In summer Lincoln’s favorite home was at “The Soldiers’ Rest,” a place a few miles out of Washington, on the Maryland side, where old and disabled soldiers of the regular army found a refuge. It was a lovely spot, situated on a beautifully wooded hill, reached by a winding road, shaded by thick-set branches. On his way there he often passed long lines of ambulances, laden with the suffering victims of a recent battle. A friend who met him on such an occasion, says: “When I met the President, his attitude and expression spoke the deepest sadness. He paused, and, pointing his hand-towards the wounded men, he said: ’Look yonder at those poor fellows. I cannot bear it! This suffering, this loss of life, is dreadful!’ Recalling a letter he had written years before to a suffering friend whose grief he had sought to console, I reminded him of the incident, and asked him: ’Do you remember writing to your sorrowing friend these words: “And this too shall pass away. Never fear. Victory will come."’ ‘Yes,’ replied he, ’victory will come, but it comes slowly.’”
CHAPTER XX
Lincoln and McClellan—The Peninsular Campaign of 1862—Impatience with McClellan’s Delay—Lincoln Defends McClellan from Unjust Criticism—Some Harrowing Experiences—McClellan Recalled from the Peninsula—His Troops Given to General Pope—Pope’s Defeat at Manassas—A Critical Situation—McClellan again in Command—Lincoln Takes the Responsibility—McClellan’s Account of his Reinstatement—The Battle of Antietam—The President Vindicated—Again Dissatisfied with McClellan—Visits the Army in the Field—The President in the Saddle—Correspondence between Lincoln and McClellan—McClellan’s Final Removal—Lincoln’s Summing-up of McClellan—McClellan’s “Body-guard.”