Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-02-01
ANECDOTES OF THE WAR,
Interesting Recoliections OF Scott

Interesting Recoliections OF Scott,
Lee, Lincoln and Stanton. /.
From tie Cincinnati Go. nm erciaI Gazette.
Ex-Adiutant Gen. E. D. Townsend now
- the retired list, was one of the most
active and trusted officers at Washing
ton during the war. His position placed
him in almost daily contact with the
president, the general chief, when in
Washington, and the secretary of war,
and he SAW how the rulers of the coun-
try labored with weighty problems be-
fore reaching official decisions. His new
book "Anecdotes of the Civil War in
the United States," just published by
D. Appleton & Co., has many historical
las we'll as entertaining qualities. The
general writes these recollections in a
quiet, pleasant vein, and with evident
close attention to facts. The
book is not made up of scrappy anec-
dOtes, but is rather a recital of i'm portant
state proceedings and events in Wash
lngton, with incidents attending them
Ut is hardly necessary to say that Gen.
Townsend does not violate any conf
dences. He has many interesting things
10 say Of Buchanan. Lincoln, Scott, Nc
CleIlan, Halleck. Stanton and scores of
others prominent in the war.
In tie fall Of 1860 he was one of q party
of twelve or fourteen who dined With
President Buchanan at the Soldiers
Home. Conversation turned on the
probable secession Of the southern States.
Mr.. Buchanan said little until Massa-
chusetts was mentioned, when he re-
marked. with considerable warmth: 81
wish massachusetts, would eecede; she is
practically already out of the Union by
her action in the fugitive slave
matter" Gen. Townsend does not
give much space to Buchanan, though
acknowledging his kindly social impulses
The unflinchlng loyalty and high.m minded
patriotism of Gen. Winfield Scott were
perfectly we'll known to Gen. Townsend
who was on SCOTS staff until the vener~
able soldier was succeeded by Mcclellan
Gen. Townsend was present when Col.
Root. E: Lee had his final interviewwith
Scott, April 10, 1867. Scott had written
When Lee came in (write5 Townsend>,
was alone in the room with Gen. Scott,
and the door to the aides room was
close. quietly arose, keeping my eye
on the general, for it seemed probable
be might wish TO be alone with Lee.
He, however, secretly mentioned mo
to keep my seat, and sat down with
ous Lee having chance to notice that
had sEizen. The Gener i having invited
Leeto be seated, the following converse
ton, as nearly as can remember. took
place:
Cen. Scott. You are at present on
leave of absence, Col. Lee?
Col. Lee. Yes, General, am staying
with my family at Arlington.
Gen. Scott. These are times when
every officer in the United States should
fully determine what course he will
pursue, and frankly declare it. No one
should continue in Government employ
without being actively engaged. mo re-
Spouse from Lee.l
Gen. Scott lseelng evidently that Lee
showed no disposition to declare him
selfloyal, or even in doubt: I suppose
you will 60 with the rest. If you pur
do so at once: your present atti tude is
an equivocal one.
Col. Lee. General the property be-
longing to my children, all they possess,
lies in Virginia. They will be ruined if
they do not 60 with their State. can
not raise my hand agains: my children.
Gen. Scott then signitied that he had
nothing further to say, and Col, Lee
withdrew. The next day. April 20, 1861,
he rendered his resignation, and it was
accepted the 18th. Gen. Scott made no
remark upon the subject, but he was
evidently much grieved at thus parting
with man of whom he had been Just
~ proud, and for whom he had
cherished the highest personal regard.
IT was probably near the same day as
the interview with Gen. Scott, that the
following incident, related to me by the
late Col. Shiras, occurred. Shiras was
in tho office of Adjt. Gen. L. Thomas
when Col. Lee game in there. Standing
on the side of the table opposite where
Thomas was sitting, Lee said: 'tGen.
Thomas, am told you have said was
him in the eye, replied: II have said
SO: do you wish to know on what au-
thority?" s'Yes," said Lee. "Well, ON
The authority of Gen. ScottW Lee mutt
tered, "There must be some mistake"
and left the room.
Gen. Townsend saw much of Mr..
lincoln, and gives a number Of the
pointed stories used as illustrations
by the war President. IAN old friend
of DIR. Lincoln was conversing with the
President at 8 time during the war
when things looked very dark. On
taking his leave he asked the President
what he should say to their friend in
Kentneky what cheering news he could
give him. Mr., Lincoln replied: THAT
reminds me of q man who prided him
self greatly on his game Of chess, hav-
ing seldom been beaten He heard of
q machine called the automaton chess
PLAYER, which was beating every one
=, who played against it. So he went to
Try his skill with the machine. He lost
tie first game, SO with the second and
the third. Then rising in establishment
from his seat, he walked around the
machine, and lock led at it a few minutes.
Then stopping and pointing at it he ex-
claimed. There is q. man in there"
Tell my friends" said Mr.. Lincoln,
drawing himself up 10 his full height,
there is q man in there" St: :.
54 Gen. Townsend's "reminiscences of
Secretary Stanton are quite extended.
The following are quotations; ssMr.
Stanton entered upon the duties Of
Secretarysof War witha due apprecia lion
tsof their difficulties and responsib ilities.
He VI 81 beset by persons who had faxes
90 grind and some Of them were not
serupiuous ais to the means Of Gaining
their end. He found that a determined
s will would often alone enable him to
Sssurmount obstacles in the way of the
4 public service. This, adde q TO the nerY-
GUS irritability which infalibly attends
DverW0rk, sometimes made him arbit-
rary and offensive in his manners. But