The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-02-06
STORY OF A GUARD.


How He Got RID OF Soldiers Sent to see
That No harm Befen Him-Hfs watch
ful Care Of the Interests Of che Private
Soldier
Tt has been said that no man is hero
TO his valet, and it is likely that few men
who are protected By others from per-
sOnal dangers appear TO their guards to
exist on so high plane as to the rest Of
the world. This does not seem to have
been true regarding Abraham Lincoln
He appears to have been held in greater
veneration. If possible. by the troops who
We're engaged in his protection than by
any other members of the Federal army.
Ii was a popularity Of Lincoln that. all
though those who were near him daily
could not help but see that he possessed
certain defects, their devotion to him
was intensified by their constant contact
with him.
Tt may be that his persistent and often
expressed aversion to the presence Of
guards had something to do with the adj
miration felt for him by the soldiers
who served in this capacity. tits Of rec
ord that he repeatedly sent men detailed
to protect him back to their quarters
met a man the other day who was a
unteers, which regiment acted for some
time in 1862 as Lincolnaa bodyguard. Ia
speaking of Mr.. Lincoln he said
1 do not believe that the president
was ever more annoyed 10y anything
than by the espionage that was necessa-
rily maintained, almost constantly, over
his movements. Nearly every day we
were made aware Of his feeling upon
this matter
During the summer he lived at the
Soldiers home on Seventh street. The
house stood on a rise Of ground and was
a remarkably cool and pleasant one ia
warm weather by reason of it's broad
verandas. Directly in front of the house
stood a large oak tree, and from it the
ground slOped gradually to the north.
AT the foot of the slope was our camp.
Tt was the duty of the company serving
as the presidents guard to escort him
from his summer home. which he left at
8 o'clock in the morning. down Seventh
street and to the WI ite House. The cap
tain rode by his side, the troops follow
ING. When the White House was reached
Mr. Lincoln invariably directed the cap
tain to take his company to the IS street
stables and report at the White House
for return escort at a. MIR. Lincoln was
never to my remembrance escorted home.
He almost always left at 3, sometimes,
though very rarely, delaying his depar-
ture till $3.50, but never TIL 4.
On one occasion Mr.. Lincoln's mile
tary secretary came to our quarters and
asked that a man be put on guard that
night in front Of the house and another
at the rear. 1t was not thought safe the
secretary explained, that the president
should be unprotected at night. Well,
the men We're detailed as requested, but
do you suppose they remained at their
posts all nighty Not at all. AIT midnight
the president opened the front door and
asked of the man stationed there:
ssWhat are You two men doing here2'
con guard, sir" was the reply
"Who put you hereg" was the next
question.
'sThe captain of our company" was
the answer.
s'Well." said the president, 81 believe
I am commander in chief of the army.
You 60 back to your quarters, both Of
you, give my compliments to your cap
tain and say that I think your presence
here is quite unnecessary"
There was nothing left for the men
to do but to obey the presidents orders.
The next day the guards were again
asked for, and it was suggested that the
men would do we'll to keep out Of sight.
The secretary thought that all would be
well if the man stationed ln front Of the
house should stand behind the oak tree
of which I have spoken. The man de-
tailed to be front guard that night was
sure that he did not expose himself. but
about midnight. as before, Mr.. Lincoln
became aware of the obnoxious presence
of guards and again sent them to their
quarters.
AS I remember him, MIR. Lincoln was
not q graceful horseman. la fact, he
was more ungainly when in the saddle,
perhaps. than at any other time His
legs were of exceptional length, and his