dmitted. The usher said,
'I will see,' and took her name to the President; also my letter. The
President was alone. She could not speak. The President came forward and
took her by the hand and greeted her most kindly, saying that he almost
knew her; that he knew much of her through me, as I had spoken of her in
connection with her husband. The President said:

"'Your brave husband is so well known to me through my friend Mr. Lyon,
and through his daring on the field, that you would need no introduction
more than that I should know who you are; and I take it that you are on
an errand of mercy, as I am sure you could not be here to ask anything
for your husband, as I would do anything for him, as he knows, merely
for the asking by himself or my friend Lyon.'

"'No, Mr. President; you will never be troubled by me in that way. I am
truly on an errand of mercy and justice'; and here she broke down and
wept.

"When she recovered she said:

"'Mr. President, my errand is to save the destruction of a good family.'

"She then recited the facts as to the two old people, and that Seraine,
the only daughter, was now on an errand of mercy South somewhere.

"The President replied that he remembered giving her a letter at the
request of his friend Daniel Lyon, and said:

"'My dear Mrs. Anderson, there is hardly anything that I would not do
for any of Mr. Lyon's family, as well as Gen. Anderson and yourself;
and, certainly, if to prevent a calamity to such a family as you
describe Mr. Whitcomb's to be, I would do anything that would be proper
and reasonable for me to do.'

"She was very much encouraged by these remarks, and began to feel more
at ease.

"The President, seeing this, asked her many questions about her
husband's health, and also about my family. When she spoke of Stephen's
foul murder, the President walked the floor and remarked:

"'Most diabolical--fiendish.'"

("Little did he or she then suppose that it was her own brother that had
committed this wicked and cruel murder.")

"By this time she was so much encouraged that she handed him the letter
and statement of Jackson.

"The President read the letter, and then read and reread Jackson's
statement. Great tears rolled down his bronzed cheeks as he read the
statement. He tapped a bell, and sent for the Secretary of War. The
Secretary soon came, and greeted Mrs. Anderson very cordially on being
introduced. The President asked him to take a seat, and handed him