One morning President Lincoln asked Major Eckert, on duty at the White
House, “Who is that woman crying out in the hall? What is the matter
with her?”
Eckert said it was a woman who had come a long distance expecting to go
down to the army to see her husband. An order had gone out a short time
before to allow no women in the army, except in special cases.
Mr. Lincoln sat moodily for a moment after hearing this story, and
suddenly looking up, said, “Let’s send her down. You write the order,
Major.”
Major Eckert hesitated a moment, and replied, “Would it not be better
for Colonel Hardie to write the order?”
“Yes,” said Mr. Lincoln, “that is better; let Hardie write it.”
The major went out, and soon returned, saying, “Mr. President, would
it not be better in this case to let the woman’s husband come to
Washington?”
Mr. Lincoln’s face lighted up with pleasure. “Yes, yes,” was the
President’s answer in a relieved tone; “that’s the best way; bring him
up.”
The order was written, and the man was sent to Washington.