The Portland daily press., 1899-08-18
LlNCOLN'S DARK HOUR.
Defeat of the Union Forces AImos,
Tempted Him to Suicide.
Congressman Young in the Philadelphia
Iimes.)

=
Iimes.)
One story in particular Secretary Stan.
ton told that, can remember, startled
us, and Its details are still Vivid in my
memory. Mr. Stanton had been relating
to Us many incidents of the funny side Of
Dir. Lincoln's character, when suddenly
he stopped and, after remaining Silent
for probably minute. looking In va
can't way at some manuscript lying on
the desk before him, he turned in his
chair and said: "GentIemen, there is
nothing that gives ms so much pain as
the opinion that seems prevalent, judg-
ing from the newspapers, that Mr.. Lin
colin was an habitual joker; that it was
an impossibility for him to be serious, no
matter how grave the occasion might be.
Nothing is further from the truth. His
heart was big and good, his nature warm
and sunny; hence he naturally looked at
tile bright side Of events; but no man Of
my acquaintance was more serious than
he when the surroundings of the case
warranted that be should be. will Civ >
You point in instance.
"Mr. Lincoln, during the war, was
very sensitive Of the criticisms on his adj
ministratlon by the newspaper press. be-
lieving iI to be, as he asserted, the true
voice of the people. Ths failures of Nc
Dowell. Mcclellan, Burnside and Pope
with the army of the Potomac, and the
criticisms made thereon by the newspa-
pers almost crazed him. Time and again
he would free himself from tho Exeou-
! tive Mansion and seek my little Office, the
only place In Washington. he otter eaid,
where he could be absolutely free from
interruption. When he became closeted
with me on these visits, Mr.. Lincoln
would unbosom himself and talk of his
CAKES and woes. Several times he insisted
that he ought to resign. and thus give
the country an opportunity to secure
someone better fitted to accomplish the
great task expected of the President.
Or, If hs did not resign, ne thought he
| ought to impress upon Congress the pro-
priety of giving the absolute control OF
the army to some purely mill tary man
1t was during one of these moods that he
conceived the Idea of placing II ooker in
| command OF the army of the Potomac,
and OF yestinR him with such power
that, in his opinion, he could not fail of
success. He had great idea Of Hooker
| ability as soldier, and in addition he
believed HIM to be an honest man and a
| sincere patriot. He wanted him co fighi
what he intended should be. and what be
felt would be, the closing battle of tbs
war. Accordingly, when Hooker got un,
der way and the news oame.that at Chan.
cellorsyille he would make his fight, MIR,
Lincoln was In the greatest state of men.
tai excitement. From the time that
Hooker's army began its march until the
smoke of battle had cleared from the fatal
field Of Chanoellorsyille, he scarcely
knew what IL was to sleep.
"It will be remembered that the fight
lasted three days. During the first two
days IL looked as If Hooker was about tc
accomplish what so many generals be.
fore him had failed to do; but, early on
the third day, the usual half-hour dis
patches began to make matters look dark
and ominous OF defeat That whole day
Mf. Lincoln was miserable. de ate moth.
ing. and would see no ono but me. AS Il
grew dark the dispatches ceased coming
1t all, Mr.. Lincoln would walk from thl
White House to my department. and anx
iously inquire for news from Hooker
With the going down of the Sun 8 coli
and drenohing rain aet IN. which lRstes
through the night. 1t about { o'ol0ci