Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-06-26
DEATH OF LINCOLN.
Gen. Chamberlain Describes How the
News Was Received by the Army
of the Potomac.

News Was Received by the Army
of the Potomac.
Boston Congregationalist.
As was pacing the ground. wrapped
IN anxious thoughts, the lady of the
, house-there were never any men ut
home-came out to ask what had hap
pened that disturbed US SO deeply.
at is some bad news for the South"
| said.
ais it Lee or Davis ?"she asked, look
OF p lin pinching her features.
at is Lincoln"
The face frightened instantly. with an
expression of pleasure she could not
conceal.
"You have lost your best friend, mad
anne, was the only thing to say.
All being now secure in camp, and the
news prudently broken to the men, in
stinct and habit turned to the superior
officers. Even the companionship of
these experienced men would be some
relief, and perhaps there might be cOun-
sci to be taken now, as in so many
dark and bOding hour before. My
thought was anticipated. That sight so
often dear to so many eyes-Charles
Griffin riding up-was never more wei
come than now. He was our corps
commander. We brought together
few tried and trusted spirits to discuss
the situation. We did not pretend to
be men of influence. but we knew We
were likely, if anything happened, to be
men of action. So we had a right to
! forecast events. AL we knew yet of
the situation at Washington was what
the brief telegram had told. But that
looked dark enough. The upshot of our
conference was expressed in words that
L can even now remember: "They mean
to destroy the government by assassina-
tlon. They will get possession of the
capital before anybody can stop them.
There is nothing for it but to march the
army to Washington and make Grant
military dictator until we can restore
constitutional government. We thought
all was won, but all may be lost if the
army does not move promptly to the
rescue"
We may smile at these things now, as
the habit is, after the danger is past.
Bet in the situation of things then there
was little to be laughed at. The spirit
of that midnight conference showed
what the real reliance was in case the
deed had come.
But no worse news came from the
capital. The heart-broken people held
their balauce and their command. So
the march was resumed calmly and or
derly; We were ready for anything. On
the morning Of the third day, the order
came to make no movement and do no
work, for it was the day of LincOlD's
burial. 1t was fitting, surely, that we
should hold service too. So we got the
senior chaplain of the division to pre-
pare an address. Knowing his Irish
warmth of eloQuence, cautioned him
against stirring up our feelings to 70
venge. At the appointed hour the
troops were formed in hollow square.
The old hsgs were brought to the front
-battle-dimmed and torn, but eloquent
Of things that never could be told. On
the open side was planted the Maltese
cross of red. Around it gathered the
generals and aff-Grlffin, too, never
forgetting his old division, and always
of reverential and religious mind. The
troops stacked arms and stood calmly
behind them. Iplaced myself close be-
side the chaplain to keep a restraint
upon him. He assured me he would be
judiciOus.
But his very first utteraBce thrilled
us. With that voice and cOuntenance
of suppressed passion which heightens
power, and in deep and rounded tones
made yet mere effective by slightly
foreign accent, he launched forth these
startling words: And she, being before
instructed of her mother, said, Give me.
here John Baptist's head in charger.
The very text was thrilling. But he
went on to unfold the analogy. He said
the spirit that conceived the destruc-
ton of the Union had invited the spirit
of murder from the beginning. Anu it
was that same spirit which had now de- =
manded the life of this just and faithful
and consecrated man. He showed the
rebellion to have no Justification. He
pointed out the fact that Lincoln had
committed no other crime than being,
elected President of the
United Statsc. He portrayed his sin
cere and generous character and his
course. Then he pictured
him stricken down with bastard hand,
in the very midst of acts of mercy, and
words of great-hearted charity and love.
Now his native elOquence took the
mastery of him. Glaneing significantly
he reminded the soldiers of Lin
coins love for them and theirs for him.
He asked them if they could endure this
Sacrilege, or could let it go unpunished
if they would not rather sweep such
spirit clean out of the land, and cast it
root and branch into everlasting burn
ing.
At this l saw the men spring forward
to their stacks and make the motion as
if to grasp their arms. l had tried To
moderate him now and then when his
words brought mutteIings of
now fairly caught him by b.
the arm and told him he must STOP or
rather he must steady the men down.
Instantly, with native adroitneSS, be
turned the current of emotion he
had aroused. Lifting his hand full
height he brought it down with tre-
mendous sweep: But better So" he
cried Better to die glorious than to
i've infamOusl Better to be buried be-
meath nations tears than to walk the
sarth guilty of nations blood Better.
.hOusand-fold, forever better Lincoln
lead than Davis hviDgr'
Then, with all exhOrtation that rose
INTO prayer, and then into triumph of
new conservation to the undying cause
Of freedom and right, he gave US back
20 ourselves better soldiers and better
men.
Who that heard those burning words
,an ever forget them? And who that
Jaw them can forget that congregation
If the field? Meskly returning from
heir glories at Appomattox, and meek
y sharing-for. it was of theirs, also
he sacrifice at Washington. Steadfast
md noble, in every test, unto the end.
Tod bless them likewiseI