Concerning Congressmen

It is stated that he was much disgusted at the crowd of officers who some time ago used to loiter about the Washington hotels, and he is reported to have remarked to a member of Congress: “These fellows and the Congressmen do vex me sorely.”

Another member of Congress was conversing with the President, and was somewhat annoyed by the President’s propensity to divert attention from the serious subject he had on his mind by ludicrous allusions.

“Mr. Lincoln,” said he, “I think you would have your joke if you were within a mile of hell.”

“Yes, said the President, “that is about the distance to the capitol.”

When informed that General Stoughton had been captured by the rebels at Fairfax, the President is reported to have said that he did not mind the loss of the brigadier as much as he did the loss of the horses.  “For,” said he, “I can make a much better brigadier in five minutes, but the horses cost one hundred and twenty-five dollars a piece.”

SOURCE: New York Daily Herald, New York, New York, Friday, February 19, 1864, p. 5, and copied from the New York Evening Post, New York, New York, Wednesday, February 17, 1864.