The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-10-25
AN INCIDENT IN THE LIFE OF
PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
We are permitted to publish the
followinginterestiu letter:

We are permitted to publish the
misunderstanding letter:
September 81, 1872.
Dear SIR: The incident to which
you refer occurred as follows:
Shortly after Gen Dix assumed
command at Baltimore in 1862, be
was summoned to Washington for a
conference with the President. One
dark and rainy evening, at about 8
o'clock, / was alone in my room in
the White House, when Mr.. Lincoln
came in and told me he wanted me to
go over to Secretary Stewards with
him, and to bring along certain
portfolio, full of maps and papers.
I will omit here the somewhat conf
csl incidents which accompanied our
departure; but, on the way, the
President spoke freely of the object
Of our errand, and expressed q good
deal of interestin the probable views
and suggestions of Gen. Dix, whom
as l understood, he had not as yet
met, but Of whose previous career
and conduct he had high spprecia,
ton.
We were ushered into the south
west room, 80 well known to the pub
lie men OF Washington,i in those days,
where we found q bright fire blazing
on the hearth. Immediately after
ward Secretary Seward entered, and
with him Gen. Dix. The President
introduced me to the latter as one OF
his Private Secretaries, and my duties
for the remainder Of the evening,
apart from the occasional demands
on my portfolio, were simply those OF
q most deeply interested listener 10 q
conversation whose scope and impor-
tance cannot often have beeen exceed
ed. The condition and requirement
Of the border States, especially OF
Maryland and Eastern Virginia, the
civil and military policy to be pursu-
ed, with other kindred topics, were
discussed with statesmanlike sagsci-
ty, and with such simple direetness,
such an absence OF anything like
"waste of words" as might have been
expected in the consultation of three
such men.
Nevertheless it was very late before
the President set out on his return.
We had walked but abort distance
when 1 ventured to interrupt what
seemed TO be very absorbing
"study," with
"Well, Mr.. Lincoln, What do you
think of Gen. Dix ?"
For a moment he made no reply,
and then ssid very slowly, and with
long stride or two thrown In be-
tween the words, by way Of emphasis.
"Wen Stoddari, never met him
before, but from what / have seen Of
him to- night, from all he has said,
and the counsel he has given, |
should say that Gen. Dix-I should
say that Gen. Dix Was--s uery wise
a very wise man."
Whatever else was said did no. fix
itself in my memory, but l think !
have givsn you the great Presidents
expression Of opinion with sufficient
accuracy.
Although my only part in the cur
rent political campaign is that OF a
voter, and / hsve no share in Its un
due excitements and animosities. /
cannot help thinking it great pity
that some men, whom l have always
respected and admired, should blind
ly forget, in the heat Of present
psrtisanship, the past services Of men
ike Gen. Dix-men 8. least as faith
ful ss themselves in Ihose days when
the country needed faithful men
Yours very truly,
WIN o. SToDDARD.
HENRY CLEws, Esq New York.