Devils Lake inter-ocean and Devils Lake free press. (Devils Lake, Ramsey County, N.D.) 1905-1909, 1907-03-29
:,
LlNC0LM-AhtD STEPHENS.
"A Striking Instance Of ."old .Abe's7;
! 5;p"4: Kindness of Heart. 2it"tG, I'd

/ ;i"r: Kindness OF .f1GaTT.'} f!j!tE5 q II
; The Hampton Roads peace confer
ence of 1866, at which Mr.. stephens,
Judge J. A. Campbell and MIR. r. NJ. T.
Hunter met Mr.. Lincoln andM Sew
ard in an effort to establish peace be-
tween the north and south and SO to !
put an end to :bloodshed, had ended In |
failure. Mr. Lincoln and Me-; Stephens |
had . met in 1847, when both were |
members of congress, and something
very like warm personal friendship
had developed between them. This
was strengthened at Hampton Roads:
When they came to say goodby, the
president of the United States sremark X
ed with feeling to the vice president Of
the Confederacy:
I "Well, Stephens, there has been moth
ing we could do for our country. Is
there anything can do for you person
ally?"
Nothing" Then the vice presidents
pale face frightened. "Unless you can
send me my nephew, who has been for
twenty months prisoner on Johnson's
island"
Mr.. Lincoln's face also frightened.
81 shall be glad to do it. Let me have
his name" He took the name down in
his notebook.
When he returned to Washington, he
telegraphed to Johnson's island, direct
ing that Lieutenant Stephens be put
on his parole, with orders to report at
once to President Lincoln in Washing
ton.
An officer came into the prison and
called out:
Lieutenant John A. Stephens Of
Georgia. ~
The lieutenant had no idea what was
wanted of him. He thought he was
being called out to be shot. He had
been captured at the siege of Vicks-
burg and had been imprisoned five
| months in New Orleans and then car
] ried to Johnsons island.
When he reported at headquarters,
he was told that he was to report at
once to President Lincoln. So he was
/ driven across the ice on Lake Erie in
/ sleigh twenty miles to Sandusky and
| went on to Washington.
There at once he sought the presi-
dent, and, having sent in his name,
| he was Immediately ushered into Mr.
Lincolns presence. He found the pres
1 ldent sitting on table In half re-
clining position and talking with Sec
Rotary Seward. Mr.. Lincoln rose,
shook his hand very cordially and said:
''T saw your uncle, Hon. Alexander
Fl. Stephens, recently at Hampton
Roads"
Lieutenant Stephens had not heard
i Of the peace conference, and this was
: his first direct news Of his family since
his Imprisonment President Lincoln
continued:
IT told your uncle 1 would send you
to him, lieutenant"
Naturally the lieutenant was deeply
moved and grateful.
"You have the freedom Of the city. "
Mr.. Lincoln continued, "as long as you
please to remain here. When you want
to go home, let me know, and will
pass you through the lines"
The lieutenant's appreciation and JOY
can he imagined. Mr.. Lincoln talked
on pleasantly, telling him of the Haf1lp
ton Roads conference, asking him
questions and making the hour mem
orakie ore in many ways.
! The lieutenant remained in Washing
= ton about two weeks. Many old friends
entertained him, and he was in state
>. Of mind and body to set value on such
show Of good will
Il He recovered his strength rapidly
and when he went to Mr. Lincoln and
told him he was ready to go to Rich
mond Mr.. Lincoln gave him a letter
and pass through the Federal lines
4 and then handed him his photograph
4 saying:
4 You bad better take that along. Il
4 Is considered quite a curiosity dowr
y y c;iaar way, I believe.,' ,-.s~sasassazzssss.
q Lieutenant Stephens went on. to Rich
4 motid, reporting for duty, and, though
privileged to make a visit to his. rela
] tiyes in Georgia and longing to SEE
| them, proeee6ed 70 West Virginia
Where he served on tha REaR, u Geh
Eera1 Gordon. Of course he had bs6h
Eduly exchanged, the Federal officer whee
nad been released going north carry:
Iing with hsh memories Of kindnesses
land courtesy shown him in Richmond
E-Myrta Loekettf Avafy In Century.
I ' = s=======. -ssfs,,s, :" :;
L - Inneeueus VaHSsys ~: : 49,
| ~ gold IS pever put into efrcGFafioh
| without some alloy, so perhaps foY this