The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1880-08-25
/" GEN. F7SKEs SWEARING STORY,
AN ANEcporn OF rnEsIbnNr LINCOLN

One Sunday, Dr. Nelson preached to our
regiment, remarkably good man and
strong preacher, with keen insight into hui
man nature and he told us about the evils of
camp life, how easy it would be for us to fall
into bad habits and as we were to march
away the next day, he desired to exhort us to
lead pure, good lives and he told us the
story of commodore on a war vessel, who
made contract with every midshipman that
he, the commodore, should do all the swear
ing for the ship. and DR.. Nelson says: Il
wonder if all these men here to-day would
not be willing to enter into a contract that
Col. Fiske should do all the swearing for the
Thirty Third, and / have q good mind to
take vote !" and they all stood on their
feet and voted, and it was a grand spectacle.
They entered into a solemn covenant that no
oath should be made in our regiment unless
made it. We marched the next day, and it is
true that for many months | never heard an
oath in that regiment, until one evening
was sitting on the banks of the Mississippi,
looking over the country, aud l heard tie
most classic swearing going on over the bluff.
Oh, It was terrific. walked out on the edge
of the bluff and looked over there, and what
should see but one of the teamsters, man
did not think ever had swear thought. He
had put his six mules to a wagon that he had
been to the river with, and in coming back he
had run against stump and broken the pole,
and everything conceivable and inconcevabe,
in the Confederacy and out of it, lie accused
of being in the way just then, from jefferson
Davis down to the meanest soldier, he severe
ly condemned. walked back, and by and by
there came up, leading the six mules my old
teamster. He saluted me kindly, and said !:
John, didn't hear some one swear dread
fully over there little while ago P" "Ob,
yes" he said, g reckon you did," said !:
Who was it :" And he said /" That was
me- sir" / said /: Don't you remember
the covenant made up at the Benton Barracks
between you and me, and all the others of the
regiment, that l was to do all the swearing
for the Thirty Third Missouri during the
war p" oh, yes" he said, !" / remember
that but you were not there to 40 it, and it
had to be done them" 1t passed into tho
army as very great joke and up to the fall
of Vicksburg whcneyer teamster was swear
ing little he would be told to hold ON until
General Fiske came along, and he would do
it.
This story told in the presence Of Mr..
Lincoln. 1t seemed to please him very much.
saw his tall form sway back and forth over
the desk as he laughed so heartily over it,
This was on Sunday night. On Monday |
was at Philadelphia, and after going back to
Washington said will go and bid Mr..
Lincoln goodbye before go back to my COM
mand." / went to the White House on Tues
day morning and passed into the great room
where the throng met on those days who
wanted to see the President, and there sat
Foreign Ministers and Senators and members
Of Congress and contractors and judges, all
waiting for an audience. No one could get
iu. Mr.. O'Leary, who used to attend the
door, and get some Of you in for ten dollars
apiece, came. out and said that no one could
see Mr.. Lincoln that morning. Among thu
disappointed ones l saw little old man, ant
/ had met him there Two OF three evenings DO