Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-02-12
THEY KNEW LINCOLN
Personal Who
n Bismarck.

by the Confederates. The Rhode Isl
and battery went to the rescue OF
Washington again at a later date, en-
gaging the rebels at Fort Stevens and
from that battle field accompanied
General Sheridan on the memorable
trip up the Shenandoah valley. Mr.
Cordner was mustered out in front
of Petersburg in 1865.
Mr.. Cordner knew Lincoln. He
saw him many times, and once dur
ing the war figured in one of the count.
less dramas which were enacted at
the White House which have not
found their way to the pages of his
tory. That was the second time he
saw the great statesman, and on that
occasion he asked for and received
from the president communication of
the death sentence of a very dear
friend.
One Of the boys from Mr.. Cordner's
home town who was but Is years of
age was too young to enlist in Rhode
Island so went across the line and
enlisted with the Fifth Connecticut.
Only a child, he tired of the hard
ships and struggle and deserted.
Eighteen months later he was be-
trayed to the Federals by the man
with whom he had taken shelter and
was arrested and sentenced to be
shot. Mr.. COrdner heard of the boys
plight. He Immediately hunted up
Senator Dixon of Rhode Island but
not finding him went to Senator An
thOny of the same state. He told
Anthony his friends story, and An.
thony took him to the White House
and introduced him to Lincoln. The
boy had several brothers and other
relatives who had excellent records
in the Union army. Mr.. Cordner
remembers that interview we'll.
II can see him now, so tall, so Pc
culiar in appearance. He listened to
my story, and got up and walked back
and forth. Then he started asking
me about the soldiers ''his boys he
called them. He wanted to know
how they were, what they got to eat.
how they were getting along. Then
he turned suddenly and said: I can
promise you only one thing-the boy
won't be shot That was what
went for. The boy got a year of the
ball and chain, which was deserved
punishment, but his life was spared,
and he afterwards made brave rec
ord for himself in the battle of Look
out Mountains, ind in other fights"
What was there about Lincoln's
appearance that impressed you the
most?" Mr.. Cordner was asked.
Il think 1t was his eyes. He had
the most beautiful eyes l ever saw.
And when you looked into them you
forgot the man, and his homely ap-
pearance. You seemed to be looking
into the future. They were not
lively eyes, but they looked sad and
solemn. When a person saw Lin.
coin, he never forgot him, and he
never forgot his eyes,"
Another man who saw Lincoln was
Commander John W. Millett of the
local G. A. r. post. He served in
the Second Maine infantry, which was
one Of the. first regiments to arrive
In Washington, and camped on Meri-
dian Hill. The regiment was fire.
quently reviewed by the president,
who used to come out to the camp
and visit with the troops.
He was tall and gaunt," said Mr..
Millett, when asked If he recollected
Lincoln, "and somewhat unprepossess.
ing in appearance. He was evident
ly man of kindly disposition. He
took great interest in the soldiers
whom he always referred to as his
boys"
where were you when you heard
of Linc0lns assassination" he was
asked.
I'VE heard of the presidents assas-
sinatiOn when We were marching on
Montgomery, Ala, after the siege of
Mobile. We had barely heard of
the close of the war at that time. We
were long distance away, and there
were no means of communication ex-
cept for rebels returning from the
'front.' We were still fighting at Mo-
bile after Lee had surrendered al
Appomattox Court House. The news
of Lincoln's death was brought to
us by some rebel officers who came
over with flag of truce and gave us
the tidings Our boys felt pretty
bad when the heard the news. The
soldiers almost unanimously loved
Lincoln, almost idolized him. They
used to laugh at him and poke fun
about him. especially about his ap-
pearance on horseback remember
once when Lincoln and Mcclellan re-
viewed the troops. Mcclellan was
of fine military bearing and looked
every inch the general he was. Lin.
coin, however, was no horseman. He
rode with short stirrups, which drew
his knees almost up to his chin, and
his high stove pipe hat made him
look even taller than he was. He
rode at a trot and every time the
horse took a step forward he would
bounce half way out of the saddle.
But the boys loved him. They
knew him to be kind, considerate for
their welfare, and interested in them
at all times And they felt pretty
blue when they heard he had been
shot. Yes, and most of the rebels
grieved as deeply as did the Union
men,"
LADIES WERE PLEASED
With the stylish suits and coats they
bought at less than cost at the clos
ing out sale of A. w. Lucas company.
Sale continues Monday and Tuesday