The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1910-02-12
/ A [
III zA3N42sS2 II
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spring of 1865. During the three years Nv
of my stay in Washington the most ~
critical period of the nations history, 1k
and heard many things that have Mn
never found their way into the public \Wf]
prints. Some of the bodyguard were
constantly with the president and his
family, whether at fashionable levees,
receptions to foreign legations or pri-
Vate interviews. At all such functions
we were silent spectators Of all that took
place. We were always treated with the high
est respect by the Lincoln family who re-
gacded us as part Of the household. Every
private of the guard received the same atten-
tons OF courtesy as the most famous states
diplomat at the capital. We all formed
a strong personal attachment for the presi-
dent and when the grand old man laid down
his life in behalf Of the cause that had been
his life work felt as if we had lost the
dearest friend we ever had.
During the first two years of our term of
service the most rigid discipline was enforced.
Sometimes would be ordered to use ex-
traordlnary vigilance and to let no one enter
the grounds of the White House without the
proper passes and to be very particular as to
who approached the president Often the or
der would come for the guards on duty to
be doubled. 1t was seldom that he knew the
direct cause Of these extra precautions, but
secret
service were in possession of information of
some plot that brooded harm to the presi-
dent
Up to 1854, owing to our vigilance and the
protecting hand Of Providence, our beloved
chief had escaped the hand Of violence. The
pack OF the confederacy broken, good
feeling pervaded all Washington and conse-
Quently the strict watchfulness that had pre-
vailed grew into laxity. This was the fatal
period. for 1t was at this time that conspira-
ces were Matched and confederates overran
the city, comparatively unmolested. The pres
ident and family spent the summer at the SOL
dier's home, situated about three miles north
of the city. and thither the bodyguard always
accompanied them.
1t was in the summer of 1864 while wa
we're up at the home. that an incident hap,
pened that came very near eliminating in
Just such an awful tragedy as followed only a
few months later at Fords theater It was
the custom of the president to remain late at
the war department when anything Of great
Importance was happening in the army con-
sultng with the secretary of war and trans
hitting and receiving dispatches, and after
his work was finished he would ride out to
1.-The soldiers home. That summer he had per-
sistently refused an escort, imagining himself
perfectly secure
One night about the middle of August I
was doing sentry duty at the large gate
through which entrance was had into the
grounds at the home The place is situated
about quarter of a mile off the Bladensburg
road and is reached by a devious driveway
About one o'clock I heard a rifle shot in the
direction of the city and shortly afterward
could hear approaching hoofbeats In two or
three minutes the horse came near enough SO
that in the dim moonlight recognized the
rider as the belated president The horse, q