In 1862, the President suffered "an affliction harder to bear than the
war!" His son Willie (William, next to one that died in infancy) was
carried off by typhoid fever, under the presidential roof; and another,
"Tad," (Thomas, who actually lived to be twenty and passed away in
Illinois) was given up by the physicians. At this crisis Miss Dix,
daughter of the general famous for his order: "If any one offers to
pull down the American flag, shoot him on the spot," recommended an
army nurse, Mrs. Rebecca R. Pomeroy. She was a born succorer, pious and
fortifying. She came reluctantly to the important errand, as she had to
leave a wardful of wounded soldiers. She had lost many of her family,
and was able to comfort from gaging the affectionate father's grief.
She led him to pray in his double racking of bad war news and the
domestic distress.
On next seeing him and that he was less grieved, for news of the Fort
Donaldson surrender to General Grant arrived in the meantime, she
hastened to say:
"There is nothing like prayer, Mr. President!"
"Yes, there is: Praise! Prayer and praise must go together!"