorville he scarce.
ly knew what il was TO sleep. 1t will
be remembered that tho fight lasted
three days During the first two days
it looked as if Hooker was about to
accomplish what 50 many had failed
TO do, but early on the third day the
usual half hour dispatches began to
make matters look worse. That whole
day Mr.. Lincoln was miserable. lie
ate nothing, and would see no one hui
Mr.. Stanton. AS it grew dark The
dispatches ceased coming 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
rs mean n night as was ever expert
enccd in Washington. About seven
o'clock the President closed his visits
to the War Department. An hour af-
forwards despatch Of indefinite chnr-
acter was received and Mr.. Stanton
hurried with il tn the White House
IIe found Mr. Lincoln walking the
room, and rs he entered, the agOniz
ing appearance of the man 30 terrified
him that II was with difficulty that he
could speak Mr.. Linc,dn walked TO
him like wild man, and sciziug the
despatch from his hand, read il, aud
simply remarked stanton. there's
hope yeti" Al Mr.. Stanton's solicila.
tiOn hc accompanied him TO the War
Department where they agreed to
spend the time together until some
thing definite was heard from Hooker
For fur hours, the longest aud mos,
wearisomc of his life, said Mr. Stan.
ton, they waited before the despatch
the retreat of Hooker was
received. When Mr. Lincoln read il,
he threw up liis hands aud exclaimed,
'' Ny God, Stanton. our cause is lust.
We arc ruined, aud such n fearful loss
of life. Ny God, this is more than ]
can endure" He stood trembling
like leaf, his face OF u ghasily hue,
lie put on his hat aud coat, and began
pacing the floor. For five minutes he
was silent. ard then turning to Stan
ton he said, "lf | nm not about early
tomorrow. don't feel alarmed. Dc.
featcd again and so many killed
What ,eW the people say' As he
made the remark lie went 10 open the
door TO go out His actions alarmed
Mr.. Stanton, and he stopped him and
entreatcd him 10 return, that they
might talk and act like men. With
difficulty he bad him return, and Mr..
Stanton began 10 try TO cheer him
lie finally got him to assent to retire
tn bed, and leave for the army togelh.
er the next morning-which they did.
Lincoln afterwards told Mr.. Stanton
that when he spoke to him about not
being alarmed il he was not about the
next morning. ho had fully made up
his mind TO go to the Potomac aud
drown himself. Mr.. Stanton said he
thought at the time he contemplated
suicide, and never felt 50 frightened
during his lifetime