One of Lincoln’s most dearly loved friends, United States Senator Edward
D. Baker, of Oregon, Colonel of the Seventy-first Pennsylvania, a former
townsman of Mr. Lincoln, was killed at the battle of Ball’s Bluff, in
October, 1861. The President went to General McClellan’s headquarters to
hear the news, and a friend thus described the effect it had upon him:
“We could hear the click of the telegraph in the adjoining room and low
conversation between the President and General McClellan, succeeded by
silence, excepting the click, click of the instrument, which went on
with its tale of disaster.
“Five minutes passed, and then Mr. Lincoln, unattended, with bowed head
and tears rolling down his furrowed cheeks, his face pale and wan, his
breast heaving with emotion, passed through the room. He almost fell as
he stepped into the street. We sprang involuntarily from our seats to
render assistance, but he did not fall.
“With both hands pressed upon his heart, he walked down the street, not
returning the salute of the sentinel pacing his beat before the door.”