The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-07-26
I.INCOLN's PERIL.
True Incident in rhe Career or the
War President.

True Incident I'm rhe Career OF the
War President.
In March, 1864. the veteran army of
the James was epcamped at Camp
Grant, near Georgetown, q short dis
lance out from Washington. n. c. Gen
Il. r. Butler was in command under
whose guidance the army was to oper-
ate against Richmond from north of
the james. This magnificent army of
s ~ men was. upon da.'Siet apart for
| the purpose. reviewed by the President
and his staff in person. No grander
army had been seen in Washington or
one of which greater results were con-
| ttdentlS expected. The dignitaries Of
the nation We're present, embracing the
Cabinet and vast throng of noted per-
sonases. says a correspondent OF the
Philadelphia Times.
The army In line waited the formal ar
rival OF the distinguished chiefta.ns and
became impatient for the opportunity to
give enthusiastic expression of its great
loyalty and appreciation. The moment
| came. and mounted upon one of Gen.
Buffers great war horses appeared the
then idol" of the liberty-loving loyal
world. Beside him was Gen Butler
on another fine steed, both animals in
| perfect condition from their long winter
rest in bountiful stables.
| The artillery Numbered its national
| salute: the bands rent the air with their
most inspiring notes; the men could not
be restrained with dignity. and their
voices In unison proclaimed not only a
deep ardent love for their supreme
| leader. Abraham Lincoln. There ,he. sa [
upon that wonderful 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 on the tops of the
| shoulders. with trousers and boots TO
| correspond, the latter SO loose and wrink-
led 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. faster and faster, up the front OF
that admiring army. The President was
now exerting all ithe strength he possess
ed to control his flying steed. -Genefal
Butler sought to ride mp and lend aid
but to no purpose. His big sorrel was
no match for the black charger; the at
tempt seems ito madden the President
horse On he came, increasing his speed
until he seemed to be flying. The Presi-
| dents mat was gone, his thin hair
streamed In the wind and his eyes were
set as In death; his square-toed, wrinkled
boots stood out in the stained stirrups
whi!e MS long lank arms were convulsed
i
| In breathless stiffness we watched the
| threatened catastrophe the whole army
| seemed powerleSs 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 using all his strength on one
| rein. This he did and across the plain
| on tangent they flew.
Mark: that unearthly cheering awov
down the line! Like q colcano It burst
| forth and all eyes were in an instant
turned. officers had urged their fatted
clumsy chargers in vain, but here comes
our nero. An orderly-a private soldier
Infringing up the extreme rear, witness
ed the disaster and the futile efforts of
the officers near the scene. Lying flat
upon his horess name. with rowels un-
| consciously buried in his sides towards
| the deeply bewildered line like q rocket
of warning. On, on. he went. AWAY
across the plain almost beyond our vi
sion. he swept in his course to the side
| of the President In an instant he was
on his feet. had caught the incorrigible
stallion by the bits and the mad ride
was over: the President rescued. Lin
| coin by the help of the orderly, rather
fell than dismounted to the ground,
where he lay exhausted until a carriage
was sent to his relief
] was at the same time told, and now
| from an indistinct recollection believe.
| that Mrs. Kate Chase Sprague gave her
! place In carriage to the President be-
| fore whom the army passed in review,
| she riding the charger
heard General Butler say in after
time that his negro hos;ler was at fault
| in the matter. "Cuny." It seems had
during the winter been looking up and
running snap" races with that morse.
| without the Generals knowledge. So
when the General 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 q
| life fraught with more dlgnified trials,
| bur with more perilous
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