Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1870-01-14
EDWTN M. sTANToN.
The Battle of ChanceIIOrsViIIe-
Lincoln DespOndent.


4 Lincoln DespOndent.
A correspondent of the Philadel
phia Post who had an Interview Will
Mr.. Stanton during the impeach
ment excitement relates the follow
ing: .-.,.-..
Mr.. Stanton said it panied him tc
see the opinion so prevalent that Mr.
| Lincoln was q habitual Joker, and new
er serious. He said It was q great err
Tor, and related the following incident
to prove the injustice of the popular
Impression. Mr.. Lincoln was very
sensitive of the criticisms of the
newspaper press, believing it, as he as
serted, the true voice of the people.
The failures of Mcdowell and Nc
ClellaD, and Burnside and Pope, with
the Army Of the Potomac, and the
accompanying criticisms Of the news
papers, had almost erazed him Time
and again he would free himself from
the White House, and seek Mr. Stan
tone little Office, the only place in
Washington, he often remarked.
where he was free from bores. He
often talked to Mr.. Stanton of resign
ing. or pressing on Congress the pro-
army and navy to military men, It
was during this period that he CON
ceived the idea of putting Hooker in
command of the Army of the POto-
mac, and have him make an effort for
success. He had q good opinion of
Hooker, thinking him an honest and
sincere patriot and soldier. He put
him in command, and diG everything
L L. GL.GA 4 4 a
he wanted to make the closing battle
of the war. Accordingly when Hook
eT got under way and news came, that
at Charlottesville he Wonld make
his fight, Mr. Lincoln was 10 the
greatest state of mental excitement.
From the time that Hooker began to
march until the smoke of battle had
cleared from the fatal field of Chan
cellOrsville. he scarcely knew what it
was to sleep. It will be remembered
the fight lasted three days During
the first two days itlooked as if Hook
er was about to accomplish what so
many Killed 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.. Stanton. As
it grew dark the dispatches ceased
coming altogether. The President
would walk from the White House to
the War Department and auxiously
inquire for Hooker. The night was
dark and steFmy-abcut as mean
night as was ever experienced 10
Washington, About clock the Pres
ident closed his visits to the War De-
partment.
An hour afterward dispatch of an
Indefinite character was received, and I
Mr., Stanton hurried with it to the |
White House. He found Mr.Liucoln |
the room, and as he entered, |
the &gOnizing appearance of the man |
so terrified him that it was with diff |
Guilty he could speak. Mr.. Lincoln |
walked to him like a wild man, and |
seizing the dispatch from bis hand, |
read it, and simply remarked {: Stan |
ton, there's hope yet r. At Mr. StaH-
toms solicitation, he accompanied him |
to the War Department, where they |
agreed to spend the time together un- |
til something definite was heard from !
Hooker. For four hours, the longest |
and most wearisome Of his life, said 1
Mr.. Stanton, they waited before the 4
dispatch announcing the retreat of
Hooker was received. When Mr.. |
Lincoln read it, he threw up his hands /
md exclaimed, my God, Stanton. our
,ause is lost. We are ruined, We are
'uined and such a fearful loss of
ife. My God, this is more than I can
endure" He stood trembling like a
eaf, his face of a CHASTITY hue, the per-
piration rolling from his brow. He
,ut on his hat and coat, and began pa
ing the door. For FIVE minutes he
vas silent, and then turning to Stan
on he said "If [ am not about
arly tomorrow, don't feel alarmed.
Defeated again, and so many killed.
N hat aolU the people say? As he
made the remark he went to open the
loor to go out. His actions alarmed
1r. Stanton, and he stopped him and Il
treated him to return, that they
night talk and act like men. With
.ltlculty ne had him return, and Mr..
stanton began to try to cheer him. He
Inaily got him to assent to retire to
'ed, and leave for the army tOgetherl
ext morning--Wbich they did. Lin
Oln afterWard told Mr.. Stanton that
7hen. he spoke to him about not be-
1g alarmed If he was not about the i
ext morning, he had fully made up
Is mind to 90 to the Potomac and ,
rOwn himself. Mr.. Stanton said he
hought at the time that he contempla-
ed suicide, and never felt SO fright
ned during his lifetime.
SENATOR WILSON ON STANTON. {
In an article in the EqdeDendent +
enatoT Wilson says
Mr.. Stanton s patriotism was intense.
lie loved his country with more than l
lastern devotion This great fact i'm
ressed itself on all who knew him, l
'hO witnessed his immense iabors /
uring the rebellion, and his ankle. g
es since its suppression. II was the I
rueible IN which every other feeling. c
lterest, and purpose seemed to be 2
Ised into an ever burning zeal for that :
OuntFys salvation and welfare. It q
as that intense and vehement patri- 9
tism which induced him to entor Bu- i
lanan's cabinet III the closing dayg of g
s weak, inglorious, if not traitorous g
lreer; and held him in Johnson's P
lbinet when friends doubted the wis Y
ON of his action, while the Pnesi. .
ent sought his resignation. To me g
e said, in those days of trial, when. +
9 was sinking beneath the eOmplicaI q
d burdens of his public duties and e
mortal disease, that he longed to D
ave the Office, that he felt that he "
as imperiling life itself by remain Il
g but that the country was 10 dam g
er BY the machinations of bad men, g
lat duty demanded the sacrifice, and .
lat he would remain at his post if he g
led in that room. To the sharp criti- v
sm of some papers, which he felt =
ost keenly, he said that the time a
ould come when they would vindi- =
ite his motives and justify his con-
act. sosl Il