, 1873-06-22
PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
rhree Interviews with Him.
u Md Abe as fiiiitary Strategist, a
Diplomatist, and a Politician.

lid Aue do 'Ht"to'J WI oA@9'os9 q
Diolomatist, and Politician.
J IT, Vlnchtu in the Galaxy for july.
liz first interview with Mr.. Lincoln was early
T., 1snna1v, 1868. It vas season Of deep de-
rression in loyal Washington circles, owing to
.a,en, rcyerses of the Union arms. We had
,eu-nieh forgotten the splendors Of Grants
t.,ly campaigns, in our impatience with
tha sLovness OF his later operations ;
"a had lost faith in Mcclellan, finally, after the
Escape OF Lee back into Virginia. out of our very
.utchcs ut Antictam; and the dismal December
tsst brought us the cruel disaster at Fredericks-
turr had closed foverishly with the beginning
Of ageat battle in Tennessee, the details OF
xhich the public found it impossible to obtain.
TIE new year opened with feeling Of wild anx-
ia.y IN regard to tho fate OF Rosecrans and his
Army in the encounter wo knew he had forced
With Bragg on the banks OF Stone River: Since
It bad gallantly marched forth from Nashville to
neet the advancing enemy, the Army Of the
Cumberland had been the immediate subject Of
or hopes and fears; and though the Govern
pent had permitted us TO know that the hostile
sncounter, it had, beyond this pregnant an
rouncement. maintained an impenetreble and
cn;nous silence. Sunday, Jan. 4, was day
d intense solicitudo to tho public, as it
Il. morally certain that tho great battle
I'D then been fought to the end; and
"a the evening of that day, moved by
necessary to be named, obtained an interview
~. far -.
tus IS much as possible OF the truth.
I Was accompanied by one Of his personal
friends and when we entered the well-knoWn
5eception-room very tall, lauky man came
quickly forward to meet us. His manner seemed
to me the perfection OF courtesy. I was struck
with tbs simplicity, kindness, aud dignity Of his
deportment, so different from the clownieh man
ner with which it was then customary to invest
hin His face WAS pleasant surprise, formed
xsmy expectations had been from the poor pho
tos1aphs then in vogue, and the general belief
In lis ugliness. remember thinking how much
bs.sr t looking ho WIS than had anticipated, and
wondering TINT anyone should consider him
His expression Was grave and careworn, but
Etill enli1ened with a cheerfulness that gave me-
Instant hope. After brief interchange Of COM
Eonplace, stated my precise errand, and
conld scarcely credit my senses when he
told me- that the Government was no
better informed than the public in regard to
tho result ct Stone river. was prepared for
sny answer but this; for good news or bad
for anything but ignorance. It did not seem
possible that contest OF the magnitude Of this
could have ragged for days in region OF railways
md telegraphs, and the Government be uui1-
formed as to the issue.
aIr. Lincoln, however, proceeded at once to
h1R bH1Af that fnrce9 had de-
ciEive victory. His nere assertion seemed to
ne Of hut slight importance-ao shaken had my
confidence been in Federal success, and 80 &C
customed had become TO the sang!Ine augur1es
of officials. generally contradicted By the event.
euppoee be noticed this incredulity, for he at
once undertook to giys the reasons for his faith.
With surprising readiness, he entered On q de-
tcription Of the situation, giving the numbers OF
the contending armies, their movements previous
10 the beginning Of the battle, and the
general strategcal purposes which should
govern them both. Taking from tho wall
large map Of the United States,
ort with his long finger the geographical fes-
GUS movements SO far Is known, reasoning
riGdly from step to etep and creating chain Of
probabilities too strong for serious dispute.
His apparent knowledge OF military science, and
hsfsniliarity With the special features OF the
Tho had been Ill his life civilian, Gu
crossed with politics and the practice Of the
lsv, and whoee attention must necessarily be SO
much occupied with the perplexing detail OF
duties incident to his position. The fact once
eomprehended that he had profoundly studied
tho var in it's military aspect, the less aston
fishing, though not less admirable, Was the logic
in which he involved his facts, arguing steadily
On to the hopeful conclusion which he had an
nounced at the oute 1t.
It ls beyond my power OF recollection r. recall
any part Of his argument I only know she
n1de domonstratlon that justified his uopes,
and which filled me with q confidence equal to
bis Owl, and excited admiration OF an intel1ec-
sual power 80 different from any which I had
supposed him to possess. It WAS clear that he
Eaade the various campaigns OF the war SUBJ
Jet Of profound and Intelligent study, forming
opcions thereon as positive and clear as those
9: 1ze!d !. 1osGlaa 70 civil affairs.
When left him it was with cheerfulness
5aits Ii contrast With the anxiety had felt be-
fore. The news Of the next day fully verified
the correctness Of his judgement by giving us
tho nost decisive announcement OF the brilliant
and complete SUCCESS Of the Army OF the Cum
tezlaac, in spite Of the many and almost fatal
ntsfortunes which had attended the early stages
OF the battle.
II.
NY next Interview was several weeks later,
Ind with u very different purpose: Gen. sheE-
man, then commanding division it, the West,
1AGoA VEdut, uhA LnA0A oAt4CWc A44sa6U0o
ag1inbt uewepaper correspondent at his head
quarters, and had procured his arrest and trial
BY court-martiAl, and his banishment beyond
The azmy lines. It WAS generally felt that the
Preceding was harsh and unjust and several
tgoninent officers having represented that the
alleged offence waB technical, memorial
sshng the President to set aside the sentence
*ss prepared and generally signed by the
Journalists in Washington. 4 Sunday evening !
was selected for the presentation Of this memo |
risl, aud vas invited by the gentleman having !
= +, N charge 70 accompany him to the Executive |
Manslon for that purpose. We we're three per- |
sons in Al, the third being member Of tho
House OF Representatives, and we had the good !
fortune to find the President alono-A general
ea Congressman having just left him-snd
preferred
g.. After Presenting the memorial, its bearer en-
teEea INTO detailed history OF the case, show
!nE IT. injustice and inexpediency. Mr. Linccln
ssaoesntly conaidered it 3 delicate question, and
rs olsposed to give 1t = careful investigation.
~, ~ aaa resolved think to conciliate the press,
ana equally resolved not to absolutely annu1 the |