The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-06
ARNOLD'S LIFE OF LINCOLN.
New Anecdotes of General Grant-Justice to
Mrs. Lincoln.


New Anecdotes of General Grant-Justice to
Mrs. Lincoln.
Springfield Republican.
In Arnold's Life of Lincoln" are two charac
teristic anecdotes of General Grant which are
new, at least to me, and worth diffusing at this
time, when every ones attention is fixed upon
the condition of the suffering hero. On the con-
frmation of the nomination of General Grant
as lieutenant general in February. 1864 the
President requested the Generals presence in
the capital, which the latter, up to this time
during the war, had not visited. He was per-
sonally unknown to Lincoln, the Secre-
tary of War, and most of the mem
bers of Congress. The unsolicited APP
pointment found him at his post of duty,
and with modesty and generosity towards his
rare as it was honorable, he said, II think Sher-
man better entitled to the position than / am"
He arrived at the capital on the 8th of March,
and in the evening attended levee at the
White House He entered the reception room
unannounced, and almost stranger. He was
instantly recognized by the President and the
Western soldier was never more cordially well
coined. As soon as it was known that he was
present, the pressure of the crowd to see the
hero of Viclsburg was so great that he was
forced to shelter himself behind sofa So ire
pressible was the desire to see him that Secre-
tary Seward finally induced him to mount sofa
that this curiosity might be gratifed. When
parting from the President he said This has
messed during the war;"
After receiving his commission and visiting
the Army Of the Potomac, he returned to Wash
lngton, and after an interview with the Pre-
dent and Secretary Of War in regard to his
plans, prepared to leave for the West. Mrs.
Lincoln invited him to meet a brilliant party at
dinner that evening, and he received the invita-
ton at the close of the important interview with
the President. The General said: Mrs. Lin
coin must excuse me. must be in Tennessee
at given time" But we can't excuse you"
said the President Mrs. Lincoln's dinner with
out you would be Hamlet with Hamlet left out"
Il appreciate the honor Mrs. Lincoln would do
me, said the General, ''but time is very i'm
portant now, and really, Mr.. Lincoln, have had
enough of this show business" That was a re-
mark Mr. Lincoln could we'll appreciate, and
Grant went to the West without
waiting for the dinner. Mr.. Arnold,
who was a member of Congress from
Illinois during the war and one of Lincolns
most intimate friends. has written a very valu-
able life of the great President and presents in
brief compass the leading incidents which led to
the war, the great debates between Lincoln and
Douglas, the proceedings in Congress during
the conflict and outline of the military events,
well as the details of the Presidents life from
the back woods to the White House He also
does justice to Mrs. Lincoln, who has been
treated harshiy-nay most cruelty abused and
misrepresented by portion of the press. There
is nothing in American history so unmanly, so
devoid of every chivalric impulse, as the treat
ment of this poor broken hearted woman whose
reason was shattered by the great tragedy of
her life Charles Sumner was true to
the widow of his friend to the last Largely
through his influence Congress passed the bill
giving her pension and comforting upon her the
Thanking privilege of life"