The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1900-02-10
Major White of Alabama, 'Hus-
band Of Mrs. Lincoln's Sister
OLD MAN STILL HEARTY
He Was a Confederate and "Abe''
Talked of Hanging Him.
White Tells a Peculiar Story About
General Logan's En- rly Anti
Union Proclfvities.

Major Clement B. White of Selma, Ala.
the only surviving brother in-law of Abra-
ham Lincoln, Is nearing three score years and
ten, and bears striking resemblance to John
Sherman. He is a thorough Southern gentle
man of the old school.
Major White was an officer of the Alabama
state guard at the outbreak of the war, and
| under orders of the executive of the state, he
took part with his command in the capture OF
Fort Morgan, Mobile bay, before Alabama had
formally seeded from the Union. When it
was reported to President Lincoln that his
brother-in-law had performed this daring ex-
ploit against the national authority on being
eSKH What he %oua s DO nbout it he rsnid
when We catch him..
Major White later performed many C:.i;n-
gulshed military and civil services for the
confederacy.
1t was while Mr. White was attending col
lege at Lexington, Ky, that he met and fell
in love with Matte Todd, the sister Of Mrs.
Lincoln. One summer White went with a
brother of Matte Todd and another friend to
pass his vacation at the Todd mansion The
distance was only twenty eight miles, but
the train was four hours in making the trip.
To add to the discomfort, one Of the
party Was crowded on bench occupied by
an awkward looking countryman. his wife
and two children. The children whned and
cried nearly all the way. On reaching the
fTduklOfl nome. LQGy Sla(tGu 10 recount tEClT
experiences on the train
II was serenaded all the way by couple
| of squalling babies,'' said one. The father
of them was the agiest white man ever saw.
and the children were the crossest brats
have seem
One Child Was Robert Lincoln
There was an interruption, a turning of
heads, and the gaunt, ugly passenger, wife
and children, came into the room. In his arms
10 hny y1o hos 60
country's annals as Robert T.. Lincoln
Lincoln enjoyed the joke He was Oh his
way to Washington as Congressman from
illinois. He was so entertaining, sympa-
thetic, and lively said Major White. that
we soon forgot that his features were not
handsome"
After his marriage Major White settled at
Selma, Ala, where he inherited a thriving
business and large property from his father
AS girl, Matte Todd became great favorite
of Lincoln At the time of the inauguration,
In company with her husband she stopped at
the White House. Her visits to Washingto1s
the to Interrupt them he gave ao ner era pass
which would admit her through the lines at
any point she chose. After crossing the Vir-
ginia line on a return from visit an in
spector followed Mrs. White to hotel where
she stopped and insisted on examining her
baggage The officer was dismissed at the
point of her pistol. On opening her trunk she
was dmdLSu " uuu tudl lrlenQS baltimore
had slowed away there splendid sword anI
uniform for General Robert E. Lee.
Cleared by JEFF Davis.
At first Mrs. White thought it best to re-
turn to Washington and explain the whole
matter to Lincoln, but her heart was really
IN the cause of the South and she felt that
General Lee probably needed the uniform.
On her arrival at Richmond she consulted
PRESIDENT Davis, whom she knew as we'll as
mr. ocEc
that General Lee must have the presents and
wrote with his own hand the details to Mr.
Lincoln. The great man at the White House
often tWitted Mrs. White about her contre-
temps.
Major White declares that it was not the
wish or intention of the people of Alabama to
secede from the Union. He says that he be-
lieves if Lincoln's "erring sister, programme
had been adopted there would have been mo
civil war, and the emancipation of the slaves
would have been brought about by gradual
and rational means. The old gentieman's
"reminiscences embrace many Interesting
phases of the unwritten history of the war
but no man has stronger feeling for the
Union and the integrity of the government
than he.
His voice trembled with emotion as he toL4
of the destruction of his property during the
the war, and then he reverted to the history
of some of the men who grew to be popular
leaders in the war.
Qucer Story About Logan.
Speaking of the late John A. Logan. he said.
II think of nothing more strange than the
somersault OF the famous General Logan
After gaining distinction in the Mexican war
he had settled in Kentucky. His sentiments
were ultra Southern and aided him greatly in
securing the preferment which was his for
the asking in Kentucky. After Beauregard
fired on Sumter, Logan began to organize Sc
cretly a force of men in Southern Illinois and
Kentucky, to rendezvous in Mississippi un-
der the Confederate flag. Quite number of
these men assembled at point near Corinth,
and while they waited there to be Joined by
their General, with the main body, which, It
was understood, Logan would bring with him,
word was brought that he had accepted
commission under the Governor of Illinois,
'and the de1uded men were Obliged to shift
r for themselves.
II believe this chapter Of Logans life has
mot appeared in print, but have the facts on
the authority Of some of the men who Joined
his party and other indubitable testimony,
"a. Prove more clearly the truth
- L'.co,n's assertion that patriotism is
::e@is mater OF environment than such
.,.:Ct.ss ia !Ee lives Ct some of our greatest