Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-07-03
MiscelIa"soms. g
The Assassination of the s ewards.

At the breaking out Of the war we
find Mr.. Seward in the Cabinet, and
all his sons, William, Frederick, and
Augustus, in the service Of their coun-
try.
Frederick, a man of letters, was Sc.
lected by his father as his coadjutor in
the Department of State, with the po-
sition of assistant secretary.
Augustus already held commission
as pavmaster in the regular Army. He
is a graduate of West Point.
William left very lucrative busi-
ness, young wife aud baby, and as
Colonel of the Ninth New York Artil-
lery, came TO brave the hardships of a
soldier. At the battle of Monocacy
he distinguished himself and was
wounded, for which he was raised TO
the rank of brigadier general.
In 1868, while commanding at Fort
Foote, on the Potomac, William was
seized with an acute attack Of dysen-
terry, induced by exposure in that NAL
arious district. He was brought home
to Washington by the surgeons in
charge, who looked upon his case as
one to excite the greatest alarm. For
several days he lay between life and
death, causing the greatest solicitude
to his parents. At his bedside had
the opportunity Of estimat ing the
character of that angelic woman who,
moving around his couch as i: an
ethereal form, administered to his wants
with so much judgment and infinite
maternal love. II rallied, and his con-
valescence brought consciousness Of
happiness in that household, which,
without excessive demonstrations,
seemed to peryade the very air. AS
he became convalescent, l recommen-
ded temporary change of climate,
and ordered him to his home in Au-
burn. There he improved greatly,
and gave hope Of speedy recovery /;
but few weeks after, the malaria still
remaining in his system developed in.
to dangerous form Of typhoid fever.
About the first of November Mr..
Seward requested that should imme-
diately 60 with him to Auburn. He
had received telegram stating that q
consultation of physicians had given
but little hope of the recovery Of his
son. Furnished with an extra train,
accompanied by his daughter Fanny
now his almost inseparable companion
we started for Auburn.
During this long journey he con-
versed SO freely that l ventured to ask
him the question show it happened
that he, the acknowledged leader Of the
Republican party, was not selected as
the candidate for the Presidency in
1860" Iput my question with some
degree Of timidity, for l feared that he
might be sensitive on that subject.
He surprised me with his frank and un.
affected answer. There was no bitter.
ness Or disappointment in the tone Of
his voice. If he had had the ambition
to become the Chief Magistrate Of the
nation-particularly when his party,
the child Of his brain, came into pow
er-it was smothered by the nobler de.
sire Of serving his country rather thar
himself. His reply was:
The leader of political party in {
country like ours is 90 exposed that hil
enemies become as numerous and for
midable as bis friends, and in An cleo
ton you must put forward the mar
who will carry the highest number o.
votes. Pennsylvania would not hav'
voted for me, and without her We ooult
not carry the election; hence I va