The Irish standard., 1895-12-21
|CHAI'IING With old ABE
General Thayer Tells Of an Hour
He Spent With the
h. President. ...=.. ...
Lincoln Wanted the Minister to
Tell Him Where Grant Got
His Liquor. NJ. 4 l. \

He Was in Full Sympathy With
the Monroe Doctrine and
Had 1t Enforced.
The surrender of Vicksburg by Penn
berton July 4, 1868, gave the opportunity
to apply for a leave of absence for 20
days, that l might visit my family in
Massachusetts,, where they staid during
the war; writes Gen. John M. Thayer III
the Chicago Tribune. The leave being
granted, came North and stopped in
Washington, having business with Secre-
tary Stanton. When that was concluded
the secretary took me to his private room
and asked me various questions about
the siege, the condition of the army, etc
1t was the Army of the Tennessee under
Grant that won the glory OF Vicksburg.
and there was no difficulty in the way OF
my giving the secretary favorable re-
port When rose to leave he said:
General, the president would like to
talk with you, and desire you to call
upon him. You happen ito be the first
officer from the siege of Vicksburg we
have mat and we are glad to get informa
ton direct from one who has personal
knowledge.
Here was an opportunity to meet the
president had not anticipated. To see
him was a very strong desire with me,
but it had seemed to be almost inpOssi-
BILE to have that satisfaction, as the ina-
preston had been made ON me that lie
was continually pressed with overwheln1
ing cares and perplexities OF every varie-
ty; and with almost inn,lmerable callers
the prospect of having an audience with
him seemed very remote. Mr.. Stanton
then sent for Mr, Charles A. Dana, then
assistant secretary of war, and requested
him to accompany me to the White
House and present me to the president.
Arriving there, we were ushered into
the room of the private secretary, End
We're requested to be seated for 6. While.
as the president was engaged with soEle
delegation. While sitting 5here one Of
the secretaries took my name in to the
president, and added, 'Just from Vicks-
burg Soon the door opened from his
office, and there stood on the threshold
the tall, sgsaulrt figure of Abraham Lin
coin, his head almost touching the top
part OF the door frame. Standing All III
stant with a smile upon his face, his first
words were:
Glow does it happen that q. man Of the
name Of Thayer should have strayed way
out to Nebraska? I thought all people
Of that name were Yankees and lived
down round about Boston
Thayer is a familiar name in New Eng
land. and especially in Eastern Massa-
chuseetts. but it surprised me that Mr.
= cxi,r RI
k1tow that the name was peculiar to any
section Of the: Eastern portion of our
country. 1T surprised me also that he
knew I was from Nebraska, but found
in subsequent conversation that he was
well posted i'll regard to all the generals
in. the field. s.s.. I. -
Mr. Lincoln came forward, extending
his hand, and, taking mine in his, he led
me into his office, directing the messen-
ger at the door to admit no one without
further orders from him, and drawing a
chair ND to his own big, high-backe11
armchair, he said Nov, sit down there
and tell me all about Vicksburg.'
+ proceeded TO give him such information
as It seensjl to me would Interest him,
and which he might not have learned from
the public press, and suggested that he put
as most interested him. He then piled
ne with various inquiries As to the coldl-
tlon of the army, the suffering Of The men
during the siege, the sanitary arrange
meats, the colnmissariat, the discipline
and everything relating to the comfort and
we'll being Of the army. He said ne mad
watched the progress of the siege with the
intensest interest and when the victory OF
GETTYSBURG was won, and on the fOuftn
of July when the news OF the surrender OF
Vieksburg carae. the hearts of the people
were filled with joy. He thought 1t was
remarkable occurrence that two such VIC
tories should come ON the same day
After he had satisfied himself vita qtIes-
ticns regarding the army, Mr. Lincoln
turned to me and said: sa'0. t.55.
+ "Generai, you have man down there
Dy the name Of Grant, have you not
J. replied, eyes, sir we nave.
Fixing on me an earnest and somewhat
nuizz:cal look, MIR. Lincoln asked in his
Quaint way, well, what kind OF a fellow
is hep / replied:
ssGef. Grant is a man Of whom one can
best fudge by considering the results ne mas e
brought to psss Belmont, Dones sson, ), SIN
loh and Vicksburg made a pretty strong
record. He certainly has developed the eie-
rents of a successful commander. he Is
very popular with the army, which has full
confidence in his military ability. When
he makes his plans he concentrates all MS
energies and all his resources upon their
execution, and l don't think he ever en-
tered upon a campaign Or Into batFie
without fixed determination under all
circuu stances to win. and with the cen-
sc:eusness that he could win. He fills tne
full measure of a great commander.
Mr.. Lincoln Listened closely to all | said,
ard then fixing upon me. a most serious and
/ earnest look, he put to me the blunt and nd
startling question:
..Does Grant ever get drunk replied
In most emphatic language:
& "No. Mr.. President, rGant does not get
drunk" 4. .
.5 rs he in tne habit of using liquor =
asked the President quickly. My answer
was:
.My observation, depending upon having
excellent opportunities for Judging, enable