The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-27
'LINCOLN'S DARKEST HOUR.

! It's details are stu vivid IN my memory. Mr.
I stanton hsd been relating 20 Us many Incl
( dents Of tho funny side OF Mr.. Ltnccln's char
ac,sr, when suddenly he stopped. and, after
remaining slent for probably minute. lock-
tux in vacant way at some manuscript lying
/ on the desk before him. b. turned In his
ehS,r and SAID. s'6entlcmen. there Is moth
/ ,rr that gives me so much pain as the opinion
that seems prevalent. Judging from the news
papers, that MIR. Lincoiu was an hsoltual
I Joker. that Il was an impossibility for him
10 be serious, no matter how sraye the oo-
/ CASTOR might be. His heart was big and good
his nature warm and sunny: hence he natur-
ally looked at the bright side OF events; but
/ 20 man OF my acquaintance was more serious
than he when the surroundings OF the case
( warranted tina, he should be. will give you
I point IN instance:
"Mr. Lincoln. during the war. was very
/ sensitive o. the criticisms on his admlnistra
ton By the newspaper press. believing II TO
be. as he asserted the true voice Of the peo-
pie The failures Of Mcdowell. Mcclellan,
1 Burnside and Pope with the army Of the
Potomac and the criticisms made thereon by
the newspapers Amos, crnzed him. Time
and again be would free himself from the
executive mansion and seek my little otfce.
the only place In Washington. he often said. |
where be gould be absolutely free from in
terTartiou.
when he became eioseted with me on
these visits Mr. Lincoln would unoosom him
s,lf and talk OF his cares and woes. Several
times he insisted that be ought to resign. aud
thus give the country opportunity to Sc
cure SONS one better essed to accomplish the
great task expected OF the president. Or, II
he dld no, resign. he thought he ought 10
impress upon congress the propriety Of giving
the absolute control OF the army TO some pure
/, military man.
II, was during one OF these moods that be
conceived the idea G, placing Hooker In COM
usnnd OF the army o, the Potomac and Of vest
lax him with such power that in his opinion
, be could not fail of success. lie had great
idea OF Hcoksrs ability as soldier AMI 10
addition Ne believed him to be an honest man
and a sincere patriot lie wanted him to
dgh, what he Intended should be. aad what De
felt would be. the closing battle Of the war
Accordingly. when Hooker got under way and
the news came that at chaneenorsyile he
would make his fight. Mr.. Lincoln was in the
greatest state OF mental excitement. From
the time that Rockers army began It's march
rntr the smoke Of battle had cleared from
the fatal field OF Charlottesville he scarcely
knew what it was 20 sleep.
ut will be remembered thst the fght last
ed three days During the frst two days It
looked as II Hooker was about 10 accomplish
what so many generals before him bad failed
to do, but. early on the third day. the usual
halt-hour dispatches began 10 make matter:
look dark and omiEous OF defeat. The whole
day Mr. Lincoln was miserable. He ats MOTH
ing. and would see no one but ne. As 4
. ! grew dark the dispatches ceased ceming 81
all, Mr.. Lincoln would walk from the White
House to my department aud anxiousiy IN
rs qulre FOR news from Hooker. with the gcIns
down OF the sun cold and dFeachins rain
A' set in. which lasted through the night
=. ~
at about o'clock Mr.. Lincoln ceased hi
visits to nay department. and gave orders a
the executive man sion that he would SEQ u
=, one before morning. An hour sfterward
dispatch OF INDEFINITE character WAS receive
from Hooker. and / hurried with It TO NJ!
Lincoln. apartments. When l entered
-. found him walking the door and his asonlge
appearance so terrified me that 1t was wit
=. difficulty that could speak. Mr. Lincoln AZ
preached ne like man wild with anxiety an
excitement. seized the dispatch from my hanf
read It, and. his face slightly Frightening, II
marked: stanton. there IS hope yeti
AT my solicitation Nr. Lincoln accom-
pauted me TO tho war department, where
nv agreed TO spend the night or until somethin
definite was heard from Hooker For five hour
VA the longest and most wearisone OF my III
waited before dispatch announcing the u
treat OF Hooker was received When VI
Lincoln read it he threw up his hands al
u exclaimed: My Cod Stanton. our cause
lcstl We are ruined--se are ruined! and sue
10 a fearful loss OF iifei Ny God! this IS MOI
than can endured He stood, trembling vi
NJ ibly. his face OF CHASTITY hue the peTsplr'
ton standing out in big spots on his bro'
al He put on his hat and cost and began TO pa
the door For I'VE or more minutes he vi
'"S silent. and then. turning to me. be said:
am not about early tomorrow, don't send 4
4"S me, nor allow any one TO disturb me- D
feated again. ard so many Of our noble eou
'hu trymen killed. What will the peopls ssyg'
ca ~
r "As he hnished be started for the door.
was alarmed There was something lndescrl
able about the presidents face and mann
that made nee feel that my chief should n
be left alone How to approach him witho
=, creating suspicion was the thought OF a Sc
=. ond Going up 10 him. and laying my nal
on his shoulder, SAID: Mr.. President
too am feeling that would rather be de
- than alive; but is It manly-is It hrave--th
We should be the FIRST 10 suecumb7 ha
a. an idea: You remain here with me 'onisi
49,. Lie down on yonder lounge and, by the til
you have had few hours sleep l will ha
-. vessel at the wharf. and We will go to I
9, front. and see for ourselves the condition
the army
=, The idea OF visiting the army in pers
acted like tonic Mr. Lincoln instan
adopted the suggestion. The next morn
We left Washington on gunboat for Hooke
~ command on our return trip Mt Line'
~ told noe that when be started 10 leave the v
department on that evening be bad fully ma
a., up his mind to 20 Immediately TO the Potion
- riyer and there end his iite as many pS
oreature--but none half so miserable as
- was at that tlne-had done before him"
Hard Blow TO Mckinley.
80 New orleans states tDem.l'
The republicans and their ORGANS are I