Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1915-07-20
with Lincoln At Gettvsburo

With Lincoln at GettySouf0
Among the interesting passages In
John Hays war time diary, printed in
Harper's Magazine, is Hays vivid &C
count of the Presidents visit to Get
tysburg and the delivery Of the famous
Gettysburg address.
ION our train were the President,
Seward, Usher and Blair; Nicolay and
myself; Merciar and Admiral Ray
maud; Bertinatti and Captain 1sola,
and Lieutenant Martinez; Cora and
Mrs. Wise; Wayne MacVeagh; Nc
Dougal, of Canada, and one tor two
others. We had pleasant sort of a
trip. At Baltimore Schencks staff
joined us.
"Just before we arrived at Gettys-
burg the President got into little talk
with MacVeagh about Missouri affairs.
MacVeagh talked radicalism until he
learned he was talking recklessly.
cat Gettysburg the President went
to Mr. Willis's, who expected him, and
our party broke like drop of quick"
silver spilled. MacVeagh, young Stan
ton and / foraged around for a while,
got some oysters, then some supper,
and finally, loafiing round to the court
house, where Lamon was holding a
meeting of marshals, we found FOrney,
and went around to his place, Mr..
Fahnestock's, and drank little whis-
key with him. He had been driking a
good deal during the day, and was get
ting to feel q little ugly and dangerous.
He was particularly bitter on Mont
gomery Blair. MacVeagh was telling
him that he pitched into the Tycoon
coming UP and told him some truths.
He said the President got good deal
of that, from time to time, and needed
it.
awe went out after while, follow
ing the music to hear the serenades.
The President appeared at the door,
said half dozen words meaning moth
ing, and went in. Seward, who was
staying around the corner at Harper's,
was called out and spoke so indis-
tinctly that l did not hear a word of
what he was saying. Forney and Mac
Veagh were still growing about Blair.
We went back to Forney's room, hay
ing picked up Nicolay, and drank
more whiskey. Nicolay sang his little
song of 1.-THE Three Thieves" and we
then sang John Brown" At last we
proposed that Forney should make a
speech, and two or three started out
= to get a band to serenade him.
I stayed with him; SO did Stanton and
He still growled, quietly.
and thought he was going to do some
thing imprudent'
"Then follows an account of the SER
enade and of the bibulous Forney's
speech, in which in tipsy fashion he
mingled drollery and gravity. When
the crowd greeted him noisily he said:
"'My friends, these are the first
hearty cheers l have heard tonight.
You gave no such cheers to your Pres
dent down the street. Do you knew
what you owe to that great man? You
1--WE your cOuntry-you owe your name
IS American citizens Mr.. Hay adds:
"'W. MacVeagh made most touch.
ng and beautiful squirt of five min.
ties, and Judge Stevenson, of Penn
;ylvania, spoke effectively and accept
ably to the people. That speech (of
Eorney's) must not be written out yet,'
says Young as we went upstairs. Tie
will see further about it when he gets
SOBER We sang John Brown and
vent home
quite Shakesperean is this low
omedy interlude, coming just before
he stately scene of conservation. Per-
laps, after all, nature sometimes en-
Hates Shakespeare.
"'In the morning (of the 18th, Hay
ontinues) got beast and rode out
With the President and suite to the
emetery in the procession. The pro-
essiOn formed itsef in an orphan]y
ort of way and moved out with very
title help from anybody; and after
title delay Mr.. Everett took his place
n the stand, and Mr.. Stockton made
prayer which thought it was an ora
ion, and Mr. Everett spoke as he al
'ays does--perfectly; and the Presi-
ent, in a firm, free way, with more,
race than is his wont, said his half
oxen lines of conservation; and the
lusic walled, and we went home
trough the crowded and cheering
;reets.'"