The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-06-14
SAVED LINCoLN's LIFE.
How an Orderly Rescued the Presi-
dent from an Excited Horse.
BY A. D. YoCUM.


In March, 1864. the Veteran Army of the
James was encamped at Camp Grant,
near Georgetown, d short distance out
from Washington, d. &. General b. f..
Butler was iii command, under whose
guidance the army was to operate against
Richmond from the north of the James.
The magnificent army Of 5000 men was,
on a day set apart for the purpose, re-
viewed by the president and mis- staff i'll
person. No grander army had been seer
at Washington, or one of which greater
results were confidently expected. Tn,
dtgnitarieS of the nation were present
embracing the cabinet and a great thron,.
OF noted personageS.
The army in line waited the formal al
rival of the distinguished chieftain, an
became impatient for the opportunity U
give enthusiastic expression CT its lOyt
atty and appreciation. The moment came
and mounted upon one of General Butler
great war horses, appeared the the.
Idol OF the liberty loving loyal world
Beside him was General butler. on an
other fine Steed, animals in perfect con,
dition from their long winter rest in boun-
tiful stables.
The artillery Numbered its national sa-
lutte; the bands rent the air with their
most inspiring notes; the men could moi
be restrained with dignity, and their deeL
appreciation of the scene, but also ardent
love for their supreme leader, Abraham
Lincoln. There he sat upon that wonders
full horse, whose every tendon and muscle
was in full play.
Imagine if you can the spectacle. The
president dressed as so often described in
the Prince Albert made for the 'other
fellow" fitting only the tops of the
shoulders; with trousers and boots to
correspond the latter SO loose and wrin-
/ killed. from service as to scarcely stay on.
His stovepipe hat covered the most I'M
kempt hair that ever graced a sacred
head
Thus we see him, when the pent UP
fires within that horse, under the wild
enthusiasm, drove him onward, and on
ward, raster and faster up the front OF
+ that admiring army. The president was
now exerting all the strength he possessed
to control his flying Steed. General Butler
sought to ride UP and lend aid. but to no
purpose. His big Sorrel was no match for
the black charger; the attempt seemed to
madden the PRESIDENTS horse. On he came
increasing his speed until he seemed to
be flying. The presidents hat was gone,
his thin hair streamed in the wind; his
eyes were set as in death; his square toed,
W1inkled boots stood out in the strained
strained stirrups, while his long lank
/ arms were conVulSed in their vain effort
/ TO control the beast.
( In breathlesS stiffness we watched the
] threa tened catastrophe the whole army
/ seemed poweriesS to avert. Slowly but
/ surely the philosophy of the president was
! thwarting the instinct of the horse; not
able TO check his speed, which would soon
{ carry him into Georgetown and through
/ the bridge, he could divert his course by
I
he did and across the plain on a tangent
! they flew.
/ Harkl that unearthly cheering away
/ down the line Like a volcano it burst
forth and all eyes were in the instant
! turned. Officers had urged their fatted
/ clumsy chargers in vain, but here comes
our hero. An orderly-a private soldier
/ bringing up the extreme rear, witnessed
/ the disaster and the futile efforts of the
/ officers near the scene. Laying fiat upon
his horses name, with rOWelS deeply
! planted in his tanks, he sped up that
I bewildered line like a rocket of warning.
( On, on, he went. Away across the plain
! almost beyond our vision, he swept in
/ his course to the side of the president
| caught the incorrigible stallion by the
! bits and the mad ride was over; the pres
/ ident rescued. Lincoln, by the help Of
/ the orderly, rather fell than dismounted
4 to the ground where he lay exhausted
/ until q carriage was sent to his relief.
/ | was at that time told, and now from
an indlstinct recollection believe, that Mrs
Kate Chase Sprague gave her place in
| carriage to the president, before whom
the army passed in review, she riding the
| charger.
| l heard General Butler say in after time
/ that his negro hostler was at fault in the
matter. "Cuffy.' it seems, had during the
winter, been looking UP and running
snap" races with that horse without the
! generals knowledge. So when the gener-
al sought to ride him it was the signal for
more speed.
This true incident may be unworthy Of
notice, but I, with thousands more will
remember it throughout our lives, as an
exciting and trying episode in a life
fraught with more dignided trials, but
with few more perilous.