The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-08
"HE Twelfth New York Regiment. I

~-nE Twelfth New York Regiment.
ll6O strong. was among the first
that reached Washington on the
breaking out of hostilities in
1861. The rcgimental organization in
cluucd an engineer company commanded
hy benjamin s. Church, and quarters
were assigned to II i'm Franklin Square,
where Capt. Church was ordered to
cr.,t huts and board barracks in the
form Of a regulation military camp. 1t
v,. chrstcned Camp Anderson and
rr.,.d % shelter to many another rcgi-
moot during the war.
Ouc bright morning in May. 1861, be-
fore the first advance over Long Bridge
into Virginia young Capt. Church was
IN his hut absorbed in an attempt to
..,lum an abstract treatise on the art
.f war. The shanty fronted the side
va,l, at the corner Of X and Fourteenth
streets \ sentinel entered and pre-
s,rt,d card reading Mr.. Abraham
Lincoln" with the request that Capt.
church would speak with the caller.
Hastily slipping on his accoutrements
IA, hurried out and found the President
Sitting alone in his carriage, an open
.J.llu. with sombre horses and colorcd
Goodman. With a kindly smile and
outstrctched hand the President greeted
him.
Captain" he said, two Of your
relatives who are on Gen. SCOTS stan.
Gen. schuyler Hamilton and Gen. Henry
Van Rensselaer,, tell me you are one OF
tn, engineers on the New York water
works and that you probably know
-omcjhing about a particular kind of
pump called the Worthington pump. 1t
has been doing service at the White
House. But latterly II has refused to
work 1t has turned rebel. With no
water for the plumbing l fear sickness
IN the household.
None of the plumbers in Washington
seems to understand the mechanism.
But since you are from New York am
vcnturing to hope YOU may have the re-
CURED knowledge and will he able to
put US in the way Of all needed infor-
nation. Will you come and give the
benefit of your judkment?"
The Captain replied that he would fol.
low him at once to the White House
and do his utmost to relieve the situa-
ton.
NO no." said the President. Come
with me in the carriage. Jump in and
", viii drive over
On the way he inquired earnestly con.
corning the regiment and the New York
state military organization and said
that he had seen many of the evening
parades Of the regiment and considered
1t a. efficient in drill as the regulars
Mr. Lincolns geniality speedily relieved
all natural embarrassment of the young
officer and before the end Of the short
drive he was wholly at ease and on
friendly terms with the President.
They drove up to the rear Of the
Executive Mansion and went direct to
the pump room. The Captain recog-
nized the pump as one of the Worthing.
ton make. known as the reciprocating
pump Its mechanism was OF the
simplest form. but mysterious to those
unacquainted with the principles on
which it operated. The Tugs of the
valve rod. thrown by an arm on the
piston rod, required nice adjustment.
An examination showed that the rods Of
the binding screws were worn, allowing
them to get out OF place.
The Captain remarked that with two
monkey wrenches and some thin strips
II lead he could himself put It in work
ne order. The tools were brought, and
Mr. Lincoln said
Take of your coat, Captain" himself
setting the example.
Wrenches in hand. the President
under the direction Of the young officer
fell To work tinkering with the valve
rod and screws. The steam was put on
ana If for frequent trials until adjust
ment was finally secured. The Presi-
dent caught the idea readily and
displayed considerable mechanical apti-
tudc.
"a little forward on your side. Mr.,
President There. there. gently-not
TOO much" Capt Church would say.