Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-12-14
COLFAX on LINCOLN.
some Anecdotes of the Martyred
President.

President
4 touching meeting with the great
president was that after the battle of
the Wilderness, when he said to Mr..
Colfax, "Why are we called upon to
suffer defeat after defeat, and reverse up
on reversed Could we have avoided this
bloody struggle? Was it not forced upon
us? Will it ever, ever end?" But shortly
he frightened up, saying in less hope
less tone,
GRANT WILL NOT FAIL Us.
On him now rests tho hope of the ma
ton" And half hour later he was
telliBg stories and cracking jokes to
conceal his great anxiety.
Another story was of the application
Mr.. Colfax, then q congressman, made
for the pardon of soldier, charged
with desertion, imprisoned in Indiana,
and sentenced to be shot. The interview
in which the request was made took
place in the evening. The president
said: Some of my generals blame me
for pardoning too many. But it rests
me, when, after hard day, have a
chance TO cave some poor fellows life, F."
aud he signed the pardon, saying: 81
shall sleep happier tonight, when I
reflect upon this poor soldiers Joy"
Some of the anecdotes, related were
very enjoyable. One remark of Lin
coins was particularly appreciated.
When he was confined to his room and
threatened with smallpox, he one day
said, referring TO the office-seekers,
"Tell them ali to come now, for have
got something can give every man of
en-"
The incident was told Of General
Tom Thumbs visit to the white house,
and Of his arrival at time when sever
al prominent generals were closeted
with Lincoln, who, to the great surprise
of his visitors, ordered the dwarf ad-
mitted, and began an earnest converse
ton with him. Finally, one pompous
military gentleman marched up, and
said to Tom, "Well, sir; you call our
self q general, but you are mighty
small one" True" said the president;
"but, judged by the results, some of
mine are still smaller"
LINCoLN's MERCY.
Lincoln's well-known disposition to
be merciful, which prevented his sign
martial, was APPLY illustrated by several
stories, and the facts stated that it was
for this reason that congress SO modi-
lied the law toward the close of the war
that death warrants from the courts
martial could be executed by the order
Of commanding general in the field.
An instance of this trait was found
in the pardon of one of Buffers COM
mand. When the condemned mans
father called at the white house to beg
his sons life, the president had just re-
ceiyed 8 telegram from General Butler
imploring him not to interfere with the
judgements of the court-martial. He
would utterly ruin discipline of the
generals command.
When this dispatch was read to the
old petitioner, he fell at the presidents
feet heart broken. Lincoln looked down
at him moment, and then seixing pen
and paper, he said: "Ben Butler or no
Ben Butler, here goes" And he wrote
4 note and handed it to the old man,
whose face was now beaming with hope.
His countenance again Became sad,
however, when he read the wards:
GENERAL Bsr1ER: John Smith is not to be
shot until further orders from me. A. LINCOLN.
"Ah, Mr.. President" said the man,
Il thought you were writing pardon.
You might order his execution to-mor-
row."
my man." rejoined the president,
you are not very well acquainted with
me, see. If you were, you would know
that if your son never died until put to
death by my orders, he would live to
be great deal older than Methusaleh."