d then, pausing, he
extended his right arm to its full length, holding the axe out
horizontally, without its even quivering as he held it. Strong men who
looked on--men accustomed to manual labor--could not hold the axe in
that position for a moment.

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."

President Lincoln's relations with no other person have been so much
discussed as those with General McClellan. Volumes have been written on
this subject; many heated and intemperate words have been uttered and
wrong conclusions reached. Whatever defects may have marked McClellan's
qualities as a soldier, he must remain historically one of the most
conspicuous figures of the war. He org