Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-01-28
A New Lincoln Anecdote.


Youths Companion pleasing anecdote
OF Abraham Lincoln. It has never be-
fore been published, he says, and was
received by him from the other party
to the story, who is still living in Ken
lucky. 1t illustrates once more the
genial, friendly temper of the great
war President. During the Presidential
campaign of 1910, when Gen. William
Henry Harrison was the Wing candi-
date, Lincoln, then young man just
rising into prominence, accepted an in
vitation to address an audience in
Union County, Kentucky, at a Wing
barbecue.
He was met at a landing on the Ohio
River, about ten miles from the place Of
the barbecue by committee, headed
by Capt. George w. Riddle, and was es-
corted to the meeting, seated in a spring
wagon by the side of Captain Riddle,
the driver.
On the road Mr.. Lincoln entertained
the committee with several amusing
anecdotes, and on arriving at his des-
tination delivered an able and eloquent
address-probably the only address
that he ever delivered in his native
State.
After the speaking Captain Riddle,
who commanded a military company,
fired a salute in honor of the orator Of
the day, but the cannon, an old six
FOUNDER, was overcharged, and explod-
ed; though without any serious results.
Captain Riddle raised a subscription
to pay Mr.. Lincoln's expenses, contrib
uting literally himself, and then es-
corted him back to the river. The fu-
ture President was much pleased with
his visit, and so expressed himself.
Many years passed. Mr.. Lincoln was
elected chief magistrate of the nation
Riddle took sides with the South, and
having expressed his opinions rather
boldly, was arrested for treason and
sent to Camp Chase, a military prison.
''It was a dull and gloomy place for
me-" said the old gentleman, in relating
the story, "and after I had remained
there about ten days I got home-sick,
and concluded would remind my friend
Lincoln of bygone hours. So 1 wrote
to him as follows:
"'My Dear Mr.. President-Afterp pre-
senting my compliments to you / wish
to remind you that good many years
ago l had you in tow at a Wing barbe-
cue near Morganfield, in Union County,
Kentucky On that occasion l tried to
treat you kindly, and even burst my
cannon in firing salute in your honor.
/ hope you have not forgotten it. Now,
sir, you have me in tow, and am your
prisoner here in Camp Chase. l am
lonesome and home-sick, and want to
get back to my old wife. Please let me
go. Yours truly,
GEORGE w. RIDDLE:"
When Mr.. Lincoln received this letter
upon the back of it, please let Capt.
George w. Riddle go home. A. Lin
coln."
Delighted in Taking Prisoners.
Grant made very few comments upon
the stirring events which were crowd
ing so closely upon one another until
the reports came in regarding the pris-
oners. When the large numbers cap
tured were announced, he said, with the
FIRST trace of animation he had shown,
."Thats the kind of news l like to hear.
/ had hoped that bold dash at day
light would secure a large number Of
prisoners. Hancock is doing we'll"
This remark was eminently character
istic of the Union commander. His ex-
IRENE fondness for taking prisoners
was manifested in every battle he
fought. When word was brought to
him of a success on any part of the
line, his first most eager question was
always. "Have any prisoners been
taken?'' The love for capturing prison
ers amounted to aepassion with him. 1t
did not seem to arise from the fact that
they added so largely to the trophies Of
battle, and was no doubt chiefly due to
his tenderness of heart, which prompt
ed him to feel that it was always more
humane to reduce the enemy's strength
by captures than by slaughter. His de-
sire in this respect was amply gratified,
for during the war it fell to his lot to
capture larger number of prisoners
than any general Of modern times
Century.
Kill and Capture.
When after the second battle of Bull
Run, General Sickles assumed COM
mand of division of the Army of the
Potomac, he gave an ella borate farewell
dinner to the officers Of his old Excel
sior Brigade.
"Now, boys, we will have family
gathering" he said to them as they as
sembled in his quarters.
Pointing to the table, he continued,
Treat it as you would the enemy"
AS the feast ended, an Irish officer,
Captain Byrnes, was discovered by
Sickles in the act of slowing away
three bottles of champagne in his sad
dle-bags.
what are you doing, sir?" gasped
the astonished general
.Obeying orders, SIR replied the cap
tain, in firm voice.
You told us to treat that dinner as
we would the enemy, and you know,
general what we don't kill we cap