Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-11-02
LincoIn's Mysterious Order.


On the overthrow of the great re-
bellion l was, on the recommendation
of Gen. Grant, in whose volunteer reg
iment I served, appointed lieutenant
in the regular army and Joined my
command in the great West, on the
edge of the Llano Estacado, writes
Maj. J. w. Wham in Harper's. Capt.
Holcomb, gallant and worthy soldier,
most interesting gentleman, with
whom I served at a lonely frontier
post, told me the following story on
the authenticity Of John L. Scrips, a
brother-in-law Of Holcomb, and the
man who wrote Lincoln's biography
for the first Lincoln campaign. Lin
coin, early realizing the tremendous
struggle that must ensue before the
great rebellion would be subdued, saw
clearly that the North must be held
in line, even if it required the tempo
rary overthrow Of liberty to do so. He
therefore sent for Gen. Scott and said:
General, have you an officer in the
regular army who will obey orders
without question-WithOut asking the
reason why?' The general thought for
a moment and then said: Yes, Mar
tin Burke" Lincoln then said: "Please
send him to me-" Capt. Burke was tel
egraphed for and in a few days report
ed in much bewilderment at the White
House (for no explanation had been
made by Gen. Scott), looking anything
but a hero as he stood in front of the
tall, angular and swarthy President.
His uniform, we'll worn and somewhat
awry, his gray hair touseled, his Shout
ders stopped, his form bent, but be-
hind the steady eye, his quiet and firm
ly set lips, there was adamant.
$50 you are Capt. Burke?" said Lin
coin, ia the same time surveying him
from head to foot with his quick, pen
etrating eye. eyes, sir" (saluting).
Gen. Scott tells me that you will obey
orders without asking questions" eyes,
sir" (saluting). Capt, Burke" Lin
coin said, slowly and impressively, Il
am going to put you in command Of
Fort Lafayette, which stands in the
mouth of Hudson river. You are to go
there and stay, never, as you will soon
see, for obvious reasons, coming ashore,
even for a moment, lest some sheriff or
other civil officer get service on you
and compel the production or release
of some or all Of the prisoners which
I may be compelled to confine there
All prisoners sent there will be con-
fined by my authority and released by
my order, and while there must be
treated with the utmost care, comfort
and courtesy, but by no means allowed
to escape. They will be released at
once on swearing allegiance to the
Union and complying with other formal
matters which will be attended to-
through the War Department. No sher
ifs or other civil officers must under
any circumstances be allowed to land
at the fort. Strictly obey these orders
and look to me for protection"
Fort Lafayette was, near the close Of
the great rebellion, abandoned and
burned, or burned and abandoned, l am
not certain which. When passing the
old ruin, as l frequently did, in going
to Sandy Hook to pay the small detach-
ment then there, said to myself, it is
all in the purpose, the aim, the end in
view. Charles " constructed a bastile
with which to subvert the liberties Of
men. Lincoln constructed a bastile
with which TO conserve the liberties of
men. On the ruins of one arose the lib
critics of France, on the ruins Of the
other arose the liberties Of America,
stronger than ever and more enduring
than the rocks that held in leash the
waters of the great North river as they
flow on to the deep and dark blue
ocean"
Worth Reading.