The morning call., 1891-02-22
RECALLING The War.
George Th0mESOl'S Praise and Mr.. LiIC0llS
MOdGStY.
Written for THE SUNDAY CALL.

After the battle of Mine Run, Va, in
1863, the cavalry serving with the Army of
the Potomac were ordered into winter quar-
tiers in the vicinity of Culpepper Court
house. We built comfortable stables for
cur horses, which greatly needed recuper-
ating for the arduous campaign to begin
few weeks later and continue with scarcely
any intermission until we sackened rein at
Appomattox Courthouse. Grant had come
from the West TO personally superintend the
operations of the Army of the Potomac and
had selected Sheridan TO command the cav
airy. The CunfederateS must have had
news of these changes nearly as soon as
ourselves, for presently their pickets began
shouting across the Rapidan Halo,
4anks, have you-uns got Sheridan over
there" However II is not my purpose to
write of army matters now. During the
temporary cessation of hustilities | awaited
iyseif Of an opportunity TO pay brief
visit to Washington, which at that time was
IN It's zenith OF prosperity. All the hotels
were filled to OVERLOOKING The city was
crowded with contractors, inventors, suit
lers, lobbyists and every other class of peo-
pie hoping to profit by the war. The walks
On either side of Pennsylvania avenue were
thronged With officers Of the army and navy
in brilliant uniforms. The theaterS and
other places of amusement furnished unu-
sual attractions and everything conspired to
make life at the capital enjoyable. l, N.Y.
self, vas prepared to appreciate the luxu-
ries of civilized iife-a bath, clean bed and
appetiZing food.
One afternoon | attended a public recep-
ton at the White House and thus had an
opportunity to grasp the hand of Abraham
Lincoln, the modest Roman of them all"
My senslbllltles had become hlunted by
rough experiences Of army life and fam iiar
sights OF suffering but when | looked upon
the hollow eyes, sunken cheeks and care
worn c0untenance of the President | was
greatly moved and could hardly refrain from
tears. While In the city had the ph.a
of listening to George Thompson, the anti
slavery orator of England, when delivering
an address in the House of Representatives.
The audience was composed of representa-
tive men, as distinguished, perhaps, as any
that ever gathered there siuce the days of
Webster, Clay and Calhoun. In the center
of the hall sat Mr.. Lincoln himself and near
him the members of his Cabinet-Seward,
Chase, Stanton and Welles. Among the
others were Charles Sumner, Henry Wilson,
Vice President Hamlin, Fessenden, John Z.
Hale, Saloman, Foot, Anthony. Foster,
Dixon, King, Cameron, Ben Wade, Andrew
Johnson. Lyman Trumbull; Zach Chandler,
Bingham, Doolittle, Crimes, Harlan, Lane,
Washburne, Morrell, Burllngame, Dawes
Galusha Grow, Reuben Z. Fenton, Erastus
Corning. Roscoe Conkling, Thad Stevens,
Tom COrwin, S. S. Cox, John Sherman
William Window, Owen L0vejoy, McPhe--
son, McDougall, Blaine. Governor Sprague
and Schuyler Collax. Nearly all of that
brilliant assemblage Of public men have
long since passed over to the great majority.
The address, which occupied more than
two hours in the deiiyery,swaS listened to
with profound attention. The speaker, in
his opening remarks, alluded briefly to q
former visit to this country aud to the
change of public opinion in respect to the
slavery question. He remarked that he was
specially commissioned by associations of
worklngmen of Liverpool, Manchester and
birmingham, themselves sufferers from the
war, to convey words of sympathy. good
cheer and G0dspeed to the loyal American
people 10 Their efforts to put down the slave
holders rebellion. The speaker without
realizing that the President was one of his
auditors, proceeded to pay glowing tribute
to Lincoln. What shall | say of your Pres
ident, Abraham Lincoln? | believe that he
has been raised up by Providence for the
emergency. lie is a far-seeing man. His
mission Is greater one than that of Wash
lngt0n, and he Is worthi1y fulfilling it. He is
child OF fame. Some OF our people in En-
gland have characterized him as awkward
and uUganly in manners and rude and I'M
cultivated in speech. Here Mr.. Thompson
made aggression to repeat an extract from
one of Mr.. Lincoln speeches:] regard the
declaration that all men are created equal
as majestic Interpretation of the political
economy Of the universe" He added, Il
would Father have been the author of that
sentiment than to have possessed all the
eioquence of Edmund Burke" The great
hearted Lincoln, who could bear up braveiy
under abuse, censurs and obloquy, was
strongly affected by the speakers words of
praise. He dropped his head on the railing
in front of him and hid his face FROM the
public gaze. AT the conclusion of the adj
dress Vice-President HamliD, Chairman of
the meeting. walked over to the President
and Selling him by the arm. dragged him to
the 81 eakers desk to introduce him to Mr..
Thompson.
During the evening rather startling cpl
sode occurred in the gallery. While all
eyes were centered upon the orator two
young men of the secession stripe ascended
the stairway leading to the gallery, and adj
yanclng to the front one of them pointed
out to the other Mr.. Lincoln, saying. there
Is old Abe and adding remark about
the President so gross and offensive that 1t
cannot be repeated. The swords were
scarcely out OF his mouth before one of the
bystanders Selling the offender by the
collar, and giving him a kick to. accelerate
his flight. threw him headlong down the
stairway. The INCIDENT was not wanting in
Significance. IN. FLINT.