The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-08-22

Mr.. Sanderson, editor of the Lancaster
CPa) htcVge"cer, who is spending few
days at Bedford Springs, in letter to his
paper, relates the following:
| met Mr.. James McDougal, lumber mer-
chant of Baltimore of high respectability, Il
relative of Mrs. B. J. Mctirann, of Lancaster,
and one of the genial class of springs visitors
who become generally known and popular.
Mr.. McDougal has been an ardent Republi-
can, dcrnoniac condition he reached after
starting in life as an Old Line Wing, and
passing thence through the purgatOry of
Douglas Democracy. Mr.. McDougal lost forty
thousand and some odd dollars by the rebel
lion, circumstance which may account for
some of his bitterness against the rebels.
They say he was in danger of being lynched
in the unpatriotic atmosphere of Baltimore
in the earlier days of the rebellion, a fact
which 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 something which you
will be glad to hear and which | am sur
prised that we never read before.
When Mr.. Lincoln issued his Emancipa-
tion proclamation-I believe that was the
occasion-a deputation of citizens from Balti-
more went ON to Washington to congratulate
him. Mr.. McDougal was of the number
They speedily got through with their address
at the White House, and We're about to leave
with the declaration that they would moi
| further trespass upon the Presidents valua,
BILE time.
Take seats, boys, take Seats" exclaimed
Mr.. Lincoln, as he rang for chairs to be
brought in, sit would be strange if could
not spare half hour or an hour for conver.
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 subject of Generals came up and variOu,
opinions Were expressed as to who was the
ablest officer on our side. When "a great
many opinions had been given, Mr.. Lincoln
said:
"Gentlemen, in my Judgment, you hav,
not struck the right man yet"
| And of course all were anxious TO heal
him name the man and asked him to do so
| He said.
1t is Gen. Hancock. 4"
| The counteDances OF his visitors expressed
their surprise and one OF them ventured I,
say that he feared Hancock was too rash
| Yes" said Mr.. Lincoln, f" so some of Tia,
older generals have said To me, and hav,
said to them that | have watched Gen. Han
cocks conduct very carefully, and hav,
found that when he goes into action IA,
achieves his purpose and comes out with
smaller list of casualties than any of them
Bold he Is, but not rash. Why, gentlemen
do you know what his record was at Wes
Pointi"
And Mr.. Lincoln went to his book shelf
and, taking down an Army Register, showed
the position in which Hancock had gradua
ted, and that, fui thermore, in u class tha
was one Of the most distinguished that haC
ever graduated at the Military Academy
Continuing to speak of him in the highes
terms, lac further said
- tell you, gentlemen, that ii his life anC
strength are spared, believe that Gen. Han
cock is destined to be one of the most distin
gnished men Of the age. Why, when g,
down in the morning 90 open my mail-anc
arise at o'clock declare that | do i
in fear and trembling lest | may hear tina
Hancock has been killed or wounded"
Was not that remarkable narrative h
take from an absolutely trustworthy sourc
in the quiet valley by the Bedford Springs
and is it not waving plume in Hancock
hati Mr. Lincoln's prediction comes true il
this hour that finds Hancock at the SUNNI
OF his highest possible ambition and his es
innate of him has come to be shared by ever,
intelligent reader of the great letter TO Sher
man, which appears, coincident with Lin
coins stamp, to fasten upon him the highes
| fame