The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-05-07
LINCOLN'S MESSAGE.
The Heartfelt Blessing He Sent to Gener-
al Shermun and His Army.

In relating some "reminiscences by
Col. Mackland of his employment in
the postal service in the army during
the var of the rebellion the Washing
ton correspondent of the Cleveland (O)
LeGd9r tells the following:
General Grant told me to 90 to
New York by way of Washington and
see Il the president, secretary of war,
or General Halleck had any message to
sendto General Sherman. The presi-
dent was the only one who had any
thing to send When / sent my card
in tohim he had me admitted at once.
He vas sitting at his table in the large
room then occupied as the presidents
room at the white house, which is now
occupied as the private secretary's
room Several gentlemen were sitting
around the table as if in private conver-
satin. As l entered Mr. Lincoln arose
andmet me near the center of the
room. He extended his hand to me,
saying, We'll, Colonel, got message
from Grant telling me that you were
going to find Sherman. | am sure you
will bring US good news, for we always
get rood news from you. In this he
Doubtless had reference to the fact that
whenever the army moved the COM
manding officer was so confident of the
security of his position that he estab-
lishd postoffice. AS he said this Mr.
LinOln held my hand and looked me
inteltly in the eye. | shall never for
get the expression of his countenance
or the tone of his voice as he said, with
trembling lips, while the moisture
gathered in his eyes: Say to General
Sherman for me, whenever and wher-
everyou meet him, God bless him, and
God bless his army! This is as much
as can say, and more than | can
write. He again shook my hand as /
bade him good morning. When /
reacled the door and had partially
opered it to 90 away, he called to me
from the place | had left him standing
and said, Remember, now, | say God
bless General Sherman! and God bless
his army! These were the last words
| eve heard Mr.. Lincoln utter, and
they were spoken in such an earnest,
heartfelt, pathetic tone that | cannot
forgd them. He was assassinated the
nigh | returned to Washington. Mr..
Linc,in was a very great man, and all
the greater because he did not know it.
| have never heard any one who had
personally come in contact with Mr..
Lincoln while he occupied the white
house that did not speak in terms of
Kindness of him. He was all kindness,
integrity, and simplicity, and his good
common sense traits of character were
always loved by the masses of the peo-
pie = Fort McAllister had
been captured the evening before, and
General Sherman had got on board the
tiagsEip. As the Island City, the mail
steamer, was steaming through the Os-
sabav Sound the signal officer spied
two vessels away off to the larboard.
Presently he said: They are signal
ing Us. 1t is the flagship, with Gener-
al Sherman on board. His practiced
eye had caught the signal when no 9TH
er man on the boat had noticed it. The
signal came: General Sherman says
cone alongside The reply went
back: 'All right When we got with
ins hailing distance General Sherman
called me by name, asked me how |
WIS, and said: 4 am glad you are
here. AS the boats neared each other
th, General piled me with inquiries
abut the news, friends, ETC., in the
North. When | could jump on the
deek where he stood | took his hand
and delivered him the message Mr..
Lincoln had charged me to deliver"