F. B. Carpenter, in his book, "Six Months at the White House," says: "A few days before the President's death, Secretary Stanton tendered his resignation of the War Department. He accompanied the act with a heartfelt tribute to Mr. Lincoln's constant friendship and faithful devotion to the country, saying, also, that he, as secretary, had accepted the position to hold it only until the war should end, and that now he felt his work was done, and his duty was to resign. "Mr. Lincoln was greatly moved by the secretary's words, and, tearing in pieces the paper containing his resignation, and throwing his arms about the secretary, he said, 'Stanton, you have been a good friend and a faithful public servant, and it is not for you to say when you will no longer be needed here.' Several friends of both parties were present on the occasion, and there was not a dry eye that witnessed the scene." When Lincoln fell, Stanton was almost heart-broken, and as he knelt by his side was heard to say to himself: "Am I indeed left alone? None may now ever know or tell what we have suffered together in the nation's darkest hours." When the surgeon-general said to him that there was no hope, he could not believe it, and passionately exclaimed, "No, no, general; no, no!" When Lincoln expired, and just after prayer by Doctor Gurley, Stanton was the first to break the silence, saying, "Now he belongs to the ages." At the death of President Lincoln the nation was suddenly turned from demonstrations of great joy, on account of the closing of the war, to intense grief and unutterable horror. W. O. Stoddard says, "It was as if there had been a death in every home throughout the land." J. H. Barrett says: