The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-01-31

Bo1y sleepl
Like soft and ripening rain
Falling on the yellow z ain,
For the glare Of suns expressing,
Plying weep!
Ger thy still seas met together
Charmed Sleep!
Hear them swell drowsy hymning,
Swans to silvery music swimming,
Floating with unru I'd feather
Der the deep!
Lucy Lareom.
ANECDOTES OF THE WAR.
Interesting Recollections Of Scott,
Loo, Lincoln and Stanton.
From the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
Ex-Adjutant Gen. E. D. Townsend now
on 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-in-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 n
the United States," just published bv
ID. Appleton d Co.. has many historical
as 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 recital of important
state proceedings and events in Wash
ington, with incidents attending them
1t is hardly necessary to say that Gen.
Townsend does not violate any conf
dences. He has many interesting things
TO say OF buchanan, Lincoln, Scott, Nc
ClelIan, Hal!eck. Stanton and scores of
others prominent in the war.
In ii fall of 1860 be was one c. a party
OF twelve or fourteen who dined slth
President Buchanan at the Soldiers
Home. Conversation turned on the
probable secession ofthe southern States.
Mr.. Buchanan said little until Massa-
chusetts was mentioned, when he re-
marked. with considerable warmth: II
wish Massachusetts would secede; 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 socia! impulses
The untiinchlhg loyalty and high. 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.
Robt. E. Lee had his final interview with
Scott, April 10, 1861. Scott had written
to Lee thst he wished to see him
When Lee came in Writes Townsend),
l was alone in the room with Gen. Scott,
and the door to the aides room was
close. Iquietly arose, keeping my eve
on the general, for 1t seemed probable
he might wish to be alone with Lee.
He, however, secretly mentioned me
to keep my seat, and sat down with
out Lee having q chance to notice that I
had rizen. The Gener having invited
Lee to be seated, the following converse
ton, as nearly as can remember. took
place:
Gen. 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
ouOuAu COutAAuo Ill 0OfcIuueul employ
without being actively engaged. mo re-
Spouse from Lee.]
Gen. Scott [seelng evidently that Lee
showed no disposition to declare him.
elfloyal, or even in doubt. suppose
you will 60 with the rest. If you pur-
pose to resign, 1t is proper you should
de so at once: your present attitude 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: NV children,
Gen. Scott then signified 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 25th. Gen. Scott made no
remark upon the subject, but he vas
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 dsy a. |
the interview with Gen. Scott, that the |
following incident, related to me by the |
late Col. Shiras, occurred. Shiras was |
in the Office of Adjt. Gen. L. Thomas !
when Col. Lee came in there. Standing |
on the side of the table opposite where |
Thomas was sitting, Lee said: "Gen.
Thomas, I am told you have said was
q traitor" Thomas arose and looking |
him in the eye, replied: II have said |
so; do you wish to know on what au-
thority?" ''Yes," said Lee. "Well, on
the authority of Gen. Scot" Lee mutt
tered, "There must be some mistake"
and left the room.
Gen. Townsend saw much of Mr.. |
Lincoln, and gives number of the
pointed stories used as illustrations |
by the war President. IAN old friend |
Of Mr.: Lincoln was conversing with the
when things looked very dark. On
taking his leave he asked the President |
what he should say to their friend in
Kentucky what cheering news he could |
give him. Mr.. Lincoln replied: THAT |
reminds me of man who prided him
self greatly on his game of chess, hay
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
he first game, so with the second and |
the third. Then rising in astonishment |
from his seat, he walked around the
machine, and looked at it few minutes. |
Then stopping and pointing at 1t ne ex-
claimed. "There is a man in there"
Tell my friends" said Mr.. Lincoln,
drawing himself up TO his full height,
"there is q man in there"
Gen. Townsend's "reminiscences of
Secretary Stanton are quite extended. |
The following are quotations.; "Mr.
anton entered upon the duties Of |
Secretary of War with due appreciation
of their difficulties and responsibilities. |
He beset ny persons who had axes
to grind and some of them we're not
scrupluous as to the mears of gaining
their end. He found that determined
will would often alone enable him to
surmount obstacles in the way of the
public service. This, added to the nerv- /
Gus irritability which infallibly attends
overwork, sometimes made him arbit-
rary and offensive in his manners. But
I always found him ready to make
amends when in the wrong-if not direct
]y by apology, yet by some exceedingly
kind act which more than atoned for