The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-09-20
LINCOLN CHANGED HIS MIND.
His First Meeting with Sheridan at City
Point.

A writer who claims to have been an
eve witness of the incident thus tells
the story in the Utica Herald:
Opposition now being at an end, it
was deemed advisable to bring Sheri-
dan at the head of his cavalry corps
around by the White House and City
Point to the left flank of the Army of
the Potomac in time to take part in the
closing scenes at Richmond and Peters
burg. To that end he left the valley,
pushing southwark until he struck the
railroad and canal, both of which were
most effectually destroyed for miles.
The former by heating and twisting
rails, and the latter by blowing up
locks and waste weirs, accomplishing
his work so quickly that he met with
little resistance. A full report in
writing was promptly made to Gen.
Grant, and forwarded by scouts, one OF
whom passed around to the south of
Richmond. The second went nortk,
while the third passed directly through
the City of Richmond. and was the
first to reach City Point. He was a
tall, why Virginian, with black hair
reaching to his shoulders, dressed in
Southern uniform. After dropping the
tent fly to conceal him Mr.. Lincoln
was summoned to receive from him
the report. The package consisted of
some half dozen closely written sheets
of tissue paper wrapped in tinfoil. The
President soon discovered it was in
cipher and surrendered it remarklng
that he didn't believe he would be any
the wiser until it had been translated.
The scout disappeared as quietly as he
had come, and soon after Sheridan S
report was laid before the President,
who was intensely gratitied as he read
of the Union success. Two or three
days later Gen. Sheridan left his caval-
nv at White House and rode across the
country to City Point, where he en-
countered Sherman in the AdjutaLt
Generals cabin describing and point
ing out on the map to Meade his march
across Georgia Robert Lincoln hast
ened down to the River Queen (Mr.
Lincoln's boat) to Uniform the President
that Little Phil is i'm Without exer-
cising his presidential prerogative Mr..
Lincoln seized his hat and fastened up
on the bluff to Gen. Grants headquar-
tiers camp. As soon as he was seen
approaching the Adjutant Generals
quarters conversation ceased, and Gen.
Sheridan turned to learn the cause just
in time to encounter the President,
who at that moment strobe in and with
out further ceremony seized him by
the hand, eXclaiming as he did so, Gen.
Sheridan''-and then after marked
pause of several seconds, during which
he scrutinized Sheridan's slight figure
from head to foot. when
this war broke out thought a cavalry
man must be at least six feet four inch-
| es high" Lincoln'S OWN. Another
pause ensued, and the handshaking and
scanning went vigorously on. Then,
resuming, he closed by hearty, good
humored burst: Gen. Sheridan, |
have changed my mindn' The Prcsi-
dent turned on his heel and departed.
Sheridan had not spoken a word, but
his bushes would have done honor to
a maiden, and he was now relieved
from further embarrassment by Sher-
man, who resumed his story. Few men
ever receive more sincere cOmpli-
ment, and fewer still, perhaps, could
lay Just claims to such an honor-an
honor indeed, l dare say, which he
cherished through life, as this was his
last as well as his first meeting with
Mr. Lincoln.