The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-01-13
A War Remlmescemce Related by
Stanton.
Hon The Late Ldmented 1arroaoIy Escaped
Committing Suicide.

Committing Suicide.
| A Washington correspondent of the
Philadelphia Post repeats the story of an
incident in the life of the Late Lamented
as it was first told by ex-Secretary Stan
ton to a company of friends who called
upon him while he was holding possession
of the War Office pending his controversy
with Mr.. johnson. The public we're not
advised, until this revelation by his adj
mirers, how near the Lamented escaped
the fate of another celebrated historical
character who went and hanged himself !:
| Mr.. Stanton said il panied aim to see the
| opinion so prevalent that Mr.. Lincoln was
a habitual joker, and never serious He
said 1t was a greal error, and related the
| following incident to prove the inJu of
| the popular impression: Mr.. Lincoln was
| very sensitive OF the criticisms OF the news
| paper press. believing il, as he asserted, the
| true voice of the people. The failures of
Mcdowell and Mcclellan, and Burnside and
| Pope, with the Army of the Potomac, and
the accompanying criticisms OF the news
papers. 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 re-
often talked to Mr.. Stanton of resigning. or
pressing on Congress the propriety of Civ
ing the control of the army and navy 20
military men. 1t was during this period
that he conceived the idea OF putting Hook
er in command of the Army ofthe Potomac
and have him make effort for success.
He had good opinion of Hooker, thinking
him an honest and sincere patriot and SOL
der. He put him in command. and did ev-
erything 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 Chaneel-
iorsville he would make his fight Mr.. Lin
coin was in the greatest state OF mental ex-
element. From the time that Hooker be
gan TO march until the smoke of battle had
cleared from the fatal field of Chancellors-
vile, he scarcely knew what 1t was to sleep.
IL 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 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. He ate nothing
and would see no one but 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 as mean
night as was ever experienced in WASH
ingtOn. About O'clock the President
closed his visits to the War Department.
An hour afterwards a dispatch of an in
definite 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 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 mis- hand, read it, and !
simply remarked: stanton, there's hope |
yct. At Mr.. StantOn's solicitation he ac- |
him to the War Department, |
where they agreed to spe:.d the time togeth- |
er until something definite was heard from |
Hooker. For four hours, the longest and |
most wearisome of his life, said Mr. Stanton, |
they waited before the dispatch announcing |
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 lite. My God, this is
more than / can endure" lie stood trem-
bling like leaf, his face of a CHASTITY 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: ~
am not about early tomorrow don't feel alarmed.
again, and so many KILLED. What ecW
he TeOpLe sdv ," & he made the remark he
Went to open the door to go out. His ac-
lions alarm ed Mr.. Stanton, and he stopped
him and entreated him TO return, that they
~ ne lad him to return. and tfh S tfllSanul
began to try to cheer him. lie nnally got
hin to assent to retire TO bed, and leave for
the army together next mornlng-Whlch
they did. Lincoln Gftertodrd ted 1r. Stanton
hat arhen he spoke TO ham about not os1R9
1Ldrmedif he lCdS not about The Re1t morning. ne
had f1llg made up his mind TO go 20 me fot0"tdc
and drolCn himself. Mr.. Stanton sald ne
thoupnt at the time that he contemplated
suicide, and never felt so frightened during
bje Iifetime Il.