The Indiana State sentinel., 1880-08-18
HANCOCK AND LINCOLN.
What Old Abe Had to Say About the Most
Distinguished Man of the Age.
Bedford Springs Letter to Lancaster PA In


Distinguished Man of the Age.
bedford Springs Letter to Lancaster PA In
telllgencer.
met Mr.. James McDougal, a lumber mer-
chant of Baltimore of high respectability,
relative of Mrs B j. McGrann, OF
Lancaster, and one of the genial class of
Springs visitors who become generally
known and popular. Mr.. McDougsI has
been an ardent Republican; a demonisc con
dition he reached after starting In life as an
Old Line Wing, and passing thence through
the purgstory OF Douglas Democracy. Mr..
McDougal lost forty thousand and some odd
dollars By the rebellion, circumstance
which may account for some of his
bitterness against the Rebels. They
say he was in danger of being lynched in
the unpstrioic atmosphere Of Baltimore, in
the early days of the rebellion, fact which
l can readily believe, for he evidently is
brim full of strong opinions and plain Ian
guage, and has no disposition to check their
overflow. He told me somsthing which you
will be glad to hear, and which | am sur
prised that We never reed before.
When Mr.. Lincoln issued his Emancipa
tion Proclamation-I believe that was the
occaaon-a deputstion of citizens from Bal
timore went on to Washington to coDgratu-
late him. Mr.. McDougat was of the number.
They speedily got through with their ad-
to leave, with the declaration that they would
not further tTespass upon the Presidents
valuable time.
Take seats, boys take seats" exclaimed
Mr.. Lincoln as he rang for chairs to be
brought in. ut would be strange il could
not spare q balf hour or an hour for colver-
sation with friends who have come from
Baltimore TO see me"
And the visitors sat down and spent nearly
an hour in conversation. Presently the sub
ject of Generals came up, ana various opin-
ions were expressed ss to who was the ablest
officer on our eide. When a great many
opinions had been given, Mr. Lincoln seid
Gentlemen, in my judgment, you have
not struck the right man yet"
And of course all were anxious to hear
him name the man and asked HIM to do so.
He said:
ut is General Hancock"
The countenancs of his visitors expressed
their surprise, and one of them ventured to
say that be feared Hancock was too rash.
"Yes." said Mr.. Lincoln. $50 some of the
older Generals have eaid to me, and have
said to them that have watched General
Hancock's conduct very carefully, and
have found that when he goes into action he
| achieves his purpose and comes out with q
smaller list of casualties than any OF them.
Bold he is, but not rash. Why, gentlemen,
do you know what his record was at West
Point?"
| And Mr.. Lincoln went to his book shelf
and taking down an army register, showed
the position in which Hancock had gradu-
sted, ana that, furthermore, in a class that
was one of the most distinguished that had
ever graduated at the Military Academy
/ Continuing to speak of him In the highest
terms, he further said:
81 tell you, gentlemen, that IL his life and
strength are spared, believe that General
Hancock is destined to be one OF the most
distinguished men of the age. Why, when
60 down in the morning TO open my mail
and arise at O'clock declare that dc
1t IN fear and trembling lest may hear ths
| Hancock has been killed or wounded"
Was not that a remarkable narrative tC
take from an absolutely trustworthy source
in the quiet valley by the Bedford Springs
and 1t is not a waving plume in Hancock.
hat? Mr., Lincoln's prediction comes true
In this hour that finds Hancock at the sum.
nit of his highest possible ambition; anC
his estimate of him has come to be shared
by every intelligent reader of the great let
ter to Sherman, which appears, coinciden
with Lincoln's stamp, to fasten upon hin
| the highest fame.