The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-11-24
LINCOLN IN DESPAIR
THE TIME WHEN HE WAS TEMPT.
ED TO SUICIDE.

An Instance When he Was More Seri'
Gus Tha" the Case Warranted
Story Told by Secretary of War
Stanton to Congressman Young.
Mr.. Lincoln during the war was
very sensitive of the criticisms on his
administration by the newspaper
press, believing it to be, as he assert
ed, the true voice of the people. The
failures of Mcdowell. Mcclellan, Burn
side and Poe with the Army of the Pc
tomac and the criticisms made there
on by the newspapers almost crazed
him. Time and again he would free
himself from the Executive Mansion
and seek my little office, the only
place in Washington. he often said,
where he could be absolutely free from
interruption. When he became closet
ed with me on these visits Mr.. Lincoln
would unbosom himself and talk of
his cares and woes. Several times he
insisted that he ought to resign. and
thus give the country an opportunity
to secure some one better fitted TO &C.
complish the great task expected OF
the President. Or. if he did not re
sign, he thought he ought to impress
upon Congress the propriety OF giving
the absolute control Of the army TO
some purely military man 1t was dur
ing one of these moods that he con
ceived the idea of placing Hooker in
command of the Army of the Potomac
and of vesting him with such power
that in his opinion. he could not fail
of success. He had a great idea OF
Hooler's ability as a soldier, and in
addition he believed him to be an hon
est man and sincere patriot. He
wanted him to fight what he intended
should be and what he felt would he,
the closing battle of the war Accord
ingly. when Hooker got under way,
and the news came that at ChanCel.
louisville he would make his fight. Mr..
Lincoln was in the greatest state of
mental excitement From the time
that Hookers army began it's march
until the smoke of battle had cleared
from the fatal field of Charlottesville.
he scarcely knew what it was to sleep.
1T will be remembered that the
fight lasted three days During the
first two days it looked as if Hooker
was about to accomplish what so
many generals before him had failed
to do; but. early on the third day, the
usual halfhour dispatches began to
make matters look dark and ominous
of defeat. The whole day Mr.. Lincoln
was miserable He ate nothing, and
would see no one but me AS it grew
dark the dispatches ceased coming at
all. Mr. Lincoln would walk from the
White House to my apartment and
anXiously inquire for news from Hook
er. With the going down of the sun
cold and drenching rain set in,
which lasted through the night At
about o'clock Mr. Lincoln ceased his
visits to my apartment, and gave or
ders at the Executive Mansion that he
would see no one before morning. An
hour afterward dispatch of indefinite
character was received from Hooker.
and | hurried with it to Mr. Lincoln's
apartments. When | entered | found
him walking the floor, and his ason.
lied appearance so terrified me that il
was with difficulty that ! could speak
Mr.. Lincoln approached me like a man
wild with excitement, seized the dis
patch from my hand, read it, and his
face slightly Frightening, remarked
Stanton, there is hope yeti AT my
solicitation Mr.. Lincoln accompanied
me to the War Department, where he
agreed to spend the night, or until
something definite was heard from
Hooker. For five hours. the LONGEST
and most wearisome of my life. I wait.
ed before a dispatch announcing the
retreat of Hooker was received. When
Mr. Lincoln read it he threw up his
hands and exclaimed My God, Stan.
ic % 4
we are ruined: and such fearful
loss of life! My God: this is more than
| can endurei' He stood, trembling
visibly, his face of CHASTITY hue. the
perspiration standing out in big spots
on his brow He put on his hat and
coat and began to pace the floor For
five or ten minutes he was silent and
then, turning to me, he said If am
not around early tomorrow, do not
send for me, nor allow any one to dis.
turb me. Defeated again, and so many
of our noble countrymen killed! What
will the people say?
CAS- he finished he started for the
door | Was alarmed There was
something Understandable about the
Presidents face and manner that
made me feel that my chief should not
be left alone. How to approach him
without creating suspicion was the
thought of second. Going up to him
and laying my hand on his shoulder
| said: Mr.. President, l. too am feel
ing that | would rather be dead than
alive; but is it manly-it is brave
that we should be the first to sue.
cumb? | have an idea You remain
here with me tonight. Lie down on
yonder lounge, and by the time you
have had a few hours sleep. | will
have vessel at the wharf. and we
will go to the front and see for our.
selves the condition of the army"
"The idea of visiting the army in
person acted like tonic Mr.. Lincoln
Immediately adopted the suggestion.
The next morning we left WASHINGTON
on a gunboat for Hookers command.
On our return trip Mr. Lincoln told me
that when he started to leave the
War Department on that evening he
had fully made up his mind TO go i'm.
mediately to the Potomac River and
there end his life, as many poor crea.
ture-but none half so miserable as he
was at that time-had done before
him. '-Philadelphia Times
CUBAN EXECUTIONS.