The National tribune., 1900-05-17
EVERYDAY LIFE OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
CONTINUED from first page.

stated to Haleck on the previous day;
roads; that the army was entirely defeated
and falling back to Washington in con-
fusion. He then said that he regarded
Washington as lost, and asked me if
would, under the circumstances, consent
to accept command Of all the forces. With
out one moments hesitation, and without
making any conditions whatever, L at
once said that would accept the command,
and would stake my life that would save
the city. Both the President and Halleck
again asserted that it was impossible 10
save the city, and / repeated my firm con.
viction that l could and would save it
They then left, the President verbally
placing me in entire command Of the city
and of the troops falling back upon it from
the front"
THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM-THE
PRESIDENT INDICATED.
The result Of the reappointment of Nc
Clellan soon vindicated the step. He
possessed the confidence of the army be-
yond any other of our Generals at that time;
and at its head he fought, within two weeks
after his reinstatement, the bloody but
successful battle of Antietam (Sept. II,
'62), which compelled Lee to retreat to the
southern side Of the Potomac, and relieved
Washington of any immediate danger
from the enemy.
LINCOLN AGAIN DISSATISFIED WITH
McCLELLAN-VISITS THE ARMY IN
THE FIELD.
After the Antietam campaign, the Army
Of the Potomac rested awhile from its
almost superhuman labors, Gen. Nc
Cleilan considering it necessary to get
supplies and reinforcements before re-
suming active operations. This delay
gave rise TO no little dissatisfaction in
Washington, where il was thought Nc
Clellan should have followed up his sue
cesses al Antietam by Immediately pur-
suing Lee into Virginia. In this dis
satisfaction the President shared TO some
extent. He made personal visit to the
army for the purpose Of satisfying him
self Of its condition. OF this occasion
Gen. Mcclellan says: "On the first day
Of October, his Excellency the President
honored the Army of the Potomac with
visit, and remained several days, during
which he went through the different ell
campments, reviewed the troops, and
went over the battlefield of South Mount
ain and Antietam. / had the opportunity
during this visit to describe to him the
operations of the army since it left Wash
ington, and gave him my reasons for
not following the enemy after he re-
crossed the Potomac"
MIR. LINCOLN IN THE SADDLE-"RID-
ING DOWN THE LINES" WITH GEN.
MCCLELLAN.
Before the grand review that was TO be
made by the President, some Of McClellan's
staff, knowing that the General was a
man of great endurance and expertness
in the saddle, laughed at the idea of Mr..
Llncoln's attempting to.keep up with him
III the severe ordeal of riding down the
lines" "They rather hinted," SAYS
narrator, that the General would move
rapidly, to test Mr.. Lincoln's capacity as a
rider. There were those on the field, how
ever, who had seen Mr.. Lincoln in the
saddle III Illinois; and they were very con-
fident. They knew their man. A splen-
did black horse, very spirited, was selected
for the President to ride. When the time
came, Mr.. Lincoln walked up to the animal.
and the instant he seized the bride to
mount it was evident to horsemen that
he knew his business He had the ami
NAL in hand at once. No sooner was he
in the saddle, than the coal-black steed
began to prance, and whirl, and dance, as
If he was proud of his burden. But the
President sat as uuconcerned and fixed
to the saddle as if he and the horse were
one. The test Of endurance soon came.
Mcclellan, with his magnificent staff.
approached the President, who joined
them, and away they dashed to distant
part of the field. The artillery began to
thunder, the drums beat, and the bands
struck up Hail to the Chief. while the
troops cheered. Mr.. Lincoln, holding
the bridle-rein in one hand, lifted his tall
hat from his head, and much of the time
held it in the other hand. Grandly did
Lincoln receive the salute, appearing as