The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-08-27
Abraham LincOln's 0pinicn Of Hancock.

From the Lancaster lntelyenccr
BEDFORD SPRINGS, Aug. 81 me! MIR.
james McD5u5al, Il lumber merchant of BAL
timorc, Of high respectabilily, aud one of
the genial class of Springs visitors, VINO be-
c. generally known and popular Mr. |
Mel ougal ha. been an ardent Republican, !
4 d-mopiac condition he reached after start
ing in life as an Od Line Wing and pass
iua thence through tho purgatory Of Doug
las Democracy Mr.. Mcpougal lost Forty
thousand and some odl dollars by the rtbCl-
lion, Circumstance which may account Tor
some Of lis bitterness against the rebels.
Iucy say he was in danger OF being lynched
in tAe unpariotlc atmosphere Of Baltimore
in the earlier days Of the rebellion, IA fact
which | can readily believe, for he is evil
IDENTIFY full Of strong opinions and plain Ian
guage, aud has no disposition to check their
overflow. He told me something thai you
will he glad to hear and which am sur
prised lIat we never read before.
When Mr. Lincoln issued his Emancira
| ton pruGlamaliOu- believe that was the
| occa,iun--a deputation of citizens from Bal
| timore went on to Washington to cougratu-
| late him. Mr. McD1ugal wa. one Of the
number. They speedily got through with
| their address at the White House, and were
about 70 leave with the declaration that
| they would not further trcspass upon the
Presidents valuable time.
"Tafe seats, boys, take s,at,!' exclaimed
! Mr.. Lincoln, as he rang for chairs 10 he
brought in. 1T would be strange If could
not spare half hour or an hour Tor conyersa-
ton with friends who have come from Bal
| limOre to see me
The visitors spent nearly an hour in con-
gprsation Presently the subject ol Gener-
ais came up, and various opinions were cX-
pressed as to who was the adjust officer ON
our side. When great many opinions
had been given, Mr.. Lincoln said;
"Geullemen, in my Judgment You haye
not struck the right man yet"
And Of course all were anxious to hear
him name the man, aud asked him to do So.
lie said;
at is General Hancock"
The countenance of his visitors expressed
their surprise and one of them ventured to
say that he feared Hancock was too rash.
eyes" said Mr.. Lincoln, $50 some of the
elder Generals have said TO me. and | have
said 10 them, that | have watched Gen.
Hancock 5 conduct very carefully, and !
have found that when he goes into action he
achieves his purpose and comes out with a
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 shell
and taking down an army register showed
the position in which Hancock had gradua
tod, and that furthermore, in a class thai
was one OF the most distinguished that had
ever gra uated at the Military Academy
Continuing to speak Of him in the highes
terms, he further said:
81 tell you gentlemen, that if his lite am
strength are spared, | believe that Gen
Hancock is destined to be one of the mos
! distinguished men Of the age. Why, when
, 20 down in the morning to open my mail
and arise at / o'clock-I declare that | d,
. it in fear and trembling, lest | may hea
s that Hancock ha, been killed or wounded, ,