Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-12-31

AttIuS ACttl IN NSW Orks 61e appears
to have been apprehensive that much
sickness prevailed In Washington, as be
telegraphed saying, ~ neither see nor hear
anything OF sickness here nov. though
there may be much without my knoEing
it. wish you to stay or come, just as is
most agreeable to yourself" She seems
to have replied asking II there we're spe
cial reason for her coming, for-~on the
following day he telegFaphed, ssThe air is
90 clear and cool and apparently heslthy
that ! would be glad for You TO come.
Nothing very particular. but I would be-
gladsto see you and Tad. =" He was very
fond Of bis little boy Tad, who was often
with him, and whose idea Of the good
faith OF the cipher operators suspect was
derived from his father. 1t was at any
rate we'll illustrated In this:-As / en-
tered the great porte cochere on the north
side OF the White House one morning, I
saw Tad playing in an express wagon
that was standing there. Although
about eight years old, he could not talk
quite plainly. He recognized me and
called out, "What de new7'' / an
swered, "Nothing new this morning,
Tad He said quickly, ssOh, know
bet there i and you won't te'.' One
day he came hurriedly to my desk and
asked, Ny pa here?'' / said, "who is
your pa?'' He answered, surprised at
such question, MY pa, he's president
uni Tates."
On the 18th Of December, 1863, a letter
addressed to a. Keith, Halifax, Nova
Scotia, v ho was know to be Confeder-
ate agent in that city. was intercepted By
Postmaster Wakeman of New York city
As q suspicious document and forwarded
TO the secretary Of war. II was written
Ia cipher, made up OF i've different sets If
characters, each representing the letters
Of the alphabet, and they we're so inter-
mingled that the discovery OF one OF the
plans on which the cipher was devised
would afford no clue to either Of the
others. Il was referred to several stenog-
raphers and experts in correspondence in
the War Department building, none Of
whom made any progress towards its
translation. Il was finally brought to
the three cipher telegraph operators be-
fore mentioned. After several hours OF
close study, they made the translation
complete. Il reported the forwarding OF
~, 600 rified muskets for the use Of the
Confederacy and also disclosed plot for
the seizure Of two steamers which we're to
sail from New York city few days later.
The translation was forwarded to Robert
Murray, then United States marshal in
New York. The sailing of the two
steamers was postponed and they were
no doubt saved by the discovery of the
plot concerning them. few days later
second letter to the same address. dated
December 81, was intercepted in the same
way and by means Of the key which the
FIRST translation had furnished, this was
quickly translated BY us and forwarded
to Marshal Murray. This resulted in the
arrest Of the engraver. the lithog rapher
and printer in New York city and the
capture Of several millions OF Confederate
bonds and notes Of various denomina-
tons which they had made, and also the
machinery and dies and paper which
were used in their manufacture. This
greatly pleased Mr.. Lincoln, as well as
Mr.. Stanton aud his assistant, Mr.. Wat
son, and I afterward learned that the sec
rotary said to Major Eckert that he
wouldn't swap his telegraph boys for
all the rest Of the clerks in the depart
msnt. OF course this was only an extrav-
agant expression Of his approval Of our
service. By his order, we three boys
were given twenty-five dollars each as .
Christmas present. and our salaries were
increased by that amount monthly there
after.
On New Years morning, 1854, as 1 en-
tered the upper ball OF the War Depart
ment, Mr.. Lincoln was about opening the
door OF the military telegraph Office. A
woman stood in the hall, crying. Mr..
Lincoln had observed her as he passed
and as soon as he was seated, be said to
Major Eckert, "What is that woman cry
ing about just outside your door," The
major replied that he did not know and
was not aware anyone was there. 81
wish you would go and see" said Mr..
Lincoln. So the major went ont and
made inquiry and learned that the wo-
man had come to Washington expecting
to be able to 90 to the army and see her
soldier husband, which was not unusual
for ladies to do while the army was Ia
winter quarters. But very strict orders
had recently been issued prohibiting
women from visiting the army, and she
found herself with her child in Washing
ton, mourning much more expense than
she supposed would be necessary, with
very little money, and was OF course in
great grief. This being explained to the
I president he said in his frank fi-hand
I way. nCome now, let's send her down.
What do you say2" The major ex-
plained the strict orders that the depart
ment had recently issued, the propriety of
" hich Mr.. Lincoln recognized, but he
was stin unwilling to yield his purpose.
Finally the major suggested that leave
OF absence for a few days to enable him
to come to Washington might be given 60
the woman's husband. The president
quickly adopted the suggestion and directs
ed that Col. Hardie, and assistant adju-
tant-geneFal, who was on duty in an ad-
I joining room, should make an-ofiiciaI or
der permitting the man to come to WASH
ington- After reading over the messages
which had been received since his last
previous visit, he returned to the White
House, having lightened the burden Of
one sad heart-iust one year after send
ing forth his immortal proclamation OF
emancipation.
A sister Of mine who had married in
southern Georgia before the war was anx-
ious to visit her Northern home in the
spring of 1854. After long delays, re
ceived information of her purpose and oil
the supposed fact that it would be practi-
cable for her to pass through the Confed-