Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-03-06
A WAR "REMINISCENCES.
Making q Bed for President Lin.
coin.
Eng nuify Of "OId ABB" in Lengthen-
i"gs' when he Found 1t was Too

| IA via Ah INV ~
i"g as when he Fouad 1t was Too
Short.
/ IAN Eye Witness in the Boston Times.l
We were at Harrison's Landing after the
Seven days fight, and, as may be imagined
felt pretty badly.
True the final and bloody repulse of the
rebels at Malvern Hill had cheered Us up
somewhat, but it was plain to enlisted men
as well as officers that the occupation
of Richmond would have to be deferred
for long time.
1t Was during our first weeks occupation
of this prehistoric spot that 1 enjoyed the
first and only opportunity l ever had of
seeing President Lincoln. who visited the
army shortly after its arrival in sorder to
ascertain its exact condition and decide
upon its future movements.
As the writer of this was the orderly of
Maj Gen. Sumner, whose guest the Presi-
dent was during his briefstay, he had more
than ordinarily good advantages for OBJ
serving his peculiarities, which. it is need
less to say, he improved to the utmost.
What first Impressed me about President
Lincoln was the, excessive awakwarduess of
MS uguTc anu inc IhGL IQ&t MS CLONES
didn't seem to tit him. Tall, g8unt and I'M
calmly. he certainly looked like a rail-
splitter going about in his Sunday suit, or
| AN undertaken temper ,rily out of business
! This latter resemblance was intensified
| by the melancholy character of his fea-
| lures and the coat, vest and trousers of
| funeral black in which he was habtualy
| attlred The expression of his face was an
odd mingliog OF shrewdness, sagacty and
native kIndliness; and, despit- its sadness,
there Gtlnually lurked about the corners
Of his mou b CLEANS of quaint humor OF
which none OF his pictures give the sllgh t.
= est indication.
MrsLinc In wore WHAT commonly called
plug hat and although it may have only
been Unconventional length, it appeared to
me extraordinary tall. Although it may
well be doubted if any other species Of hal
. would have better become him, / remem.
! Der thinSir g at the time tn It the stoveDipe
added greatly to the cd mess and gro
tes QuerIe of bis appearance
Inc troops wer TO be reviewed on the
day If his arrival, and l remem Der the
General Was very much Ierplexedsas to
n character Cfthe Presidents mount. anC
huall4 consulted him as to be kind of {
charger he would PR fer. l remember hi:
a.swer as plainly as if it were only yestef
day:
= General" said he, "any kind If
l. qnleJ beast will do. / don't think l was Gu
d out for a cav lryman, and l am af aids
d highs pirited war steed might prove Lit
"a | iop much for me"
ID In the 6 neral's stud was little sorre
er m ,re Ca led Bonnie, the soul of gentlenes
1t and good 'emper, and he at once proposed
~ her tor Mr.. Llncoln's use.
"Al right" said the President I"
guess the mare will suit me to a L; bes de
al m ing h rises that sex is much the eaeies
% to manage. This remark, however" b
At added with sly twinkle in his eye, "doe
re not hold good OF humanity"
in hen Mr.. Lincoln was mounted o
20 Bonnie his appearance was more peculls
I'd than ever. The little mare was not MOI
d. than fourteen hands high, and SO great Wa
is The length of the Presidents legs thu
"a once fairly settled in his saddle his fet
nearly touched the ground. As he ruefull
20 remarke ed, glapcing at his extremities, :"
new get off andMalk.n
for :. Mounted by his side on q splendid sta
t er- ION, prancing and rearing, and surrou de
90 ny brilliant staff, General Sumner locke
iisl NE me verltable cav lier of old, while tt
Sniel NJ gistrate of the republic, by con
parison' mad the appearance of some qul
II. country parson who, in amblng to morr
aro ing serv ce, had fallen among military me
ok, by mistake.
of However, enthusiasm of the men f.
ost the plain looking civilian was tremendou
- and the new President was much Meas,
SIS, with he review. Particularly WIS he d
IT, lighted with the spirit of the troops, viii,
MS was evidently much better than he hi
o. expected.
As he rode back he said to the Geners
ess gleefully, "The boys seem as if they we
IT,. willing to go in again Tomorrow, Sc
EY timent 10 which that officer hearth
assented.
m. After our return to camp the Preside
dined heartily, and towards evening we
:, way to visit some of the other Generals.
ian It was about CLOCK and getting da
sell when General Sumner ordered me to sci
59s his colored servant to him. This was
ssS sprightly contraband whom the men b