Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-09-16
LINCOLN AND TWO JOHNS.
SOLDIERS SONS IN TIE AR3IY.

NOLDlEhS SONS IN LIE AR3ll.
by Lieut. Col. J. A. Watrous, L. s. a.
Mr. President, | have about made up
my mind to resign and tender my ser
vices to the government as a soldier
during this war with Mexico"
Il hope you will change your mind.
sir. Your country, our party and | need
you in Congress"
That was a conversation between Pres
ident James X Polk of Tennessee and
Congressman John \. McClernand Of
Illinois close TO sixty years ago.
Fifteen years later the same Illinois
congressman, who then had more than Il
national reputation, participated III an
other brief conversation with a preSj-
dent 1t ran in this wise:
MIR. Lincoln, my duty is with the
army in this hour of danger for the
nation"
These two intellectual giants Lincoln
and McClernand. had been for years
vigorous opponents; they had fought
many political battles in Illinois, but
in that day of dark clouds, that time of
the nations most trying emergency, they
stood together, stuuuCh Americans,
staunchly, unyieldingy, everlastngly for
America.
Mr.. Lincoln moved closer to the Hi
noiS statesman and, as hey claSped
hands, the President placed his left hand
upon the congreSsman'S shoulder, ami,
looking him squarely in the eye, said:
"McClernand YOU are needed in Con
gresS, but still more in the army. Your
decision rcjoices and fortifes me; it is
as good as the offer of a brigade, and
you shall have one. There is another
John, a congressman from our state,
who | hope, will initiate your example,
The other John, Logan, did what
McClernand Undersigned his seat in
Congress and put on a blue uniform
among the major generals. having won
their honors by superb soldiership Oh
hard-fought fields.
In speaking with Gen. Stickles of the
dark days of 1861, President Lincoln
said: The promptness and vigor with
which Douglas, McClernand, Logan,
yourself and other distinguished Demo
Gratis offered your services, all you pos
sessed, even your lives, for the preser
walton of the Union, lifted from my
shoulders one of the heaviest loads they
ever bore
Thinking of strong men and heroic
deeds of later day set me to thinking
of great men and great deeds in the
old days, aud so much have | written
about them.
Gen. McClernand, the longtime Illinois
congressman. and Private Miley of the
same state, one of whom won high rank
and undying fame, and the other did
we'll his work as 4 soldier in many
lon, Iira ~ b1,o focinc enuoII,, brove
iincS ~ orov Loxo Tvnds ond Jona heroic
deeds il these later wars, through pa
triutic sons, one. Lieut.. Col. Edward L..
! McClernand. thoroughly trained sol
we" rny ,g r e"dI Of Was 81 pint who
"a. ,o,,.. bos henn reco,rniIo3 Nv his
49,. af Ill -, ~, nIa ~ tb, most
cn",mintnI,, a"ninnnJ ana ievel-he,dpd ~
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n9 aiIl,,II, no IN v'', d " rs r,Ifoapt
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! .a,,,ad ,,.;tl, t:rn Sh,ftcr in tLc N,Inn
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,,5va Ms Gfe in duty-doin., 1h;s most
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| vile from which town 9nofLer .rralt
| saIdierINI Mai don Wesley NIarritf1
! ,.n,ne poye nrnrnisn af nue dny stonlip.,
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