The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

Department to hear the latest news, and
to send questions, by telegraph, to the
most accessible commander nearest TO the
scene of important operations. This
seeking after information was the last
thing he did before retiring to bed. l
called on him, on one occasion, to ascer-
tain the latest news concerning Vicks-
burg. 1 have nothing new said the
President. L am much concerned about
affairs; l can't sleep tonight without
hearing something: come go with me to
the War Department. perhaps Stanton has
something So we went there We had
no sooner assembled to the second story.
than messenger of the telegraph office
in the building handed the President
despatch, dated from somewhere in the
Southwest, and reading as follows: a
report has reached here that our troops
at Vicksburg have been defeated, and our
army dispersed
Mr. Lincoln read the telegram by the
very uncertain light in one Of the corri-
doris of the building. He was extremely
nervous: his hands and legs shook vio-
lently; his face. as l could see, was ghast-
ly He again read the telegram, to fully
satisfy himself of its purport. Turning to
me he repeated in faltering accents, the
substance OF the telegram. Bad news,
bad news he added. in evident distress,
articulating slowly and with mournful en-
phasis. Then he said very earnestly:
Don't say anything about this-dont men
tioE it,. MIR. President l replied, al
low Inc to say one word. Well. sir
The despatch you have received mentions
that the communication of disaster is
founded on mere report. 1t does not come
from an army officer. or from any known
responsible party. 1t is given as rumor,
probably uttered by some deserter as an
excuse for leaving the field. At all events,
the story lacks confirmation; and please
believe, as we all know from observa-
ton, II not from experience, that more
than one-half of war rumors are false.
And so it may be in this particular case
l could see that these remarks had some
thing of their intended effect, but Mr.. Lin
coin only repeated But don't say any
thing about this He was evidently I'M
willing that such disheartening informa-
ton should get into print. The portion Of
the department building where this little
episode occurred was not far from Sec
rotary Stanton's room. / cannot say what
took place at the ensuing conference which
was private, as l left the department. The
news contained in the bogus despatch,
however, was soon effectually dispelled by
the intelligence OF the fall of Vicksburg
and the complete triumph Of the Union
arms.
Mr.. Lincoln was sometimes distrustful
of newspaper people. as the following will
show. He had written a political letter
to a Springfield Qllinois) committee, to
be read at the meeting Of the State con-
yention. 1t was known that copy Of
the letter was on its way to some other
point. to be published when the original
should be officially promulgated. The
agent of the New York Associated Press
in this city was instructed if possible, TO
obtain a copy and forward duplicates by
mail The request was accordingly made
Of Mr. Lincoln. L can't do it he said
for | have found that documents given
to the press in advance are always pre-
amturely published 1t was interposed
that the Associated Press had never thus
promulgated documents before the proper
time and besides. the desire vas TO avoid
mistakes in telegraphing. I can't help
that" urged Mr. Lincoln. I have always
found what l say to be true Well. Mr..
President, it is your own property. and
you have right to dispose OF your let
teras you choose. Good day and with
this the little army OF newspapers men
marched out. The next forenoon, a sec
ond application was made. but with no
better success. In the afternoon of the
same day, however, l received telegram
from Philadelphia to the following effect:
The Springfield letter of Mr.. Lincoln ap-
pears in New York afternoon paper-do
you want it7' Yes / responded, send
me all of it At night the entire letter
was received in Washington over the
wires. and the next morning appeared
exclusively in one of the Washington pa
pers-the paper, as it turned out, to
which the President was in the