President Lincoln sometimes felt that no news was good news, however no news from Burnside was not encouraging to Lincoln.
Lincoln’s private secretary Colonel Hay, hated to wake the President, but he had just received a message from General Burnside stating that defeat, surrender and doom at Knoxville was imminent.
Hay woke Lincoln and reluctantly conveyed the bad news, at which the President responded;
“I’m glad of it; I’m glad to hear it!”
“But, Mr. President, that does not seem an item of news to be glad of.” said Hay
President Lincoln responded;
“Well it reminds me of a poor woman I used to know out in Menard County. She had a large brood of children. They wandered through the woods, and it was impossible for her to clothe them properly–she could hardly feed them. The woman used to say that it did her heart good whenever any of those young ones came squalling, because then she knew he was still alive.”
Bummer
Dec 22, 1862 – The hospital is overflowing with wounded from the recent battle. I’m recruited to hold this & move that. http://bit.ly/GB4FgP
Civil War Reporter,
Hospital work with the wounded is super important. Thank you for your service. This “old guy” visits your Facebook page every day. Thanks for the comment, have a great Holiday Season!
Bummer