The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1880-09-15
LINCOLN ON HANCOCK.
His Prediction that Hancock wouId
be'-une Of the Most Distinguish
ed Men Of the Age"
Lancaster, Pa, Intelligencer Bedford Spring


Lancaster, Pa, lntelligencer Bedford Spring.
Letter.
met Mr.. James McDougaI, IA lumber
merchant of Baltimore of high RESPECT
| ability, a relative of Mrs. Ii. j. Me-
Cram, of Lancaster, and one of the
genial class of springs visitors who be-
come generally known and popular.
Mr.. McDougal has been an ardent Re-
I publican; ademOniac condition he reach
eel after starting in life ~ AN Old Line
Wing, and passing thence through the
purgatOry of Douglass Democracy. Mr.
McDougal lost forty Thousand and some
odd dollars by the rebellion, a circum-
stance which may account for some of
his bitterness against the relels. They
say lac was in danger of being lynche,l
in the unpatriotic atmosphere of Balti-
more in the earlier days Of the rebel
lion; "A fact which can readily believe,
for he evidently is brim full of strong
opinions and plain language, and has
no disposition Ia check their overflow
He told me something which you will
he glad to hear and | am surprised that
We never read before
When Mr.. Lincoln issued his eman-
cipatiOn proclamation-I believe that
was the occlsiOn-a deputation of eiti-
zens from Baltimore went on to WASH
ington to congratulate him. Mr.. Me
Dougal was of the number. They speed
lily got through with their address at
the White House, and were about to
leave, with the declaration that they
could not further trespass upon the
Presidents valuable time.
"Take seats, boys, take seats" ex-
claimed Mr.. Lincoln, as he rang tor
chairs to he brought i'm; lit would he
strange if could not spare half an hour
or an hour for conversation with friends
who have come from Baltimore to see
me-"
And the visitors sat down and spent
nearly an hour in conversation. Pre-
sently the subject of Generals came up,
and various opinions were expressed as
to who was the ablest officer on our
SIDE. When great many opinions had
been given, Mr.. Lincoln said:
"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 50. He said:
at is Gen. Hancock.
The countenance of his visitors ex-
pressed their surprise, and one of them
ventured to say that he feared Hancock
was too rash.
"Ies," said Mr.. Lincoln, $50 some of
the older Generals has said to me, and
have said to them that have watch
ell Gen. Hancock's conduct very care
fully, and | have found that when he
goes into action he achieves his purpose,
and comes out with II 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 MIR. Lincoln went to his book
shelf, and, taking down an army regis
ter, showed the position i'm which Han
cock had graduated, and that, further
more, i'm class that was one of the
most distinguished that had ever grad
uated at the Military Academy. Con-
tinuing to speak of him in the highest
terms, he further said:
al tell you, gentlemen, that if his
life and strength are spared, believe
that Gen. Hancock is destined to be
one of the most distinguished men of
the age. Why, when go down in the
morning To open my mail and l arise
at 4 O'clock declare that l do il in
fear and trembling lest may hear that
Hancock has been killed or wounded"
Was not that remarkable narrative
to take from an absolutely trustworthy