This was reported by @A.B. @Chandler, who worked for the War Department during the Civil War. He also handled the mail.
On New Year's morning, 1864, President Lincoln entered the War Department building. He was always a bit jumpy. Now, though, he had become very tense. He was upset by a crying woman holding a child. @Major @Eckert asked her what was wrong. The answer was not surprising. She was the wife of a soldier.
