The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1908-11-05
LYDIA e. PINKHAM

requesting my immediate attendance at
the Executive Mansion. The Secretary
of War on receiving Gen. Wool's tele-
gram had gone instantly to the President
and at the same time sent messages to
the other cabinet officers, while the assis-
tant secretary came to me. | at once
went to the White House. Mr.. Seward
and Mr.. Chase, with Mr.. Stanton, were
already there. They had read the tel
egram, and were already discussing the
intelligence in much alarm. Each en-
quired what had been done, and what
could be done, to meet and check the
formidable monster, which in single
brief visit had made such devastation,
and would, herself uninjured, probably
repeat her destructive visit with still
greater havoc while we were in council.
1t was indeed memorable occasion, that
cabinet meeting, and full Of dramatic in
terest. There sat Mr.. Lincoln, his hon.
est, rugged features calm, but express
sive of the deepest anxiety, as we may
believe The noble countenance of Mr..
Chase was oppressed with care, the
buoyant spirits of Mr.. Seward complete
ly cast down; but the restless, impulsive
disposition of Mr.. Stanton, the great
Secretary of War, as he was called, for
babe his being seated. He stalked about
the room, declaiming against everybody
and everything His fervid imagination,
infamed by the intelligence OF the disas-
ter. pictured the Merrimac already as
cending the Potomac to destroy the city.
"She will change the whole character of
the war;" he cried. ''She will destroy
every ship of war in turn. She will lay
all the cities on the seaboard under con-
tribution. l shall Immediately recall
Burnside from the Pimlico Sound. Port
ROYAL must be abandoned. l will notify
the Governors and municipal authorities
in the North to take instant measures to
protect their harbors." Walking to a
window that commanded a view of the
Potomac, "Who can tell" he cried, ap-
prehensive Of her momentary appear
ance, eff one of her guns may not send
a shot through this window before we
leave this ROOM
The whole cabinet turned to the Navy
as represented by Mr.. Welles. That
gentleman was calm and self-possessed.
He stated in few simple words that his
main reliance was in the Monitor, whose
arrival at Hampton Roads he was mo-
mentarily expecting to learn by tele-
graph. He advised that instead of add
ing to the general panic by alarming
notes of warning to the Northern ports it
would better become them to calmly con-
slider the situation and endeavor to in
spire confidence in the public mind by act
ing with discretion and judgment.
These counsels prevailed, though for
time only, for Mr.. Stanton subsequently
telegraphed to the northern cities to look
out for themselves. He also bought
large numbers of boats, had them loaded
with stones at the Washington Navy
yard and taken down the river ready to
obstruct the channel should the Merri-
mac threaten the destruction of the city.
Having little faith in naval officers, and
none in the Monitor, he employed Mr..
Vanderbilt to destroy the Merrimac,
which that gentleman promised to do
with his great ship Vanderbilt, provided
the Monitor kept out of the way and
naval officers were not allowed to inter-
fere. Such was the effect produced up
on our government by the raid OF the
Merrimac. Her destruction in some
manner was essential for the well being
of the north. The effects abroad Of her
unchecked career would have been very
disastrous to the north, as before men
toned. Some of these views may
seem extravagant at this late day, but
on that particular day the acts Of this