Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-02-02

Now that Abraham Lincolns birth
day is again with us (Feb. 12) stories
pertaining to the great commoner are
in order. eAbout 200 notwithstanding
them the writer-volunteered to fill lip
the ranks of the 7th New York when
it responded to the call of President
Lincoln and hurried to the defense of
Washington in April, 1861, says e. A.
Spring. One trifling incident of the
start placed us in just the right frame
OF mind to appreciate the welcome
given us by the president on our ar
rival at the capital. While We were
marching from the eth regiment ar
mory to the dock at the foot of Canal
street the newsboys came along the
line and cried out Justify: Extra.
Jeff Davis issues letters of maruue!
Priyateers will sweep the ocean!" In
an hour from the time we heard that
startling news we we're steaming down
the lower bay in the little propeller
Daylight, making for the wide ocean,
aboard, our only weapons being
smooth bore muskets.
The 7th regiment, as is we'll known,
took the cars for Baltimore the day
after the rioters attack on the Sixth
Massachusetts in the streets of that
city. 1t was turned off the direct route
at Philadelphia and sent around by
Annapolis, marching from that point
to Washington, in momentary expec-
tation of battle. Having had no drill
or discipline, our awkward squad was
not considered equal to the emergency
of that warlike trip, and so we were
tossed about in our little propeller.
the prey of countless fears, and made
a rough voyage down the coast from
New York to Fortress Monroe. An old
timer black wooden gunboat sailed
with us up the Potomac from that
point to Washington.
1t was Sunday morning when We
landed at the navy yard, and there
seemed not a soul astir on shore. But
before the gang plank had been let
down we saw two gentlemen alight
from a barouche which suddenly
whirled into sight around the corner of
a large building and pulled up on the
dock. A very tall man and a very
short one, in comparison, stood i'm
patiently by while a plank was being
lowered especially for them, and the
next moment President Lincoln and
Secretary Seward were elbowing their
way among the patriotic youngsters
and giving each hearty hanoshake.
A serious and almost fatherly demean-
or was shown by Lincoln as he bent
slightly in taking our hands-we boys
who had reached the endangered city
in the nick o. time. Indeed one hand
was not enough to express his feeling,
and with his left he took each of us
by the elbow and gave hearty pres
sure 1t was the end of ''the black
week."
We found the regiment quartered
along with the 9Th Massachusetts in
the hall of representatives in the cap /
itol. After a week there in anticipa- |
ton of attack we made our camp on |
Meridian hill, and during our six
weeks stay in that camp l do not
think the president once missed our
daily dress parade. In the clear May
evenings the tall form of the president
would follow the lads Thomas and
Willie as they bounded out of their
carriage, and the three would make
conspicuous group in front of the pa
rade ground opposite our line OF gray.
The boys were his constant compan-
ions and held hand on either side.
Thomas Lincoln. or Tad, as he was
Familiarity called. was given a soldierly
bent by these displays. Dressed in full
uniform and thoroughly equipped, al
though but 10 years of age at the time,
he afterward appeared in the camps of
the army. and. mounted upon Shet-
land pony. rode beside his father when
reviewing the troops as commander in
chief.
LINCOLN A FATALIST.
l.. - I snRO1n fhnf