Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1905-05-24
Shdky on Historical Dates.

Shaky on Historical Dates.
II. E. Robinson, president of
the state Historical society deliver
ed a lecture recently before the
old settlers society at Kansas City
on Father De Smet, in which he
related the following interesting
story:
When Francis p. Blair was
elected to the United States Seuate
from Missouri, to fill the vacancy
caused by the resignation of Chas.
d. Drake, Father De Smet took
active interest in behalf of Blair's
candidacy. AS this was rather
unusual, he was asked the cause
and gave the following answer:
''In 1868 our father provincial,
at my request, and granted me
permission to visit again, after Il
long absence, the Flalhead and
Blackfeet Indians. l had fully
prepared for tae journey when l
discovered that the United States
had, for military reasons, drawn
its line along the entire Indian
frontier, and it was therefore i'm
possible to get through without a
pass. l was informed that l could
not get pass without going to
Washington. | accordingly jour
neyed to the capital; but on my
arrival l found that all my friends
who had been members of Congress
at my last visit were either dead
or in the rebellion. l had no al
tcrnate, therefore, but to call on
Gen. Blair, who was then repre-
senting St. Louis in the lower
house." Blair took Father De
Smet to the White House, and be-
fore introducing him to the Presi-
dent, said:
"'Father De Smet, l am about
to introduce you to President Lin
coin, and to ask from him favor
for you. Please promise me that
you will express no surprise at
what either he OF | shall say, but
that you will content yourself.
with thanking him if he grants my
request
the President in his room, leaning
ul.on his hand with a weary ex-
preston of countenance as though
he were entertaining sad thoughts.
His face, however, lighted up at
our coming, and after being for
mally introduced we took chairs,
and he opened the conversation
with this remark to Gen. Blair;
Frank, is Father De Smet
trying to make Catholic ont of
you, or are you trying to make a
Presbyterian out of him, which2
"Neither, Mr.. President; bat l
have come here to ask favor for
him from you
what is it?'
"'Mr. Stanton tells me- said
the general that the 4th cavalry
| think it is the 4th cavalry-is
stationed ont on the Northwestern
frontier, and they have no chap
lain. | want you to make Father
De Smet chaplain Of that regiment
and give him twelve months fur
lou oh, at which time he expects to
return from his mission, when he
can resign, unless he wants to 60
into the war;
"The President Immediately took
up his pen, wrote a few lines and
handed the paper to Gen. Blair,
saying, Take that to Stanton
"Before had time to say q
word, Mr.. Lincoln took me by the
hand, and in bidding me adien, re-
marked:
"'You will do more good out
there than all my soldiers and com
missioners.
"There was pay attached to the
position, for l believe l ranked as
major, but l never drew it. O1
course, l thanked Gen. Blair fol
! the handsome manner in which he
had spoken of me, but l never,
until now. had the opportunity OF
doing him service in return,
Now you know why l want to see
him in the Senate"
| think it would be we'll if those
who give us items of historical
events were a little more exact il
their dates. Father De Smet wen
/ to Fort Benton in the spring o.
1862. l think it was on the steam
boat "Labelle. John Evans O
Hopewell, was a passenger on th'
boat for the same place. Gen. +
p. Blair was commanding a divi
sion of Sherman's 18th army corps
Grants Army in 1868. Any ole