The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-02-24
An Interesting Reuiniscence.

An article in a recent number OF the
Youths Companion gives an interesting
account of a chance meeting between
Col. Harry L. Benbow, Of Clarendon
county, and President Abraham Lin
coin, which took place in City Point
hospital, Virginia, in April, 1860. we
have it on the authority OF ar honored
Confederate veteran, still living, that
the story is in the main correct, as he
had heard Col. Bepbow relate II. but
that one additional fact is we'll worthy
of mention in connection with the story.
He saws that Col. Benbow told him that
there were two or three other Conted-
crate prisoners in the hospital at the
time mentioned, and that shortly after
the assassination of President Lincoln
took place some of the guards came into
the hospital, announced the fact and SAID
they we're going to kill the Confeder-
ate prisoners in retaliation. Theceupon
Col. Ben bow and the other Sou5herners
hurriedly consulted: got out and opened
their pocket knives, determined to sell
their lives as dearly as possible II the
guards or others came TO lay violent
hands upon them. but happily no such
attempt was made. The story publish
ed by the Youths Companion IS as fol-
lows:
Col. Harry l.. Benbow of South Caro-
lima. being once in a reminiscent mooo,
was asked by friend to tell him his
most striking experience during the civ
il war. He began by saying that co
April l. 1865, he commanded three reg
| 1rrtr
Va. Being shot through both hips, he
was captured and carried to City Point,
Va. Hospital: where he was placed IN
ward occupied entirely by wounded
Federal officers. He was well cared for,
having every simple luxury which the
exieency of the times would permit.
After being there few days, IL was
reported abroad through the ward that
the President of the United States
would on the next day pay his wounded
officers at City Point a visit. On the
morning Of April S, 1865, j Cay which
shall never forget, ny attention was at
tracted by considerable hustle at The
entrance of the ward fartheso from my
cot: and in few moments the door was
thro vn open, and I beheld a splendid
display OF military officers, clad in the
pomp and glitter OF war, plenty OF dane.
! inc plumes and gold braid, and boots ui
to mid-thigh. 1t was the Presidents
military family acting as his escort.
Last of these came a tall, gaunt, un
cainly figure, clad in sober Slack-the
President himself, whom l immediatel.
recognized. He would have attracted at
teotion, think, among any assembly O
men that could have been brought TO-
i eether in tie world. SO striking was the
nobility AID the benevolence OF al
countenance.
! He walked down the long aisle be
tween the rows of cots on each hand
bowing and smiling, ard saying "Goot
morning." 10 the different occupants a
he passed. Arriving at length Opposite
:. where I lay, he halted beside my Oct
and held out his hand. I was lying OF
nv back, my knees bent. Looking hin
in the face, as he stood with extende'
hand:
.Mr. President,' I said, do yo'
know to whom you offer your hand:"
':I do not," he replied.
"WeN," said I, you offer 1t to Con
t federate colonel, who has fought you a
:: hard as he could for four years"
> "Wen," said he, II hope Confedel
T ate colonel will not refuse me his hand.