I have elsewhere intimated that Mr. Lincoln was capable of much
dramatic power. It is true this was never exhibited in his public
life, or addresses, but it was shown in his keen appreciation of
Shakspeare, and unrivalled faculty of story-telling. The incident just
related, for example, was given with a thrilling effect which mentally
placed Johnson, for the time being, alongside of Luther and Cromwell.
Profanity or irreverence was lost sight of in the fervid utterance of
a highly wrought and great-souled determination, united with a rare
exhibition of pathos and self-abnegation.
A narrative of quite a different character followed closely upon
this, suggested by a remark made by myself. It was an account of how
the President and Secretary of War received the news of the capture
of Norfolk, early in the war. “Chase and Stanton,” said Mr. Lincoln,
“had accompanied me to Fortress Monroe. While we were there, an
expedition was fitted out for an attack on Norfolk. Chase and General
Wool disappeared about the time we began to look for tidings of the
result, and after vainly waiting their return till late in the evening,
Stanton and I concluded to retire. My room was on the second floor of
the Commandant’s house, and Stanton’s was below. The night was very
warm,--the moon shining brightly,--and, too restless to sleep, I threw
off my clothes and sat for some time by the table, reading. Suddenly
hearing footsteps, I looked out of the window, and saw two persons
approaching, whom I knew by their relative size to be the missing men.
They came into the passage and I heard them rap at Stanton’s door
and tell him to get up, and come up-stairs. A moment afterward they
entered my room. ‘No time for ceremony, Mr. President,’ said General
Wool; ‘Norfolk is ours!’ Stanton here burst in, just out of bed, clad
in a long night-gown, which nearly swept the floor, his ear catching,
as he crossed the threshold, Wool’s last words. Perfectly overjoyed,
he rushed at the General, whom he hugged most affectionately, fairly
lifting him from the floor in his delight. The scene altogether must
have been a comical one, though at the time we were all too greatly
excited to take much note of mere appearances.”