In the early stages of the war, after several battles had been fought,
Union troops seized a church in Alexandria, Va., and used it as a
hospital.
A prominent lady of the congregation went to Washington to see Mr.
Lincoln and try to get an order for its release.
“Have you applied to the surgeon in charge at Alexandria?” inquired Mr.
Lincoln.
“Yes, sir, but I can do nothing with him,” was the reply.
“Well, madam,” said Mr. Lincoln, “that is an end of it, then. We put him
there to attend to just such business, and it is reasonable to suppose
that he knows better what should be done under the circumstances than I
do.”
The lady’s face showed her keen disappointment. In order to learn her
sentiment, Mr. Lincoln asked:
“How much would you be willing to subscribe toward building a hospital
there?”
She said that the war had depreciated Southern property so much that she
could afford to give but little.
“This war is not over yet,” said Mr. Lincoln, “and there will likely
be another fight very soon. That church may be very useful in which to
house our wounded soldiers. It is my candid opinion that God needs that
church for our wounded fellows; so, madam, I can do nothing for you.”