Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-22
PoLITICs IN WAR TIMES.
How Lincoln Carried Pennsylvanis-
soldiers Ordered home to Vote

4 How Lincoln Carried Pennsylvania-
Soldiers Ordered home to Vote
Fro0a the Baltimore Sun.
| WASHINGTON. Feb. 19.-At a social
gathering in Philadelphia few nights
since, composed of gentlemen OF " ash
lngton and OF that city, several interest
ing "reminiscences and statements were
given, which are now for the first time
made public. Col. A. Il. Mcclure, VINO
was intrusted With much of the conhden-
tlal work OF the Republican campaign OF
1904, reclted the particulars OF an lnter'
view which ne had with President Lin
coin in reference 10 Republican
prospects in Pennsylvania. At this
Time, as will be remembered, there
was much discomfort in the North,
and grave apprehensiOns were felt
by the administration of Mr.. Lincoln as to
the result in the two great States oil New
YORK and Pennsylvania, where dlssatls-
faction was most rife. 1t was felt to be
absolutely necessary for moral effect on
the other States that the October election
In pennsylvania should be carried by the
home vote. Col. Mcclure, alter most
careful survey of the political field,
reached the conclusion that there was
the greatest danger as to this of failure.
lie took the train for Washington and
lald all his migivings, with his reasons
therefor, before The President. Dir.
Lincoln sighed and was silent for
awhile. He then said, What can be
done? Col. Mcclure replied, II see
nothing except to fuTlOugh from
5000 TO 10 900 OF the Pennsylvania troops
ana let them come home and vote. Adj
wise Gen Grant of your wishes that 1900
be furloughed at once from his Immediate
mmhnd with permission to return
home" To this Mr.. Lincoln replied That
ne dare not appeal TO Gen. Grant IN such
case, as he aid not know whether Gen.
Grant was for or against him. Col. Nc
cure then inquired how about Sheridan,
who was then ia the valley OF Virginia.
on. said Mr.. Lincoln, "Pnips all
right" After some further consultation
IL was decided that Meade and
Sheridan should both be communicated
with by private messenger from the
President, with the request to Through
certain regiments of Pennsylvania troops
under their command This was done,
the soldiers went home and voted, and
Pennsylvania was carried for the Repub-
hcan tickeJi by liItls more than 1000 on
the hons vote. Had 1t not been tbs, such
was the distrust aud dissatisfaction at
the time that 1t might have lost both New
York and Pennsylvania at the PresI-
Dental election.
Gen. Il. Ii. Bingham, who was on the
SOdu vi DldJ. den. 6dHCOCk. LOlQ OI COn~
versatiOns had by Hancock with his staff
during the pendency Of the campaign OF
1854. Gen. Bingham said that Democrat
though Gen. Hancock was, Ia all his con-
ndenlial talks with his staff, while at no
time undertaking to dictate to them, he
invariably expressed the belief that it
was necessary to the successful prOsecu-
ton of the war that Mr.. Lincoln should
be reelected.
Gov. Curtin. who, as the war Governor
OF pennsylvania, Is perhaps as familiar
with everything connected with the bat
tie OF Gettysburg as any one, gave a most
absorbing account of incidents connected
herewith, and was most emphatic in the
expression that had Hancock been shot
one hour earil than he was, the Confed-
crates would have won the battle, and
history might have been so different.
Mr.. ii etherington. OF Philadelphia, who
sat by Gen. Hancock ut the Glover Club
dinner in that city in January, which was
the last public occasion on which Gen.
Hancock was present, SAID the General In
the brief intervals between song and story
spoke some little of himself. He said tnat
Immediately after the Presidential cleo
ton Of 1884 be had giveI up all political
am D1tlons 'ssa4d aspirations Ior ever. ne
had expected to be elected, and was Of
course disappointed. But it was not very
long before he was thoroughly convinced
that it was best for him. Politics did not
suit him, and the White House would
have been nothing but bed of thorns for
him. The life to which he had been bred
was his pride and was congenial, and be
would die in 10. At this time be did not
dream how near mis- end was.