New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-20
LINCOLNS LINEN BUSTER.
WHY HE LEFT OFF WEARING 1T.
GENERAL SCHUYLER HAMIIToN's STORY ABOUT

General SCOTS star before he received Generals
commission I'm the volunteer army, for which
his West Point education and his service in tho
Mexican war abundanty fitted him. These rccol.
lecttons General Hamilton sometimes takes pleasure
In telling TO his old cOmradcsn. arms when they meet
on social occasions His story about how the Martyr
President, disguised I'm diapidatcd clothes sought TO
obtain a pension for unfortunate old Irish woman
whose husband was Killed IN OF the Indian wars,
printed In Tho Tribune In March last and al.
tractcd wide attention Mr.. Lincoln General IIamll-
ton says, fond OF strolling about WaShinC IN
the first months of his Administration, aulrci he
then described him, In long linen duscr usually in
a badly soiled state a dnCy waStcoat, which was
unbuttoncd and russell OF frontier cut. Gen.
cral Scott fancied this costume, but for long
time found no opportunity OF letting Mr.. Lincoln know
what his views were The subject How he came
to lay aside his backwoods attire General Hamilton
told to Some Of his old army friends the other evening
"Mr Lincoln took great sst!SfsrtiOn,- the General
began, a" in perambulatng about the CITY and the
neghboring camps with old lomch hat pulled down
HIS swarthy face and dressed in IN" way have
described taking obscrv aonS Of what Interested him.
His favorite time for this sort OF business 'av
In the morning. His usual hour for starting out
these percgrinaons was a. AMI II was aStonisI-
ing the Of territory no would cover hv break
fast time He would visit camps. hospitals, IA"
places where the quartcrmaSt"rs and CommiS~arrs
were receiving and serving out stnrs and ratinn~,
for himself what going His favoritc diversion
conversation with tho private soldiers. II" would
get the confidence Of one OF them. and put many que"
tons TO him. where ART you from DO would ask.
How long have you been In the army! How much
did you earn month at homcr What IS your pay
nova 'Iow do you like the fare hcrr + III" beef,
the pork the brad that you get as good as y"u got
at homer TIow are you tratcd by your officers >
Are they well up in the drill lr would ask these
questions in a way to give the man the impression
that he thought Of enli>ting himself, and would ASK
II he thought that thoy would accept him In his rSi
mCnt
After these morning trsmps and Inspection the
President often appeared at General SCots qnart"r>
at about : 30 a. m, covered with the Phenomenal
dust OF that region. One hot morning In July l-"l
he found the Generals front door aiar, and walked
| in unannounccd was in my room on N" thim moor
Just completing my toilet, and hearing his voice In
the hall as he called out is General Scott Within
| | answered, and speedily joined HIN and u>hrr"d
! him into the Generals palor. The only occupant
| Of the room was Dr. I, surgeon 81
| the Army Of many Yeas service, who han
been a member of General SCOTS staf during the Mex
| lean war and sti his stan surgeon In civil
| phrase the Generals family physician. There was
great need of his presence, for th" old General WAS
afflicted with drOpy, govt and several other diseases
! IN saw nothing Of the complcaI Ions wrought In hi-
| case ly the harlShlps OF many campaigns and the
| weight OF advancing years.
| Hearing me address this rough lOokng specimen
| as MIR President tie Doctor thought that was
| getting ready play trick upon him not an
uncommon thing, by the way, and pastiIne Of mine
in those days so the Doctor turned his back squarry
upon us and buried himself In Tho National ln"ili-
| gencer' edited by Mr. Seston, one OF tho Generals
warmest admirers and his personal FREUD Observing
the situation, said in tones Of grave and studied
respect:
mir. President, may be allowed to present to you
alE ST.
and indeed Mr. President whatever services General
scott is able to render due 10 the Doctors minis
| trstions'
| "Ihe Doctor glanced over his shoulder in chary
way at the VISITOR and discovering that II Wa Indeed
| the President arose aud advanced toward him. But
| the Doctor not courtcr by any means lie
was polite enough to take Mr. Iincolns outStr'toh"d
| hand but cycling his secdy outfit with nl-lHsuiHHi
| aversion he bnrted Mr.. President excuse mi"
but 50 many Virginia wood-choppers com" hor every
| day to take a look at General scott that misOok
| you for one OF Them
| This unexpected alusion to his appearance Wa
| little too much for the President he was veA"i
not To say angry. little spot Of hectic red burned
| for moment on his checks. But II WAS only for
| moment, and then no said pleasantly: Or. t,
| you give mo agreeable surprise. thought every
| man. woman and child In the United States was IA
| mliar with Old Abe's' ugly phiz But. Doctor al
| though you do not know me, know you You ar"
getting up hospital for those who may fall sick or
| be wounded in the defence Of tho Union. have
| been there and have seen you VI work, although you
| were not aware Of IT, j want to aid you III your
pre- operations for taking care Of the poor fellows who
will need all mat do for them. When you neeh
anything don't let there be any red tape. Come To
me at once without hesitation, and you shall have
! anything you want II get II for yOu'
| "Thc room Just back Of the parlOr was General
SCOTS bcdchsmber. The glass door connecting IN"
rooms opened and the old ben walked In lie hal
| been a silent witness Of what had passed Good
morning Mr. President he said he shook the Chief
| Magistrate by the hand. and then went on without
| further ceremony 'DemOsthenes said that what was
| needed In UratOry was action, action. action "hat
| We need In war Is discipline discipline. discipline
Yet here you directing DR.. T to do what Is a
voIaton OF discipline. Red tape u necessary some
times. or how viii he get his ACCOUNTS OrHngh tho
| Treasury Department Moreover. Nj President you
General Of enjoying with you The sad pleasure Of
| niinstering to our sick and wounded soldiers T
IryeSor and they should be- connttrsgnod BY tn"
| surgeon General. u any further order Is needed /
oha aR SaVs Mr h' pposaen o aud your authority IS
rnsnder In Chief Of tho Army and Navy OF the Ehi"h
@'An right said Mr.. Lincoln, with smile, and
bowling to the General, .Dr T do lust what Cen.
fr am says Hs@ so%s ps With
General Mr.. Lincoln took his leave, with the rsinsrk
who So''e gives SINE me backbone U ''' ~
That evening the Genoral hah number Of officer err
at his private quarters. had been especially directed
| to ash them 10 DO on hand al > y. We had u
pleasant dinner, and when evcrybody present was was
| eral sah 10 me: Colonel Hamilton oblgc mo IL
| you please, by giving us the interview hei"csn our
| friend DR.. T. aud tho President this morning
| ." compiled, of course, telling II rs have told
| Il now. Or. T not entirely pleased at hear
| ing the incident so publicly rcbcarsel General,
he said, 4 did not think you would order me here ~
| 10 made laughing stock After all, Is there so
| much difference between a wood chopper and O rail
SPLITTER The dinner party broke up, but the story
| was not long in travelling all over Washington. with
the Doctors remark added BY midnight II had rachel
| the President at the White House.
| next morning usual, he appeared at t'on"ra
| ScotrS quarters and almost Immediately aSked Tor
| DR.. T The Doctor not present. After what
| had happened he did not "a meet the President
Just yet. General Scott fearing that something wa?
| Nth Tlr