Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-08-05
LINCOLN BODY GUARD
DESCRIBES
OF LOVED PRESIDENT

Yes. I am one of the few men liv-
ing who have had personal relations
with Abraham Lincoln, and perhaps
the only one living who is telling the
recently stated by Hon. Smith Slim
mel. Of Fargo, N. ID.
Mr.. Stimmel. a practicing lawyer,
is 72 years old, but looks and appears
much younger. He is the possessor Of
a certificate issued from the war de-
he served in Abraham Lincoln's body
guard from October. 1863. until the
time of the presidents death.
you ask how l got the appoint
ment?" he continued. 1T was in this
way. Late in the summer of '63 Gov
ernor Todd. of Ohio, visited Wash
ington, n vas impressed with the
fact that the president was not suf-
ficiently we'll protected. He applied
Immediately to the war department
for permission to raise a body guard
from the state of Ohio. This request
was granted and The governor at once
sent out a circular letter to the mill
tary committee OF the different coun-
ties asking for recommendations. l
was 10 years old at hat time and had
been in service during the previous
year. This seemed my nance to re-
enlist. So 1 applied for the appoint
ment and was accepted.
w were 100 strong. all from
Ohio. and 1 was one of the youngest
of the We entered on our
duties in October, which We're to
guard the east and e gates lead
ing to the White House and to escort
thu president whenever he left the
| White House grounds. He didn't take
very kindly to this, l understand, and
was once reported as saying: i don't
see why 1 have to have a lot of SOL
diers trailing o after me- More
over, he fatty refused to be escorted
whenever he went to the church or the
he alone would take the responsibility.
People some times ask me why this
guard of 100 picked men allowed tho
president to be assassinated. The
chances are the tragedy would have
never occurred had we been on duty
that night Of April IA. AS it was, his
footman was supposed to guard the
door to his box. He was a careless
fellow evidently, n a strolled
down h aisle to watch the play.
which left the door unprotected, so
that Booth was able to enter.
Did we a any personal relations
with the president? Now and then we
did. Sometimes when he was going
driving, he would have to wait for
Mrs. Lincoln, and so would stand
around among us fellows and pass the
time of day. Mrs. Lincoln. too, was
Il AWAY lCIloky hlIo OASCil saw No q
pleasant nod and smile. though / don't
remember that she Yer spoke directly
to us. Fol some reason h disliked
Secretary Seward, and l shall never
forget hearing her say to the president
one morning in the most emphatic way.
II won't drive past Stewards house.
won't do it, At which MIR. Lincoln
calmly ordered the coachman to drive
down a different street than the one
he had previously named.
I'VE learned to know Abraham Lin
coin better in escorting him to and
from the Soldiers ~home-outside the
city limits. He used to drive out there
late in the afternoon or early in the
evening to spend the night, during the
summer. He could sleep better there,
so he said. At the Soldiers home he
was off duty and used to stroll around
the grounds with his hands in his poclS-
cts and chat with the officers. Then,
perhaps, he would come down to our
tents, look i'm at the doors and ask 1T
we were comfortable. or now and then