St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-02-21

into'camp, without provisions, food
or money. We, poor, ragged, dirty,
hungry soldiers, rebelled at this treat
ment.
Gen. Prentice came to our rescue,
saying, Bows, | think there must be
some railroad men amongst you, and
| want those who are to stand for
ward"
or course there were, and without
more ado the old engineers and
brakemen got a fiat car, or a train
of them, in readiness, while the ex'
telegraph operators side.tracked
everything between Annapolis aud
Washington. When we were near
ing the capital, however, we began
to think that we had been disobey-
ing the rules Of the army, and that it
would hardly do for those of us who
were officers to preach obedience to
those under US, to say nothing of the
risk of being contaminated our
selves. So we held a council of war
on one of the fat car to decide how
we were to get out Of our scrape.
Gen. Prentice again gave us valu-
able advice, saying: Men, know
that President Lincoln has a warm
heart and a tender heart, and l will
tell you what we had better do. We
will march from the deoot straight
TO the White House and tell him what
we have done, and | know he will
make it all right"
So we did and we filled the Green
room and the Blue Dom and over
flowed into the halls, we, a nasty,
ragged, filthy file. The president
heard our story. He seemed much
amused at our method Of reaching
the capitol. think he thought it a
good joke on the secretary of war
and the other high officials, but
neither he nor they reprimanded us
for the course we had taken. Then
he went on to ask us questions about
the rebels, about our prison and
what lad been done to US and for US,
and what we had seen in the South
and his face became very grave and
sober and his eyes sad.
At last the general interrupted him
to say, "Mr. Lincoln. | know these
details are very interesting to you.
but the fact is, we are hungry, we
are dirty and in fact we are lousy
We want food and clothes and
money, and we cannot get our
money till after much red tape has
been tied. and it will take nearly two
weeks. What are we to do?"
Then the presidents mouth relaxed
and his eye smiled, and a curve crept
further and further around his lips
till his whole face broke into a smile
and | thought his was the lovliest
face had ever seen. He seemed &c
think deeply a moment, and then he
said. We'll, you are in a bad fix.
and it all takes time, but l guess
can help you, | have a Hebrew
friend down town and | will give yor
a letter to him. He will advanceyo r
what you require and when you get
your pay you can pay him and | will
speak to the secretary and get yor
an early place on the payroll
Well, we got our letter and we
marched down town in a body and
presented it to the Hebrew friend.
He looked at the letter and looked
at IS and then looked at the letter
again and a smile began to grow or
his face also. We'll now" he said
Il dink l a subbly you NIT dest
tings,' and he did, and made a nice
little sum out of us too. My outfit
cost $500 and | thought that q
rather large sun to put on a mar
that did not weigh but 81 pounds.
Well, to make a long story short
we got our pay in course of time and
repaid the Jew and left Washington
for our homes, but | never shall for
get as long as l live our interview
with President Lincoln, and the love
and alteration for him that grew
within me at that time has neve
died.-[Clementina Dawes Manner