The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-01-27
Lincoln's Joke on Forney.


Col. Forney, in his Philadelphia Press,
tells the following instance of President
L :ncoln's goodness to an adversary, and
practical joking on friend:
One afternoon, in February or March
of 1866, was startled by a visit from my
old friend Washington Mclean, Of thei
Cincinnati, Ohio, Enquirer, who is not
only one of the bestsfellows alive, but
one of the worst Copperheads" He was
in state Of intense excitement
az have called" he said, to ask you
to do me a favor shall never forget, and
you must do it. I will not take No for
an answer. You, and Yc u alone, can serve
me-"
Well, my old friend, you know will
serve you it can. What is it p ~ 81
Now don't be alarmed when l tell
you that Roger A. Pryor is in Fort Lafa-
yette, having been captured within our
lines, and that want you to get him
out" eaait glIasl
Roger A. Pryor, of Petersburg Rog
er A. Pryor who fired on Sumter; Roger
A. Pryor, the Hotspur of Congress
Eyes, and your old co,editor of the
Washington Union, when you were both
y Democrats together. He went into the
rebellion, is now prisoner, and l appeal
to you to 60 with me to the President
and ask his release. HgA9d2d biz
AS there was no denying my lmpetu-
Gus friend, got into his carriage and we
were soon at the White House. There
!. was great crowd, but we got in without
: difficulty.
introduced Mr. Mclean, and soon
found Mr.. Lincoln knew all about him
and his paper. He told his story, which
was patiently heard. I followed with a
: statement of my former relations to Mr.
Pryor, and with the assurance that l
q thought an act ofliberality to such man,
and on request from frank political
| opponent, like Washington Mclean,
would be worthy of the head of great
), nation E3It8
! /" Let me see," said uncle Abe, as he
: fixed his spectacles and turned his back
on little drawer in the desk behind him
81 think | have memorandum here that
refers to some good thing done by Gel.
Pryor to party of our Pennsylvania boys
who were taken prisoners in an attack
upon the Petersburg Notifications" And
with that he took out of small package
a statement signed by the men who had
enjoyed the hospitality of Gen. Pryor on
the occasion referred to-. He had, it APP
: pears, given them food from his larder
. at time when his own family were IN a
most desperate condition for provisions.
: The man who could do such kindness
to an enemy" said the President, "can-
not be cruel and revengeful." Then he
> wrote some lines on card which he
= Al A.
think that will do; at any rate it is all
, [ can give you" And then we took our
leave. Going down stairs, we looked
e with amazement at the writing on the
card, which read thus:
"To Col Burke, Commanding at Fort
Lafayette, New York:
Please release Gen. Roger A. Pryor,
who will report to Col. Forley, on Capitol
Hill. A. LINCOLN"
But there was no changing the order
Mclean dashed off in tue next train for
New York, the happiest democrat in the
country, and two days after he walked
into my Office with the "prisoner." Gen.
Pryor occupied the upper rooms of my
lodgings, and was my guest formore than
, a week, during which time he was visited
by all the chivalry, male and female, of
the vicinage.
The President enjoyed the fact that
had such good company, and Thaddeus
Stevens, my neighbor, habitually accosted
me in the morning with the grim salute !:
I" How is your Democratic friend and
brother this morning." But more
courteous and pleasant gentleman I never
met: and / must do Gen. Pryor the JUS
tice TO say that he expressed the most
feryent gratitude to Mr.. Lincoln for his
kindness.-What he promised he has
manfully fulfilled. He has never since
been found among the obstructionists of
the Government. He took no part in
the calamitious policy of Andrew
Johnson. He has never been among the
, assailants OF Congress- Settling down
in New York In the industrious and sue
ceSSfnl 1ara cticn Of L;r ,a,.o eoSa:a.. ~. =