New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-24
A STORY ABOUT LINCOLN.
THE PRESIDENT AS A PENSION AGENT.

a
Service pensions had been tho subject uppermoss
at the veterans campfire that night, and togethor
with the hartack boiled beans and other refresh
mentsp Il had been pretty thoroughly discussed Many
of tho soldiers were disconsoate' and thought the
chances Of getting bill through Congress which
would keep tho survivors of the Union army out OF
the poorhousc before the majority Of them were dead
were not hopeful, and the tendency OF many In high
official position to underrate the services and SACRIFICES
of the men whose valor had preserved the flag, and
tho Government was referred to with some feeling.
Comrades spoke out General Schuyler HsmhIon'
in voice that attracted everybody's attention, We
had President who took much interest In our pen
sons as old Abe Lincoln once did IN getting PEN
sion for a poor Irish woman, whose husband fell In
the Seminole war, the thing would DO done mucn
sooner than It appears likely matters look at pres
ent.S
Show. was that, Generals" dozen grayDcarus
asked. sLet us know how old Abe managed IL
aIf yau'n keep still, and ask no questions unu'
got through, wfll." answered General Hamilton
story Of Abraham Lincoln never wants for listeners
in an audience of old soldiers and with the
the occasional scratching Of q MATCH when resh
cigar or another ppeful of tobacco was Lighted, the
order preserved n,ust have wholly satisfied the nara
tor The sehiiors gathered around him and the Gen.
eral beganE
ait was roasting hot day NJ the early part Of July,
1861 at the National Capital, fortnight, propaov'
before the first battle Of Bull Run was fought. Penn
Eylvania-aye was ankle deep with red DUST wnicn
arose ln Rat clouds in the wake OF arriving regiments
and batteries hurled forward by the loyal Governors
for the expected fight Two wheeled smbulauces wore
making triVs between the city and the negnDonns
camps and numbering army wagons ~oro
damned IN among the omhpuses "no. .
ran between Georgetown and the Cspt4'
for for It wac before the days OF sreetce"
and herdIcs in washington. All seemed to nave one
object on that sweltering day. and that was to KICK
up the dust, suiOcating pedestrians ana manns nie
,Inbearable The humidity must have ranked hen
that day, and everybody felt Sweasy and sticky and
ont of TEMPER At least that was about the way
those at the headquarters OF the Army seemeu ="
feel from General Scott down TO the BODY serVans'
was then holding the position of military secretary
to General Scott, With the rank OF Lcutehane
Colonel.
aft was nea Nv a O'Clock in the afternoon; think
yvhsn the tall eaunt form of tho President OF the
limited states entered the Office of the General-in
Chief he looked tired and faded outline very
picture of exhausted energy and disgust MS long
linen duster evidently recent acquaintance Oh inc
wash-tub was wet with stains OF persprauon unuer
the arms reaching almost 10 the pockets MS dihgy
looking vest was unbut4oned, and his russell panta
looms of pioneer cut dangled at least couple OF
nnhes above an expanse Of dustcovered shoe-estner
netore General Scott had tine to arise and welcome
his v,ritor Mr.. Lincoln threw his limp figure into
The NEAREST chair, and removing Ids dilaphafed on
slouch hat, he began hopping his perspn1ng pNN'
General Scott was 30 astonished Dy tho ffenoenes
suddep and peculiar appearance THAI aitnougn inc
old hero had managed to get upon his ieee anu %"
to the Chief Magistrate, he was unable to express
ANYTHING except surprise and that not in words put
he looks He afterward explained his perturbation
NV saving that he feared some dire misfortune hao
befaIIen the Union cause to bring the President 10
Army headquarters in such state 81
a SIT down, General said Mr.. Lincoln, In his
conslderate way, still wlping the aecumuaaons Oh
dust and moisture from bis face !: this IS too nos
day for ceremony. I dropped In TO tel you ~A'
have learned something to-day
8" What Is that Mr. Presioent' ~SAeu INC ~"
eral somewhat treasured.
The dignity OF being an ofnee-holder' Seherai'
since O'Clock this morning have been trying
0st hearing from some clerk In the Pension eurosu
7 bel,eve that have tried them all, but IN vsin'
They have sent me mp and down those stairs' nom
the rrp,iua aoor to the attic and back again, unni
am ahoiYt tired OUT There were no elevators IN
thea Government buildings then, and the PrcsiaenrS
exudIng franc gave evidence OF their absence.
q Exouse me, Mr. President General SCOTT re-
nl,sd Win A courteous gesture, but II is naFou
Incoming In the President OF the Umtco s'~'es "
be n solicitor OF pensions II you have any m@s'or
Of that hind to attend 10, send them 70 me- snu
Colonel Hamilton, of my stan, VIII DO Pie~So" ~
look after them without delay.
aGI baven,t doubt that the claim Is Just ono, |
vspt on Mr.. Lincoln, taking apparent notice OK
,ho ceneral,s criticism, for / have examined IL
carofuly, and he took package of papers nom tne
ooLat az his duster and, having ADJUSTED MS s'ooF
r,mmed spectaclss, went over them ono oy one'
You see General the poor woman VINO Names sN'e
annlIcation for pension lost her husband VINO was
,oyporal In the til Infantry, at me hanus VI S'o
I'M
n have taken any friendly interest In the case anu
ne has b.en haunting the White House Tor wceks' |
- "a hstvveen ourselves land there was merry |
4r,le IN the Presidents eysl, I'm afraid MIS- Lincoln
,att,ns n little Jealous. thought had p"'ter
md the matter up in some way or Other today' anu
have promised the poor woman an answer o.
yclock-shes waiting over here now Between tne
wo OF them, don't know that dare 90 nome wi'AouS
sv,nv the fob finished? and Mr. Lincoin's eyes
winlled again.
at as mot far away an interested spectator OF the
and when General Scott cleared his throat ana
and colonel Hamilton came promptly TO inc
ront -, 49,. uo,,
yo,onel 10 get this case through rfe Pension onceP
sked the President after brief xpsnsHon Oh INC
acts. 49, NJ,
s..sIdentp I glanced over the papers and saw mat
b.v were IN proper form. If you win await my fs-
um win come back 10 you in hSf an hour or i
daoA ~ YOU prefer It, will take 10 certificate 70
on AZ the White House and save Fou thas mocn
me'
G,No, no. young man, Mr.. lincoln responded, cheer.
v sor,nc them back here. I'll wait for them here
a The Pension once was then located I'm Winders
uiIdinR In sevensSanth-st, only few doors from the
Far Department ves not long In rSaohing tho
noe of the Commissioner. and was not moment
% soon, oitash 5oS o'clock BY ia. time and
be oSoers and ciofm were putting away sker papers
nd making ready 70 depart for the day.
q si1id YOU ace Q tall, dark compexioned senuemAo
ara to-day wearing q linen duster and interested
pension for woman who lost her ausosnd IN inc
emtnoie War; asked Of the Commissioner.
YVES :, was he answer. and the man has nearly
othered our lives cut ali day. He said be was
,yver from somewhere out west-the most perfison.
On sonoeggar YOU ever saw. Gusss-he got the'woEs'
IT, though
GIoh. yes erfectly-tal-da -snm--olofnes aion,t
1 himanx ous-kept on saying ne was sure IL was
\ That win do. STA Al have to say to ySa T.