Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-12
ON LINCOLN
RecoIIeCtions of Personal
Meetings With Him.
A HOMELIER MAN THAN HE
Universal Praise Now Succeeds Bit
ter Criticism.
THE LINCoLN-D0UGLAs DEBATE
The Centenary Of His Birth Brings
Forth Many Stories About the
Martyred President.
THE LINCOLN.DOUGLAS DEBATE
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
1t was my fortune to meet Mr.. Lincoln
on more than one occasion. A Union
refugee from the Confederate consumption
in east Tennessee. l came to Washington
in 1861 and obtained a clerkship In the
Treasury Department from Secretary
Chase This office l held until 1862,
meanwhile receiving one promotion, when
l thought 1t my duty to resign 1T and
enter the volunteer army. Accordingly
! called on the Secretary of War CMr
Stanton) and stated my intention. 1t Is
scarcely necessary to say that l was re-
oeived by him in a characteristic manner.
Determined to succeed in my patriotic
aspirations, it occurred to me l might
reach the good will and softer manners
Of the Secretary of War through the
President The next thing was to reach
Mr. Lincoln. Accordingly, l at once
wrote to my friend, Mr.. Brownlow. after
ward senator from Tennessee and gov
ernor of the state. who was then refugee
ing in Philadelphia. for a letter to the
President. On the 25th of August. 1867,
Mr. Brownlow wrote me as follows:
Dear Reeve: l inclose you a letter to
Lincoln, which, l think, meets the case.
Better hurry up and see that he gets 70
read it at once. The difficulty will be
to get his attention l tried II TOUR times
before l succeeded.
I'VE feel great interest here In the war,
and not being able to get any news IRON
Pope's army. we suppose they are hghtlng
and have been for several days.
II shall want to know how you sue
coed. Write me here in the care OF George
w. Childs. In haste,
did hurry up" as suggested. and
the same day l was favored with tins
ny,fn
"Secy of War: Please see Mr.. Reeve of
Tenn. A. LlNtOl-N.
Aug. -. 1852
The result was that very soon after /
was appointed and authorized by direc-
ton of President Lincoln to recruit and
command a regiment (the Sth Volunteer
Infantry of loyal Tennesseeans for the
Union army.
The card from the President to the
Secretary of War, being photographic,
have carefully preserved some years
ago, when MIR. Robert Lincoln was
Secretary of War. l called to pay my
respects and sent up the card from his
father to MI Stanton. He saw me at
once and heartily appreciated the
striking coincidence.
] saw President Lincoln several times
before I left Washington for the front.
Being younger then and at least as
active as l am now. I walked over to
Bailey's Cross Roads, in Virginia, a dis
lance of several miles. and witnessed
Gen. McClellans grand review in 1862.
The President and his cabinet were
there. What splendid spectacle that
was! Afterward. when the President
returned from Gen. McClellan'S head
| quarters. l had the pleasure OF hearing
| his hopeful and reassuring address to
| the people from the east front of tho
| Capitol. 1t was also my privilege to
! attend the receptions at the White
House in the season of 1S61-2
1t is my privilege and pleasure now
after the lapse of so many years to
again, in the retrospect of memory,
| touch the hand and hear the voice of
one SO dear to all who knew him. and
so near to the great heart of the ma
| ton as Abraham Lincoln.
| For nearly forty-four years he has
| been at rest. May his great soul rest
| in peace forever.
| FELIX A. REEVE