Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-11-30
president LINCOLN in the HospitaI.

IL The E,}itoy Of the LadegsHM,t: On the
Monday before his death when our late
beloved President was on his return
from Richmond he stopped at City
Point. Calling upon the head surgeon
Of that place Mr. Lincoln told him that
he wished to visit all the hospitals I'M
der his charge. and shake hands with
every soldier. The surgeon asked the
President if he knew what 4 task he
was undertaking, and told him that
there were then between five and six
thousand soldiers at that place, and it
would be quite q task on his strength TO
visit all the wards and shake hands
with every soldier.
Mr. Lincoln answered, with a smile,
that he guessed he was equal TO the
task Mt any rate he would try and 90
as far as he could; he should never prob
ably see the boys again, and he wanted
them to know that he appreciated what
they had done for their country"
Finding it useless to try to dissuade
him. the surgeon began his rounds with
the President, who walked from bed to
bed extending his hand to all, saying
few words Of sympathy to some, max
ing kind inquiries OF others, and well
coined all with the heartiest Cordi-
ality.
A. th.y p4sAsd alnnn they oauao to a.
ward where lay a rebel, who'had been
wounded and was prisoner. AS the
tall figure of the kindly visitor appeared
in sight, he was recognized Oy the rebel
soldier, who. raising himself on his ell
bow in bed, watched Mr.. Lincoln as he
approached, and, extending his hand
exclaimed
/ "Mr Lincoln, have long wanted to
| see you, to ask your forgiveness for rails
| ing my hand against the Old flag
! Mr.. Lincoln was moved to tears, He
heartily shook the hand OF the repent.
ant rebel, and assured him Of his good
will and, with q few words Of kind adj
vice passed on.
After some hours the tour OF the va
TiOus hospitals was made, and Mr.. Lin
coin returned with the surgeon to his
Office They ha scarcely entered how
| ever. when messenger came, saying
that one ward had been omitted, and
! "thC boys" wanted to see Mr.. Lincoln.
! The surgeon, who was thoroughly tired.
aud knew that Mr.. Lincoln must be.
| tried to dissuade him from going but
the good man said he must 20 back. he
would not knowingly omit one, "thg
! boys" would be so disappointed. So he
| went with the messenger, accompanied by
the surgeon, and shook hands with the
| gratifed soldiers, and then returned again
to the Office. The surgeon expressed a
! fear that Mr. LinColn's arm would be
| famed with so much hand shaking, say
ing that It certainly must ache. Mr..
Lincoln smiled aud saying something
about the "strong muscles, stepped ont
at the open door, took up very large,
heavy axe, which lay there by log of
wood, and chopped vigorously for few
minutes, sending the chips flying IN all
directions and then pausing, lie cX-
tended his right arm to its full length,
holding the axe out horizontally with
out its even Quivering as he did it.
| Strong men, who looked Ou-mcn &C
Customed to manual labor-cOuId not
| hold the same axe in that position for a
moment. Returning to the office, he
took glass of lemonade, for he would
take no stronger beverage and while
he was within, the chips he had chop
ped were gathered up and safely cared
for by hospital steward, because they
were "the chips that Father Abraham
chopped"
In few hours more the beloved
President was at home in Washington
in q few days more be had passed away,
and bereaved nation was Ia mourning
H W