The raid made by the Confederate general, J. E. B. Stuart, in June,
1862, around the Union army commanded by General McClellan, caused
great anxiety in Washington. One of its results was the interruption
of communication between the capital and the army of the Potomac. What
this portended no one could affirm. That it suggested the gravest
possibilities was felt by all.
While this feeling was dominating all circles, several gentlemen, myself
among them, called on President Lincoln in order to be definitely advised
about the condition of affairs as understood by him.
To our question: “Mr. President, have you any news from the army?” he
sadly replied: “Not one word; we can get no communication with it. I do
not know that we have an army; it may have been destroyed or captured,
though I cannot so believe, for it was a splendid army. But the most I
can do now is to hope that serious disaster has not befallen it.”
This led to a somewhat protracted conversation relative to the general
condition of our affairs. It was useless to talk about the Army of the
Potomac; for we knew nothing concerning its condition or position at that
moment. The conversation therefore took a wide range and touched upon the
subject of slavery, about which much was said.
The President did not participate in this conversation. He was an
attentive listener, but gave no sign of approval or disapproval of the
views which were expressed. At length one of the active participants
remarked:
“Slavery must be stricken down wherever it exists in this country. It
is right that it should be. It is a crime against justice and humanity.
We have tolerated it too long. It brought war upon us. I believe that
Providence is not unmindful of the struggle in which this nation is
engaged. If we do not do right I believe God will let us go our own way
to our ruin. But, if we do right, I believe He will lead us safely out
of this wilderness, crown our arms with victory, and restore our now
dissevered Union.”
I observed President Lincoln closely while this earnest opinion and
expression of religious faith was being uttered. I saw that it affected
him deeply, and anticipated, from the play of his features and the
sparkle of his eyes, that he would not let the occasion pass without
making some definite response to it. I was not mistaken. Mr. Lincoln had
been sitting in his chair, in a kind of weary and despondent attitude
while the conversation progressed. At the conclusion of the remarks I
have quoted, he at once arose and stood at his extreme height. Pausing
a moment, his right arm outstretched towards the gentleman who had
just ceased speaking, his face aglow like the face of a prophet, Mr.
Lincoln gave deliberate and emphatic utterance to the religious faith
which sustained him in the great trial to which he and the country were
subjected. He said: “My faith is greater than yours. I not only believe
that Providence is not unmindful of the struggle in which this nation
is engaged; that if we do not do right God will let us go our own way
to our ruin; and that if we do right He will lead us safely out of this
wilderness, crown our arms with victory, and restore our dissevered
union, as you have expressed your belief; but I also believe that He will
compel us to do right in order that He may do these things, not so much
because we desire them as that they accord with His plans of dealing with
this nation, in the midst of which He means to establish justice. I think
He means that we shall do more than we have yet done in furtherance of
His plans, and He will open the way for our doing it. I have felt His
hand upon me in great trials and submitted to His guidance, and I trust
that as He shall further open the way I will be ready to walk therein,
relying on His help and trusting in His goodness and wisdom.”--From “Some
Memories of Lincoln,” by ex-Senator James F. Wilson, in North American
Review.