They went up the steps leading to the War Department, and into the telegraph office which was installed there. Lincoln asked for dispatches left for him by Major Eckert, and read them over carefully. Some of them he read twice. The inactivity of the Army of the Potomac, the apparent inability of Meade to strike a telling, if not a final blow, weighed heavily on his mind. He had come over, as was his custom, in the early morning, to get and read, at first-hand, dispatches from the front. When he finally laid down the yellow slips he beckoned to Bannister to follow him. “We’ll go into Stanton’s room,” he said; “he won’t be here for an hour yet.” So they sat down together in the room ordinarily occupied by the Secretary of War. In the outer office the telegraph instruments kept up a monotonous clicking. Through the open door between the rooms messengers could be seen passing hurriedly in and out. Lincoln stretched his long legs out in front of him and ran his fingers through his carelessly combed hair. “So you got away from your guards, did you?” he inquired. “Did you say they were drunk?” “Yes, Mr. President, very drunk. They procured whiskey and drank a great deal on the train coming down to Washington. When I left the car this morning they were sound asleep.” “What are their names? To what command are they attached?” “I do not know. My name is Rhett Bannister, and my home is at Mount Hermon in Pennsylvania.” “I see.” The President rose, went out into the telegraph office, and dictated a message. When he returned and sat down again he said:-- “I’ve sent out orders to have those men hunted up, arrested, and remanded for trial. The soldier on duty who shows cowardice in the face of the enemy may have some excuse for his conduct. But the soldier on duty who shows cowardice in the face of John Barleycorn must reap the full reward of his cowardice.” He set his lips tightly together, and let his clenched hand fall on the table-top. After a moment he continued:-- “So you are what they call up in Pennsylvania a copperhead?” “I have been so designated, Mr. President.” “Yes. Well, now, I’ve been wanting to see some of you copperheads and talk with you, and find out from you, if I can, why you oppose the war, and seek opportunities to stab the administration in the back. I’ve been wanting to know. Maybe this meeting is providential. Maybe I can learn something from you that will help us all. I’ve never run across one of you before, face to face, like this. Vallandigham’s the only one I know much about, and he’s so fiery and oratorical I can’t quite get head or tail to what he says. What is your creed, anyway?”