The Washington herald., 1914-06-21

Historfcally this was a notable visit.
lit was the first that had been paid, by
the President to the army since Grant
had taken command. Lincoln had last
seen Grant in Washington on April 25.
before The start Of the army on the
advance against Lees forces
Since then Grant had marched his
army across virginia from the Rapi-
dan to the James. in one of the blood
lest campaigns in history. He had
fought an almost continuous series of
fiercely contested battles. in which he
had lost more than 10000 men. and
had made no visible impression on the
smaller Confederate army under Gen.
Lee.
The slaughter in his campaign-in
which. since the army crossed the Rap
idan, there had not been a day without
skirmish or a battle-hzd made
Grant the chief subject of discussion In
the North. a Lincoln's political oppon-
ents denounced Grant as butcher. and
Lincoln as careless OF human life for
supporting Grant. Lincoln was now
a candidate for reelection, and such
campaign material for his opponents
made his prospects OF reelection
doubtful Only a great victory by the
Federal arms could make him strong.
il seemed: and Grant had won no such
victory. Lincoln might wen have been
despondent and might well have want
ed faith in Grant in such situation.
That he had not lost faith in Grant
his visit to the army at the earliest
OPPORTUNITY in the campaign that pre-
scented itself TO him, clearly demon
strated Lincoln had great faith in his
cause-greater than any other man
who bore a leading part of the burden
of the war-and It here shone forth
bright and clear.
His sagacity and his intuitive in
sight showed him that more progress
was being made by Grant than ap-
peared on the surface; that the plant
ing Of Grants army in front OF Peters
burg-eVen though the assaults against
that place, delivered from June Is to
Is had been badly handled and had
failed-was in fact the beginning OF
the end; that the test OF endurance
thus begun was to end the war.
Grant seems to- have foreseen this
also. He knew how much Lees army
was worn down by the campaigns thus
far. II does not appear that he tried
20 impart all he felt to Lincoln, nor
was II necessary that he should. Lin
coin saw and felt for himself enough
while at Petersburg, to satisfy him
self that Grant was on the right road.
and that he would he right In support
ing Grant. even though it cost him
the Presidency.
"SeasIcI ON shore"
Some pleasing stories have been pre-
served concerning Lpcoln's visit to the
army in front OF Petersburg. some show
ing the Presidents character and others
his true place in the great drama of the |
war.
When the President arrived on trans |
port steamer that had brought him di- :
kn had mi
from an attack OF seasickness
experienced in rough weather on Chesa- .
peake Bay. After greeting Gen. Grant I
who with some of his staff boarded the !
Presidents boat at City Point, the Presi- |
dent remarked that ne had been seasick 1
and was not yet quite himself. I
A Young officer suggested that as cham I
payne was considered cure for seasick- /
ness a glass might help Mr.. Lincoln; 1
whereupon Lincoln. with a kindly smile, /
said: NO. my friend. I've seen too many .
fellows seasick on shore from taking that ,
stun"
The President was extremely cordial in
rs greeting of Gen. Grant, shaking I
,iranrs hand vigorously and holding II
for some time. II Grant ever had any
doubt Of approval from the-head OF the
nation IL was diSpelled by this greeting.
Grants headquarters being at City Point,
and some of the positions Of the army in
front OF Petersburg being some eight
miles inland, IL was necessary for the
President to ride thither to see the
troops.
He was soon mounted on Gen. Grants
bay war horse Cincinnati. and accom-
panied by Gen. Grant mounted on his
black pony. Jeff Davis-the sturdy little
animal that had come from the planta-
lion of Joseph Davis, brother of jefferson
Davis. on the Mississippi, and had car
-ied Grant through the Vicksburg cam
Daign-set out for the front A party Of
stan officers was in attendance.
Lincoln ON Horseback.
The day was hot and the road very
iusty. Lincoln, wearing his tall hat and
black clothes, made a strange figure on
horseback among the uniforms of the Of
icers He rode well. though not care
'ully Soon the fine dust covered him
ike chalk and made him appear as IL
,lothed in Confederate gray.
AS Lincoln rode, his trousers. which
we're not strapped down. worked up the
egs of his boots to above the ankle,
living him the appearance ''of a coun-
ry farmer riding into town, wearing his
sunday clothes"
Such. at least. was the impression of
,ol. Horace Porter, who was a keen and
Tot unsympathetic witness Of the scene.
His description of the visit, in his
with Grant is charmingly
written
Charles A. Dana. Assistant Secretary
" War. and Admiral s. P. Lee. COM
handing the Federal feet in the James. !
we're in the party. Mr.. Dana notes in his
'Recollections'' that when Mr. Lincoln's
lat was knocked of by a branch some ,
amusement was afforded by the agility
With which Admiral Lee, although near
y ffty and always a sailor. dismounted
nd secured it, ahead Of the young off,
ers OF the staff.
A call was made at the headquarters
{ Gen. George G. Meade. commander OF !
he Army OF the Potomac. Reference is
made to it In Gen. Meades letters TO his {
rife, but not enthusiastically. IL APP s
ears that the President spoke of meet
az Mrs. Meade at Philadelphia on June
} (when there TO attend a soldiers fair).
t is not improbable that Gen. Meade
'as disturbed by the Presidents visit. :,
DR. he felt dissatisfied with the course !,
the campaign. in which all credit was !
eing given Grant. while his own ardu- \
us services as commander of the Army :
the Potomac were apparently over
'oked by the public and the administra
on. :
NegrOes Acclaim lincoln. :
Whenever lincoln approached camp.
le word passed along ahead of him
mong the soldiers. -Old Abe's colningt' :
Among the troops seen by the Presi-
ent was division OF negroes. in the :
Eighteenth Corps. that had won distinc- v
on for hard fighting in an assault on
etersburg. ei
Lincoln particularly wished to see these : :