Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-03-14
ABOUT THECAMPFIRE
ABRAHAM LINCOLN AT FORT
RESS MONROE.
An Old Soldiers RecoIlections of the
Greatest Character This Country mas
Ever Produced Ironsides Falling
&c Ruin-Tho Banner OF the Free.


NhN VI AAAN AAAoNl interesting Oh men
is Colonel lie Grand b. Cannon, an
honor to West Point and a dis
tinguished officer during the late war
lie wears his eighty years with vigor.
grace and dignity and makes old age
an envy rather than regret
Seated in his study in New York
city or in beautiful Burlington, vt,
Colonel Cannon 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 Fort
ress Monroe, and to his glory b. it
said, was the first to suggest and
utilize negroes as lighters Nobody
believed that they could handle gun
and face fire until Colonel Cannon
proved their now unquestioned BRAY
cry.
'Ah, what man was Lincoln" ex.
claimed the genial colonel with tears
in his eyes a few days ago Il have
known just two men in my life to
whom | bow down Daniel Webster
and Abraham Lincoln. intellectually
Webster was a giant; Lincoln was a
giant all over. He was an enigma,
and at first ] did not understand his
stories and jokes. l could not make
them harmonic with the gravity of
the situation and the awful response
bilities of the commander-in in chief;
but when l saw his great human
heart. l loved him as | have loved no
man. TO me he is the greatest man
this country has ever produced. The
jokes were foil"
Colonel Cannon, Lincoln's face, as
painted by William NJ. Hunt, who
must have appreciated the soul within
that gaunt, angular body-is the sad
dest | ever gazed upon.
Il think you are right. What times
those were at Fortress Monroe re-
member in May, 1862, Lincoln and
Stanton came from Washington, and
were quartered in the fort / gave
up my room to the president, and
slept outside on cot. He was very
fond of reading and one day said Il
suppose you've no such thing as a
Shakespeare. 1t would be as difficult
to find here as bible.
On the contrary, Mr.. President,
/ replied, 'you can have both GEN
eral Wool was great lover of Shall-
speare. At night after work was over,
Wool would bring out his Shakespeare
and spout like a stage struck school
boy. So quickly placed before Lin
colin 4ba oovatn1 4t.aac,,ra xx,ha,.aurN,
he said, You've been working hard
all day. Sit down and rest OF
course | obaved orders. was sur
prised at the intelligence with which
Lincoln read aloud some of his favor
lite passages. First, he turned to
"Macbeth;" then to king Lear;;"
lastly to Queen Constance's appeal to
King John on the death of her son
Visibly moved by this appeal, Lincoln
exclaimed, Cannon! Did you ever
feel that you were near dear friend
who had passed away and yet realized
that this feeling was nothing but
dream?' Was this not a remarkable
question?
Eyes Mr.. President | have, was
my answer. That is my cling
toward my boy Willie, murmured the
big-hearted man, who laid his tired
head on his arm upon the table in
front of him and sobbed like a child
When the spasm of weeping ceased,
Lincoln rose, say ing, Let rs go and
sit on the ramparts.' / followed him,
and not another word did he utter
about the little boy so recently taken
from him, nor did he ever again refer
to this child. But having shown me
his heart once, Lincoln seemed to
trust me and often afterward asked
me to siO with him on the ramparts,
when he did the talking"
What an experience colonel, and
what privilege! We're you present
at the capture of Norfollx?"
mot exactly, but what memories
that event revives! General Wool
made up his mind that he would take
Norfolk. We had had nothing but
defeat SO far, and Wool thought it
was time for victory on our side. But
Norfolk is well defended on all sides.
! argued. The enemy is l6 900 strong,
while we can only muster an attack
ing force of 10000
THAT makes no difference, replied
Wool
"Why not?'
!" Because / know the man in com.
mand. He's been under me and he's
sure to run. Moreover, he knows
that / never wet my feet
Suppose you get beaten?'
Its not c supposable case.
"Firm in his opinion, General Wool
told Lincoln TO remain in Fortress
Monroe and he would make him
present Of Norfolk l was excessively
disturbed by Wool's determination, 5
he made no preparation for defeat.
Defeat meant destruction whats
the matter with you" ASKED Lincoln
and stanton when we three were
alope. You look I'LL