The Washington herald., 1909-02-07
LINCOLNS LAST REVIEW
OF AN ARMY CORPS.
By LIEUT.. col. ). A. wATRoUs.
Retired.

By LIEUT.. COL. }. A. wATRoUs,
Retired.
tcoD5nEht- lss- hg hs Csicags Fribusel
President Lincoln, one OF two members
OF his Cabinet and Gems. ". 7. Sherman
and George c. Meade were at Gen.
Grants headquarters, City Point Va
the night Of March "A. 1855. Before day
light the morning Of the 18th. Gen. John
B. -Gordon's large Confederate force sur
prised the Ninth Corps in front Of Pet
ersburg. captured Fort Sheridan. and
many prisoners before ne was checked
and driven back with great loss in killed.
wounded. and prisoners. The attack was
one OF the most daring and skillful made
on either side IN the great war. Had II
been successful the Army Of the Potomac
would have been cut in two and IN
ooubtediy great disaster would have come
20 the Union cause.
The Second, Fifth, and Sixth Corps
were Immediately ordered under arms 10
be ready 70 move TO the aid Of the Ninth
Corps should it need help. The Fifth
Corps had marched three miles in the
direction OF the battle when an aid in
formed Gen Warren. the commander
that the enemy had been repulsed. and
directed him to halt and hold his com
mand in readiness for action
Soon after noon Gen. Warren was or
dered TO march his corps 10 a large field
near Yellow Tavern and prepare It for
-
Go to City Point.
The President, Gen. Meade, and a eabi-
ret minister left City Point on a special
for Petersburg while the battle vas 'stflI
On The train was met by an ambulance
In which the President. Mr.. Seward. and
Col. Ruggles, Of AIeade's STAFF. were
seated for q ride over the battlefield.
Mr.. Lincoln asked many questions. and
among them, What weuld have hap
pened II Gen. Lee had won and pushed
his army through the Cnicn army 7
thing you would have been hurried down
the James river and 10 Washington 70
escape capture. said Ruggles. Not as
bad as that, hope. for I'm getting
good resr with the army" He asked
10 De driven 70 the field, where there
we're three or four thousand Confeder-
ate prisoners. Among the prisoners were
many coloTed men. servants. cooks. host
lsrs, &C. Mr.. Lincoln viewed the men
IN gray for a moment and broke the 81
ience with. Yes. colonel, there they are.
in black and white
When the Fifth Corps vas paradsd for
review aids were sent along the line 70
give final instructions and let the troops
Know who vas going TO review them.
The announcement that Mr. Lincoln
vas coming 70 look them over Just be-
fore the spring campaign was 70 open.
brought forth roar of cheers. such az
only men Of a seasoned army can give
One Of The orders vas that each brigade
should stand al present" until the Presi-
dent had passed Il. and then come 10 an
order. after which. at the cali OF the
brigade commander, three cheers and a
tiger we're 20 be given for the CON-
Reviews the Troops.
The ambulance had been exchanged for
4 fashionable two horse open carriage
before reaching our corps. The PresI-
dent sat in the end OF the seat neares
the soldiers. Tad, his youngest son.
little fellow, rode black pony close TO
he carriage The reviewing party. which
consisted Of the President. Gen. Meade.
Seward, and little Tad Lincoln
rode about two rods in front OF the