Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-01
A STORY ABOUT LINCOLN.
How Mr. stanton Prevented Him
from Committing Suicide.

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, believ-
ing it, as he asserted, the true voice of
the people The failures of Mcdowell
and Mcclellan and Burnside and Pope
with the Army or the Potomac, and the
accompanying criticisms of the newspa-
pers had almost crazed him. Time and
again he would free himself from the
White House, and seek Mr.. StantOn's lit
tie 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 propriety of giving con-
troll of the army and navy to military
men. 1t was during this period that he
conceived the idea of putting Hooker in
command of the Army of the Potomac,
and have him make an effort for success.
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
accomplish what so many had failed to do,
but on the third day the usual half-hour
dispatches began to make matters look
worse. That whole day Nr. Lincoln was
miserable. He ate nothing, and would
see no one but Mr.. Stanton. AS it grew
dark the dispatches ceased coming alto
gether. The President walked from the
White House to the War Department and
anxiously inquired for Hooker. The night
was dark and 5tormy-abOut as mean
night as was ever experienced in Wash
ingtOn. About z o'clock the President
closed his visits to the War Department
An hour afterward dispatch of an in
definite character was received and BIr.
Stanton hurried with it to the White
House. He found Mr.. Lincoln walking
the room, and ashe entered, the agonizing
appearance of the man so terrified him
that it was with difficulty he could speak.
Mr.. Lincoln walked to him like wild
man, and seizing the dispatch from his
hand, read it, and simply remarked,
''Stanton, there's hope yeti" At Mr..
StantOn's solicitation he accompanied him
to the War Department, where they
agreed to spend the time together until
something definite was heardfrom Hooker.
For four hours, the longest and most
wearisome of his life, said Mr.. Stanton,
they waited before the dispatch annOunc-
ing the retreat of Hooker was received.
When Mr.. Lincoln read it, he threw up
his hands and exclaimed, "My God,
Stanton, our cause is lost. We are
ruined, We are ruined, and such fearful
loss of life. My God, this is more than
can endure He stood trembling like a
leaf, his face of CHASTITY hue, the perspi-
ration rolling down his brow. He put onhis
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 feel alarmed
Defeated again and so many killed
What will the people say?" As he made
the remark he went to open the door to
20 out. His action alarmed Mr. Stanton,
and he stopped him and entreated him TO
return, that they might talk and act like
men. With difficulty they had him re-
turn, and Mr.. Stanton began TO try to
cheer him. He finally got him to assent
to retire to bed, and leave for the army
together next mOrning-which they did.
Lincoln afterwaTd told Mr.. Stanton that
when he spoke to him about not being
alarmed if he was not about the next
morning, he had fully made up his mind
to 20 to the Potomac and drown himself.
Mr.. Stanton said he thought at the time
he contemplated suicide, and never felt so