Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-02-09
4 LINCOLN WELCOME.

Now that Abraham LincoIn's birth
day is again with Us (F7eb. 12) stories
pertaining to the great commOner are
in order. About 200 recruits-among
them the Writer-TOlunteere to fill up
the ranks Of the 9Th New York when
it responded to the call Of Presiden,
Lincoln and hurried to the defense OF
Washington in April, 1861, says e. 4.
Spring. One tIiding incident of the
start placed us in just the right frame
Of mind to appreciate the welcome
given US 10y the president on our ar
rival at the capital While We were
marching from the 7th regiment ar
mOry to the dock at the foot Of Canal
street the neWsbOgs came al0ng the
line and cried out Justify: Extra!
jeff Davis issues letters Of marQu9!
Priyateers will sweep the ocean!" III
an hour from the time we heard thar
startling news We were 8teaming down
the lower bay in the little propeller
Daylight, making for the wide ocean.
without a convoy and no cannon
aboard, our only weapons being
smooth bore muskets.
The 7th regiment, as is well knowa,
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.
IL was Sunday morning Wien We
landed at the navy yaru, ana tnere
seemed not Z soul aSLIr On suOre. But
before the gang plank hau been let
down We saw Two Seuuemen alignL
from q barOucle which suddenly
Whirled into sight around the corner OF
Il large building and pulled up On the
dock. 4 very tail man ana a very
short one, IN comparison stood i'm
patiently 10y while q plank was being
lowered especially for them, and the
next moment President Lincoln ana
Secretary Seward were eIbowing their
way among the patriotic youngsters
and giving each hearty han0shake.
A serious and almost faJheTIy demean-
or was shown by Lincoln as ne bent
slightly III taking our hands-we boys
who mad 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 a hearty pres
sure 1t was the end Of the black
week"
We found the regiment CHARTERED
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 bounced out Of their
carriage, and the three would make a.
conspicuous group in front of the pa
rade ground opposite our line Of gray.
/ The boys were his constant compan-
| ions and held a hand on either side.
/ Thomas Lincoln, or Tad, as he was
Familiarity called, was given soldierly
/ bent by these displays. Dressed in full
uniform and thoroughly equipped, al
/ though but u 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.