The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-21
CAPTURE OF NORFOLK
HOW AND WHERE PRESIDENT LIN
coin RECEIVED THE NEWS.
Interesting "Reminiscences of the Mar
Col. lie Grand b. Cannon.
Kate Fields Washington.

Colonel lie Grand b. Cannon, an honor to
West Point and distinguished officer dur
ing the late war. He wears his eighty
years with vigor, grace and dignity, and
makes old age an envy rather than re-
greet.
Seated in his study in New York city or
in beautiful Burlington. VT, Colonel Cam
non tells such stories of the war as make
younger generations ashamed at not having
lived in those stirring times and helped to
make such wondrous history. Colonel Cam
non acted as aide-de-camp to General Wool
during his occupation of Fortress Monroe.
and to his glory, be it said, was the first
to suggest and utilize negroes as fighters.
Nobody believed that they could handle Al
gun and face fire until Colonel Cannon
proved their now unquestioned bravery.
"Ah, what man was Lincoln" ex-
claimed the genial Colonel. with tears in
his eyes and voice, a few days ago. II have
known just two men in my life to whom =
bow down-Daniel Webster and Abraham
Lincoln. Intellectually, Webster was a
giant; Lincoln was giant all over. He was
an enigma, and at first ! did not under
stand his stores and his jokes. could not
make them harmonic with the gravity OF
the situation and the awful responsibilities
OF the Commander-in-Chief, but when +
saw his great human heart 1 loved him as
have loved no man. To me he is the great
est character this country has ever pro-
duced The jokes were a fol
Colonel Cannon, LincolRs face as
painted by William M. Hunt-who must
have appreciated the soul WITHIN that
gaunt, angular body-is the saddest ever
gazed upon
Il think you are right What times tbosa
We're at Fortress Monroe / remember in
May, 1867, Lincoln and Stanton came from
washington, and We're quartered in the
a IN 49,
and slept outside on a cot He was VERY
fond OF reading and one day said: II sup
peare; It would be as difficult to find here
Bible" --eA0
LINCOLN ENJOYED SHAKESPEARE.
On the contrary, Mr.. President I re-
Piled. you can have BOTH General Wool
was great lover of Shakespeare. At night.
after work was over, Wool would bring out
his Shakespeare and spout like a stage
struck schoolboy. So 1 quickly placed be-
fore Lincoln the coveted treasure. where
upon he said, You've been working hard
all day. Sit down and rest OF course, Z
obeyed orders. I was surprised at the INTEL
hgence with which Lincoln read aloud
some of his favorite passages; first he
turned to Macbeth then to King Lear
lastly to Queen Constance's appeal to King
5 &c, M; on the death OF her son vsibly moved
Did you ever feel that you were near a dear
friend ire th who had passed away and yet real
dream% Was this not remarkable ques-
Yes. Mr.. President. I have was my
answer, That is my feeling toward nv
boy While murmured the big-hearted man.
the table in front of him and sobbed fike
child. When the spasm of weeping
and sit ON fb arone saying Let US go
and not another word did he utter about
the little boy SO recently taken from him.
in rnfnr 80 } fe
But having shown me his heart once. Lin
coin seemed to trust me, and often after
parts, when he did the talking
What an experience, Colonel, and what
ture Of Norfoik?'' = = eseA' . 'ns cap
mot exactly, but what memories that
mind that he would take Norfolk. we had
had nothing but defeat so far, and Wool
she s t It N WAS e 70, victory on our
sides argued. The enemy is sixteen
thousand strong, while We can only mustes
an attacking force of ten thousand
:" That makes no difference replied
why not?
!" Because know the man in command
hes been under me. and he's sure to run.
Moreover, he knows that I never wet my
:. Suppose you get beaten?'
" It's not supposeable case
GENERAL WOOL WAS CONFIDENT.
Firm in his opinion, General Wool told
he would make him a present of Norfolk.
I was excessively disturbed by WOODS de-
termination, as he made preparation for
defeat. Defeat meant destruction What's
the matter with you? asked Lincoln and
Stanton when three were alone You
look ILL.,
II vowed / wasn't. Then something's
wrong. What is it?' Finally, they wormed
out of me my fears, 1 admitting that the
an art rf inc h
WHATS to be doner
" Nothing but to relieve General Wool OF
his command
9 Lincoln did not dare to do this and all
can tell nor pen describe. Off went Wool
al night with his forces, and all the next
of the Fortress and watched for signs OF
news from the rampartsn nothing but oc-
fasionai d smoke When night grew apace
bed, and kept up the vigil with such pa
tience as l could muster. BY and by there
were sounds from the water A boat APP
peared. Nearer and nearer it came, until
! recognized one Of our gunboats. The
there stood Wool and his staff, alive and
rejoicing in momentous victory, won with
not more than six lives lost on both Sides
Wool was right. His opposing general had
run!
had evidently not slept a wink. There he
stood in six feet of nightshirt, and moth
ing else-almost the first TO greet Wool and
We assembled in the Presidents room,
and, sitting Lincon's bed, General Wool
told the story of the capture"
Where was Stanton. Colonel?"
Where was he? Asleep. L rushed to his
room and shook him awake. Men of his
physique generally sleep soundy When
fairly aroused, stanton rolled out of bed
and tried to get into his drawers. In his
| excitement he couldn't tell one end from
the other. Putting them on wrong, he
| hurried to the Presidents room where,
embracing Wool he waltzed around like
mad. 1t was the funniest spectacle ever
beheld. The contrast between Wool in
full uniform and Stanton mid holdings on
so to speak, was irreslstibiy ludicrous.
Lincoln laughed until he cried. So did we
| all. Finally, the President said: This .
picture for those artists who are want
ing to paint episodes of the war on the
| walls of the Capitol. How will 1t do to
| give Leutze order to paint the capture
| of Norfolk, selecting the meeting of Gen.
| Wool and Secretary Stanton as the auspi-
cous moment"
| .Just to show you what sort of man
| Stanton was! After this wild ebullition.
he turned to Lincoln and urged him to
/ brook no delay in issuing a proclamation
on rebel soil. Then and there, still in the
/ same topsy- turvy attire. clothed pr-in-
cipally in smile, Stanton sat down and
| dictated orders TO be signed by the Pres
| ident and issued the following day. 1t
/ OH rfn