Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-10

| ali things pertaining to himself personally.
Especially where he had rendered any ser.
vice to another he would be quite unlikely
to speak of it himself Judging the two
men from their chief and very marked char.
acteristics, it is entirely reasonable to as
sumo that what Lincoln did to save Grant
from disgrace was never discussed or re-
ferred to by them in personal conversation.
Grant never, in any way known to the pub
lie, recognized any such obligation to
Lincoln, and no utterance ever came from
him indicating anything more than the re-
| spect for Lincoln due from General to his
| chief.
l never heard Lincoln allude to the sub.
ject but once and that was under very pain.
ful circumstances and when the subject was
forced upon him by myself. found him
exhibiting great solicitude as to the battle
IN Pennsylvania. He knew that his elec-
tion was in no sense doubtful, but he knew
that if he lost New York and with it Penn
| sylvania on the home vote, the moral effect
of his triumph would be broken and his
power to prosecute the war and make peace
would be greatly impaired. His usually
sad face was deeply shadowed with sorrow
when told him that l saw no reasonable
prospect of carrying Pennsylvania on the
home vote, although we had about held our
own in the hand-to-hand conflict through
which we were passing. "Well, what is to
be done?" was Lncoln's inquiry after the
whole situation had been presented to him.
answered that the solution Of the problem
was a very simple and easy one; that Grant
was idle in front Of Petersburg; that Sher-
idan had won all possible victories in the
Valley, and that if 5000 Pennsylvania SOL
diers could be furloughed home from each
army, the election could be carried without
doubt
A Memorable Conversation.
Lincoln's face frightened instantly at the
suggestion, and 1 saw that he was quite
ready TO execute it. / said to him, "Of
| course YOU can trust Grant to make the
suggestion to him to furlough 5000 Penn
syivania troops for two weeks?" To my
surprise Lincoln made no answer, and the
bright face of few moments before was
instantly shadowed again. was much dis
concerted, as I supposed that Grant was the
one man to whom Lincoln could turn with
absolute confidence as his friend. I then
said with some earnestness: ''Surely, Mr..
President, you can trust Grant with con-
iidential suggestion 10 furlough Pennsyl-
vania troops?" Lincoln remained silent
and evidently distressed at the proposition
1 was pressing upon him. After few
moments, and speaking with emphasis,
said: "It can't be possible that Grant is not
your friend; he can't be such an ingrate?"
Lincoln hesitated for some time and then
answered in these words: ."Well, Nc
Clure, 1 have no reason to believe that
Grant prefers nv election to that of Nc
Clellan"
must confess that nv response to this to
me appalling statement from Lincoln was
somewhat violative of the rules of courteous
conversation. I reminded Lincoln how, in
4ho%, -La-, 7 l,l al - /, 10
respect the almost universal demand of the
country for Grants dismissal, he had with
stood the shock alone and interposed his
omnipoteuce to save Grant when he was a
personal stranger. Lincoln, as usual, an
swered intemperance of speech by silence.
Meade and Sheridan Ali Right.
then said to him, General Meade is
soldier and gentleman; he is the COM
mander of the Army of the Potomac; send
an order to him from yourself to furlough
5000 Pennsylvania soldiers home for two
weeks, and send that order with some
trusted friend from the War Department,
with the suggestion to Meade that your
agent be permitted to bring the order back
with him" After little reflection Lin
coin answered. 81 reckon that can be done"
l then said, ''What about Sheridan?" AT
once his sad face frightened up, like the
MONDAY sun suddenly emerging from dark
cloud, as he answered: "Oh, Phil Sheridan;
he's all right Before 1 left his room that
night he had made his arrangements to send
messengers to Meade and Sheridan. The
order was sent to Meade and he permitted it
to be returned to the President, but Sheri-
dan needed no order. The 10000 Pennsyl-
vania soldiers were furloughed during the
week, and Lincoln carried Pennsylvania on
the home vote by 5,712 majority, to which
the army vote added IA ,363 majority. 1t
was thus that Lincoln made his triumph in
Pennsylvania a complete victory without
what was then commonly called the ebay
onet VOTE" and Lincoln carried New York
by 6,749, leaving Mcclellan the worst de-
feated candidate ever nominated by any of
the great political parties of the country.
left Lincoln fully convinced that Grant
was an migrate, and Lincoln certainly knew
that he permitted that conviction to be
formed in my mind. He did not in any way
qualify his remark about Grant, although it
was his custom when he felt compelled to
disparage anyone, to present some charita-
bic explanation of the conduct complained
of. The fact that he refused to send his re-
quest to Grant, while he was willing to
send it 10 Meade, proved that he was, FOR
some reason, disappointed in Grants fidel-
itv to him, and the enthusiasm with which
valued the particular quality that he did
not credit to Grant.
Lincoln Was Evidently Mistaken.
I confess that the conviction formed that
day made the name of Grant leave bad
taste in nv mouth for many years 1
heartily supported his nomination for the
Presidency in 1858, and was chairman of
the Pennsylvania delegation in the Chicago
Convention that nominated him, because 1 |
believed that the chivalrous victor of Ap- |
pomattox would command the highest |
measure of confidence from the Southern |
people and hasten the restoration of peace |
and business prosperity; but Grant and his |
immediate friends knew that while I |
earnestly supported his nomination and |
election, did not have the confidence in |
him that he generally commanded. 1 now
believe that Lincoln was mistaken in his
distrust of Grant. 1t was not until after
Grant retirement from the Presidency that
ever had an opportunity to hear his ex-
PLANTATION. 1 remember that on election
night, when Grant was advised at his head
quarters in front of Petersburg of Lincoln's
election he sent Lincoln dispatch heartily
congratulating him upon his triumph. 1 |
never heard Lincoln ailude to the subject
again, and 1 am therefore ignorant as to
whether his belief was ever changed.
l never visited the White House during
Grants Presidency, although twice specially
invited to do so to consider what regarded
as an impracticable or impossible political
but l accidentally met him soon
after his retirement in the Continental Hotel
in company with Mr.. Childs Grant came
forward in the most cordial manner and
thanked me for an editorial / had written