New-York tribune., 1885-07-26
TWO TALKS WITH LINCOLN.
RECALLED BY GENERAL LA GRANGE.
or THE GREAT PRESIDENTS
TIENCE AND GENrLESEss

ILLUSTRATIONS on THE GREAT PRESIDENTS "a"
1IENCE AND GENTLESEss.
To the Editor Of The Trto"ne -,
s,p.J frat met President Lincoln in the
carlv autumn of 1861 under the following
7 wa, captain Of ID" Company OF tho 4tn "''.on''"
vounteer Infantry, which was stationed at 'nc h'"y
House nine miles from Baltimore Adutant A'a',on
and myself were seiected 90 Washington and lay
before tho President letters recommending tne p'o'o
ton of our colonel. Habert f. Paine 10 the erauo VI
Brir.iisr-Ceneral OF Volunteers. The manner Oh o"'
reception may illustrate tho kindly patience of Mr.. LIN
coin In attending tho ordinary dnties OF MS suce a'
that time We presented by Congressman 'ohn e.
Potter of Wisconsin, and the President mace some
pleasant inquiry In regard 70 our relative rank heh
stated very briefly the object OF our visit; SPOKE quite
earnestly OF Colonel Panes merits ana quaihcauohs'
and handed the papers the PRESIDENT looking for tho
first time full in his face a. did So was young then
but since that time have met most "f tho men VINO
nave been called great In our country. But nave
never yet looked up any other man with such minsed
confidence and reverence as l then iooKcd up W
Abraham Lincoln 80 other man by his simple presence
has made feel utterly humble, and yet not
afraid
He took the papers, laid them plain desk before
him mooned NJ to be- seated and said will first see
what have here In relation to Wisconsin brgaters
lie took papers from pigeon holes above the desk
and spreading them before bim deliberately read aiouo
the recommen aations upon which Generals King ana
Cutter had been appointed. After returning these
paper, 10 their place he said Now We will read your
papers, aud read them in the same manier as lie had
read the others. Then turning to mo he asked;
How many regiments has your State In the service "
answered: Twelve In the fold. and seven more in
process Of formation In the State" He said; Allowing
four regiments to brigade. that would ents you to
another brigader, but must not make unnecessary
ocers now II General Dix had said Ia his letter that
he needed another brgsdier to properly organize his
force, I would Immediately appoint Paine On these
letters"
I said: Mr. President, I think General Dix would
have said had he thought II necessary TO secure the
appointment; think. sir. that he would say 80 now;
but be probably thought II was for tn say when
another brigader should he appointed for Wisconsin,
He smiled kindly and replied: 4" Young man. when you
become an applicant for promotion hope you VIII hni
a. earnest advocate. But cannot appoint any one
without an apparent necessity. However. will refer
to these papers whenever the question Of appointing
brigadier from Wisconsin mp. These papers are
stronger than those upon which have male two ap
pontn,ents from your State have no doubt that In
time your colonel will be promoted That In all that
can say you now" We at and each In turn
grasped his strong hand VIC took our leave sudrc.
quently Paine promoted and dstnguished lost leg
| leading forlorn hope at Port HUDSON. was clectea
to Congress- served Commissioner Of Patents and Is
| now lawyer In Washington.
Two months later. having boon promoted 10 he ma or
OF the lst Wisconsin Volunteer Ca, airy. went again TO
men my company. and desired 10 have them trans
ferred with me to cavalry. had prepared petition
| asking their transfer which had boen approved by
| Colonel Pane General lockwood and General Dix;
and presented this petition General Seth Williams
then Assistant Secretary OF War. lie said quickly. II
10 done handed copy OF the Presidents
order forbddng future transfers In volunteer regments
said that had read the order but had hoped that an
exception might be made In favor OF my brothers, but
that would decline tho promotion and return TO my
regiment. Tho General answered: Since you
here. would not do that but there IL only who
can help you" asked. Is that General Mcclellan !"
lie said, No. this Is executive order. only Mr..
Lincoln can make an exception to It," answered.
viii not trouble the President with small matter n"
but he said think you might try rather than refa':
At my request the General thcn wrote across my
sign to give 1t effects and In few moments again stood
Before SIR; lincoln. lie looked tired aud but said
Yes Mr.. President presented letters recommending
rans :: sss & Paine has
not been promoted yet, but he will be-"
personal matter. have been commissioned major OF
the lst Wisconsin Cavalry. and wish to accept; but
ferrsd with me- They are enlisted men in my company.
Ny military superors have approved my petition. and
y0ur order hut told me might come 10 you He has
written here Shat win grant ny request you sign it; If
He asked very slowly :" How many men have you in
When you issue an order to your men you try TO set
| them an example Of obedience, do you notr
a" have issued this order at the request of General
Mcclellan because seek transfers to avoid duty.
TO find opportunities to deserts besides the volunteer
ana mSs yo
think ought to set All example Of obedience to my own
"Yes sir; hut. thought that who made an order
might make anexception to IT,"
But u made one exception would be asked 70 make
thousand; each one would think his case pecuar a.
Mr.. President am sorry that troubled you will
Ss nSt 70 Your
| down the rebellion, did you not y
"You have a hundred men under you now; how
many would you have II you were major OF cavalry
.You could DO with four hundred than you could
~Yes.,sir; but cannot leave my brothers; they
% than LA am Z. We must stay togeher please give
that ssy rSsr nss
in the old regiment Are you not assuming too much
enough enlist they VIII be manly enough take care
tSsmsclyes It's your duty to accept the pronoslsl
yon; want to do my duty would like to be Major Of
Would think did SSt ss to- take
| promotion IN another regiment"
this GO tnH @ matter ali sSe
then you visa ms 70 sign the paper bring hero at7
0erpcx % ,ns evenings s1y you came oy appointment they
want me to sign this paper give 1t to and Twill sign
It."
We had been standings he bold out his hand; my
Ss ,1S NJ 'Ysn Ss's :as
saw him again. But shall forget the sad kind
look upon his face.
| !" IL bears do on me through the slsntng years,
The stronger for the distance"
NY youngest brother was soon mustered out because
OF Ills extreme YOUTH and the elder promoted TO bo
| battalion adjutant and both Joined me ct tho cavalry
camp The elder received his death wound at cambridge
Tennessee, In 1854, while leading charge Of mis-
pany; and thought often that ne might have escaped