Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-24
WHITE HOUSE VETS"
Col. Crook and Officer Pennell
the Oldest.
A CARD FROM LINCOLN
IT SAVED FORMER FROM BEING
DRAFTED INTO ARMY.
Andrew Johnson's Secretaries and
Their Sad Death Roll-Doorkeeper
"Ned" Kershaw.
A CARD FROM LINCOLN
Written for The Evening Star.


Col William H. Crook executive clerk
and disbursing officer, and Officer Pennell
of the police force undoubtedly compose the
roster of the veteran corps at the White
House Both were attaches of the then
called Executive Mansion as far back as
the days of Abraham Lincoln, and they are
the only survivors of that exciting period
who are still doing business at the old
stand. OF course, Mr.. Hay, who was one
of President Lincoln's secretaries is yet in
official harness, but his official habitat is
across the way, in the noble building direct
ly west Of the White House, where, as Sec
rotary of State, he can take glance to the
eastward and let his eyes rest on the
scenes of former arduous labors faithfully
and diligently performed.
Colonel Crook, talking recently of events
of the past that came under his observa-
ton, alluded to the fact that his first serv-
ices at the White House were as a member
of Mr.. Lincoln's bodyguard, and Of this he
is proud, and justly so. Mr.. Lincoln did
not always avail himself of the protection
afforded him by his bodyguard. The fact
is that occasionally he would evade them.
He was a fearless man, and it Is we'll
known that frequently in the midnight hour
he was seen, solitary and alone, vending
his way with slow steps and with care
worn and weary countenance from the Ex-
SSuliNe NidnSlOu 10 the war department,
where Secretary Stanton almost lived in
| those trying times, to see if there were
! any late reports from the army in the field
or to attend to important business that
| had not been decided upon in the hours of
| daylight.
| The grounds about were not as we'll light
ed in those days as they are at present and
1t was enough to try almost any mans
nerve, particularly one SO prominent and
so subject to the malice of enemies who
would do him any harm they could, to take
that short but lonely and gloomy walk.
But Mr.. Lincoln frequently did SO. and as
often declined the services of a guard to
attend him home
One incident of his career while an at
| tache of the White House that occurred
not very long before the assassination at
Fords Theater made an impression upon
Colonel Crook.
Col. Crook Recalls an Incident.
II was in the army during the first call
in 1861 said he, land 1t was Immediately
after l was mustered out after my COM
paratively brief service that I was ap-
pointed to police duty at the White House
and made member of the Presidents
bodyguard OF course, then l began to
know him very well. and had every OPP
portunity of observing his kind hearted
ness toward any distressed mortal who
sought any kind of relief through his min
istrations, and, in fact, his tender feelings
for the entire human family.
1T was not far from the close of the war
when there was another drafting episode
| in addition to those that had already oc-
CURED, and received prompt notice from
| the provost marshal that my stalwart serv-
| ices were in demand and I was required to
report for duty and shoulder anew nlusket
| Immediately if not sooner At that time
| there was only one idea that got into my
| head and that was to appeal to the Presl-
| dent, and did not hesitate long before do
| ing SO. l remember wildly to this day the
| circumstances. When / was admitted 20
| that great mans presence l found him in
| the old library. He wore on his feet pair
| of those old-fashioned carpet slippers, and
| he was reading the Bible. When 1 went
| into the room he looked up and said:
well Crook, what is it,?
II replied, telling him that I had been
| drafted that I had wife and child, and
did not want to so. Without moments
| delay the President, pointing to a package
| of official cards lying on table, said
Hand me one of those cards.
Il did So and he wrote these words, tell
ing at the same time to present the
card at the War Department.:
My man Crook is drafted. I cannot
spare him. Provost General please fix
"a. LINCOLN
IT have that card now" said the colonel.
ut was taken from the files of the War
Department and given to me by Robert
Lincoln when he was Secretary of War
under President Hayes. 1 intend to leave
1t as heritage to my children.