Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-05-31
COL. WARD III. I.AMON.

the season at Washington, you may see
Ward Ii. Lamon, the biographer OF Lin
coin, in the rotunda or corridors OF the
Capitol. His immense frame, his long
black curls, touched with silver, and his
open kindly couutenance arrest atten-
ton. and strangers invariably point him
ont and ask who he is. His friendships
seem TO be mainly with the set that
came in with Lincoln, and he and judge.
Davis are now and then seen in close
conference, their protruding forms touch
ing in the most beautiful amity, while
their faces are a good yard or two apart.
They weigh precisely the same-3o4
pounds apiece. But Lamon carries his
immense burden with ease, and l may
almost say, with grace. 1t is we'll dis
trbuted and solid, suggesting power
rather than the encumbrance which u.s.
ually beset the tat. Lamon is in very
truth a magnificent animal-powertul'
statuesque, almost tremendous. lie
would make better model for an I'M
age of Hercules than the hero himself.
His arm is thicker than one of Deacon
Richard Smiths truly good legs, and
there is O superstition out in Illinois
that it is made of iron. If Don Piatt
had been struck by him, he never would
have made that playful remark that he
had been kicked by mule, but would
have closed his eyes forever, under the
impression that the dome had fallen.
When the Chicago Convention was
assembling in 1860, it was whispered
about that Tom Hyer, the pugilist, had
arrived with great gang OF New \ ork
roughs to hold the galleries and tight
and howl for Seward. Lincolns friends
selected Lamon to lead corps of Hi
nois hitters to clean out the New York
gentry, and if necessary, to whip Hyer;
and the thing was done in good time
and in workmanlike style. During the
war mounted sentinel ordered Lannon's
carriage from the side door of Willard 5
hotel. The carriage contained ladies,
and the Marshal's blood mounted in an
instant. He walked up to the man,
seized the horse by the rumr, and dragg-
I'd him about halt square down the
street, the soldiers as much amazed the
while as if lie had been corporeally
grappled by Satan himself. ! have seen
pictures of grizzly bears pulling mules
around IN this fashion, but it is not OF
ten that you see man do it. Being
/ Marshal of the District he had no little
trouble with the War Department and
the military generally. lie had great
many blacks legally committed to his
custody, and his strong determination
I TO keep and deal with them according
TO law was dreadful scandal to sundry
members of Congress. They charged
him with disloyalty, and besonght Lin
coin to remove him; bnt Lincoln only
laughed at them and told them stories
very amusing TO him, but very exasper.
ating to them-to illustrate what good
fellow GILL;" as he called him, was and
i'll he could afford to spare him. But at
length the crisis arrived. The Marshal
went one night to dine with old MIR.
Blair, out at Silver Springs, and when
lie returned his deputy Informed him
that the military Governor had taken
possession of the Jail, and put there a
! guard composed of sergeant and doz-
en- men. Lamon consulted MIR. Carlisle,
his regular counsel, and ascertainlng
that this intrusion was utterly without
warrant of law, announced his intention
OF retaking the place, which he proceed
ed to do at once. Alone and with his
own hands he disarmed the entire party,
took the keys from the sergeant, locked
up him and his men, stacked their arms,
and then reported TO Mr. Lincoln the
state of affairs. lie was sustained, as
he always was, by the President, and in
4 due time ponderons opinion from
! Father Bates put an end to the militia
ny siege of the jail, which Lamon mean
while had put into posture of defence
] and determined to hold ut any cost.
About the same time Mr.. Stanton had
made up his mind to seize house that
Lamon had bought and was fitting up
for the reception Of his family. fyou
do that" said Lamon, at the conclusion
Of an interview, in which the Secretary
had been very offensive, "I'll kill you.
Stanton went Immediately TO the Prcsl-
dent and informed him that the Marshal
/ had threatened to murder him. "Well,
I Stanton" said Lincoln, "if he real y said
! it, Id advise you to prepare tor your
end, for Hills man of his word. But
! III see him and try if cant get him to
spare your life on my account. He is a
great friend of mine, you know" Bot
Mr.. Stanton did not take the house.
Whatever history may say of the al
legged conspiracy to murder Mr.. Lincoln
in Baltimore, on his way to be inaugu.
rated, the danger was considered real
and imminent by those who had him in
charge. After the reception at Harris
burg it became necessary to select SIN
gle man to accompany him on his peril
Gus secret journey to Washington by
way of Philadelphia and Baltimore. Mr..
and Mrs Lincoln both chose Lamon
without any hesitation. They knew
him of old, and Mrs. Lincoln said she
would not trust her husband with any
other companion. Lamon has told the
story of that midnight ride in his Life
of Lincoln" and ridiculed the apprehen-
sions felt at that time. But Mr. Lincoln,
who vas as brave man rs ever lived,
would not have submitted to the indig'
nifty of being clandestinely passed into
the capital if he had not believed his
life would pay the penalty of non-eom
plance