Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-02-12

GERS 20 organize them promptly
would return and finish the work. 81
not, ! would abandon u aud go home.
Lincoln was greatly panied at the
development, but he understood that
q change OF military officers at Har.
risburs such a. this occasion Hcemed
70 demand would involve serious 90
litical complications. lie vas OF an
things most DESTROYS to strengthen
cur shattered armies, ana u was ovi-
dent very soon that he meant TO do so
IN some way, but without 0nonse 70
the political power that controlled she
military assignments az Harrisburg.
Without intlmatlng his solution OF
the problem he rang his bell and in
EiruCted his messenger TO bring Adj
iutant General Thomas 10 the oxecu,
tive chamber Soon after the adiutint
general appeared ana Lincoln said
General. what is The military rank OF
the senior officer at Harrisburg2p 70
which the adiutant general replied,
Captain, sir" and naming the officer
Lincoln promptly said In reply.
Bring me commission Immediately
FOR Alexander X. Mcclure as assist MT
adiutant general OF the United States
volunteers with the rank Of major I"
The adiusant general bowed himself
out, when / Immediately said to Tin
coin that I could not consent to be
subject to arbitrary military orders
that ] desired no compensation for
The work ! performed and ! must De.
cline the honor he proposed to confof
upon me.
In his quiet way he replied: well.
Mcclure, try my way ] think that
viii get the troops on without delay
and without ,ropding on anybodys
tues. / think II YOU viii take your
commission back to Harrisburg, call
upon the captain IN command there TO
muster you into the service OF the
United States and show him your as
signmont 90 duty there you will have
nc trouble whatever In getting he
troops organized and forwarded as
rapidly as you wish. Now try il, won't
you?"
saw the wisdom OF the suggestion
end well understood why the president
desired to avoid The offense that Would
have been given by the removal OF the
military officers, and ! aGreed tD try
bis plan. When ! returned TO Harris
| burg the next day ! sent for the senior
officer 10 come 20 my Office. He came
In with all the dignity and arrogance
OF an offended Caesar and spoke 20
me with bare civlllty,
! quietly handed him my commits
sion, requested him to muster me into
/ The military service and also exit off,
/ cd the order assigning me for duty az
/ harrisburg. When he saw nay com
mission his hat was Immediately re-
moved and he was as uhsequous az he
lad been insolent before
When he had finished mastering ne
into the service I said TO him: II pre-
sumo YOU understand what this means
| don't propose 10 make any display
Of military authority or 20 interfere
with anything except that which
have Immediately In hand. There must
be q regiment Of troops mustered and
forwarded from this state every day
until the troops In camp are all sent
/ TO the field. Good morning" he i'm.
mediately bowed himself out saluting
IN military atyle as ne aid So q grace
That | had not yet mastered sufficient.
~ TO return. and from that day until
the camps WIS emptied Of eonscripts q
regiment of troops was mustered daily
and forwarded TO Washington.
That was the only military author
ity ] ever exercised. and few knew OF
the military dignity / had so suddenly
attained. When the troops were for.
warded to the field and the accounts
settled | resigned my commission as
quietly as | received Il and sent my
resignation 10 the president. who as
he had voluntarily promised, ordered
It's Immediate acceptance.
The officer who was thus SO unex-
pectcdly superseded and who was so
promptly made 10 render efficient SER
vice 20 the country by Iinc0ln's al.
mirable strategy IS no longer among
the living, and J omit HIS name. lie
learned how Lincoln could discipline
q soldier, and he proiited by the les.
son
Senator cullon's Estimate OF Llneoln's
Appearances.
Mr.. Lincoln was regarded generally
aE an ungainly man, and yet on oc-
caslons he appeared TO me to be supe.
rior In dignity and nobility TO almost
any other man whom ! have ever
seen. ! was present when the com.
ntteo fro mthe national convention
that gave him his ilrst nomination FOR
president came 90 springfield 10 no.
tlty him OF his nomination. / remem-
Ter that he stood IN the rear OF tho
double parlor Of his home. ana a. Hon
George r. Ashman. president Of me
convention, presented the delegation
one by one 60 him I thought that he
looked the superior man that he was
10 any one uroapnt