The National tribune., 1909-03-25
COL. CONAN KNEW LINCOLN.
The Vetera,r -Artilleryman of the Sixth
Corps Gives an Interesting Reminis-

| A beautiful an1 highly interesting
observance of the Lincoln centenary
was held atcIouisville at the Temple
Adath Israel. Despite the cold, driZ-
ziing rain that fell there was srea.
audience In attendance. AdareSses
were made by Rabbi ii. u. Enelow,
Judge w. o. Harris. Col. Andrew CoWah
ami Prof. Albion W. Small of the Chi
cago University Governor Albert Will
\ son, of Kentucky, was present. Judge
w. o. Harris; who was Southern SOL
dier and had a brother killed at Sailors
Greek, paid a beautiful tribute to Lin
| coin from the standpoint of a Confeder-
ate soldier. Prof. Smalfs subject was
Abraham Lincoln, the Prophet OF the
Democracy" and Rabbi Enelow said
that Lincoln's life was a victory and a
blessing to untold millions. Col.
Cowan, whose address was highly in
teresting, had marched as boy with
the campaign clubs during the CAM
paign of 1860 and promptly enlisted in
what was known as the Seward regi-
ment from New York. Lincoln called
upon the regiment and Cowans heart
sank at the first sight of the uncouth,
homely= face and form. Above his
weather-beaten countenaIlce he wore
great, tall hat. and over his clothes
was an old faded liner duster. Col.
Cowan went with his regiment to the
Peninsula and participated in all its
fighting there. He said that the charge
OF the 500 at Balaklava was not to be
compared with the repeated rushes of
Magruders Confederates across the
held against the terrible array of bat
terieS which were posted on Malvern
Hill. BY this time Col. Cowan had
come into the command of battery,
and while at Harrison'S Landing Lin
coin came down to review the army.
Or this scene Col Cowan said:
This Is what 1 saw: Gen. Mcclellan,
a superb horseman, rode at the left of
President Lincoln, who was mounted
on big, high-spirited bay horse.
They were followed by McClellan's
brilliant staff. with foreign princes and
dukes and military attaches from all
European countries. and then regi-
ment of lancers, each man carrying
lance with red pennant waving from
its point. 1t was a very brilliant spec
tacle. The President held the reins in
his left hand, without pressing on the
horses mouth, like an accomplished
rider, and he sat his horse with ease,
ilke boy who had learned to ride
bareback. He was dressed in black
proadcloth, like preacher, and in his
right hand was a shining new silk hat,
which he waved as we cheered him, and
MS race was smiling and kind as he
looked toward us. The man rode with
kingly grace, and I would then have
given my shoulder straps for the priyi-
lege of grasping his hand"
Col. Cowan went with Ricketts's
division, to which he belonged from
llrst to last, to meet Early's raid on
washington, but was detached and sent
with the remainder of the corps to
Washington, where his battery was at
Fort Stevens. He says as to what he
saw at Fort Stevens:
When l arrived abreast of the fort
our infantry wasyalready engaged with
the enemy in the valley below us, and
mad orders to halt and wait deyel-
opments. / then saw Gen. Wright. our
corps commander. standing on the
parapet of Forto Stevens, to my left.
watching the fighting that was going
on, and at his side / recognized Presf-
dent Lincoln. Numbers of rifle balls
from the enemy struck in the dust of
the road where we were waiting. and
uouptiess as many or more fell where
the President stood with Gen. Wright
yer ne did not move. 1 was told after
ward that Gen. Wright had begged the
PRESIDENT not to expose himself. bl1t
ne PAID no heed to his advice.'
Col. CoHan was at Burkesville
junction when the news came to them
OF the assassination of the President
ne Is sure that God raised up this won.
aer1ui mansfor the saving of the Nation
ana the emancipation of n race