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Francis B. Carpenter, Six Months at the White House, Xiv. (search)
d, would soon die. Promising the father that I would bear the case in mind, I improved an opportunity, as soon as I felt sure of having found favor with the President, to speak to him about it, I believe it was on the private staircase, that, meeting him one evening, I ventured to introduce the subject. I assured him of the entire good faith and loyalty of both father and son. Of course he had never heard of the case before. Considering the subject a moment, he said, Come up-stairs by-and-by, and I guess we can fix it up. An hour later I entered his room, and gave him very briefly the particulars of the case reading one or two letters from the young man to his father. That will do, said the President, putting on his spectacles, and taking the letter out of my hand, he turned it over and wrote on the back of it, Release this man upon his taking the oath. A. Lincoln. There, said he, you can take that over to the War Department yourself, if you choose. You will find it all right.
Francis B. Carpenter, Six Months at the White House, Xxxvii. (search)
y glad to claim connection, if I could do so honestly. Well, said the old gentleman, my name is Simmons. Abe and I used to live and work together when we were young men. Many a job of wood-cutting arid rail-splitting have I done up with him. Abe Lincoln, said he with emphasis, was the likeliest boy in God's world. He would work all day as hard as any of us — and study by firelight in the log-house half the night; and in this way he made himself a thorough practical surveyor. Once, during those days, I was in the upper part of the State, and I met General Ewing, whom President Jackson had sent to the Northwest to make surveys. I told him about Abe Lincoln, what a student he was, and that I wanted he should give him a job. He looked over his memoranda, and, pulling out a paper, said: There is — county must be surveyed; if your friend can do the work properly, I shall be glad to have him undertake it — the compensation will be six hundred dollars! Pleased as I could be, I hastene<
Francis B. Carpenter, Six Months at the White House, Xl. (search)
ntain his astonishment. What! said he, Abe Lincoln nominated for President of the United State curiosity to inquire of the landlord where Mr. Lincoln lived. While giving the necessary directio such a patriotic curiosity in a stranger. Mr. Lincoln received his salutations with cordiality, tnd accompanied him thither. Arriving at Mr. Lincoln's residence, he was introduced to Mrs. LinMrs. Lincoln and the two boys, and entered into conversation in relation to the Lincoln family of the Old Colony,--the Hingham General Lincoln of the Revolutionary army, and the two Worcester Lincolns, brother of those early families of his own name, Mr. Lincoln, with characteristic facetiousness, repliedgenealogy to so patriotic a source as old General Lincoln of the Revolution; though he wished he cothe necessary means. As he began to write, Mr. Lincoln approached, and tapping him on the shoulderhis safe return to the bosom of his family. A. Lincoln. This gave Mr. R. an excellent autograph o[5 more...]
Francis B. Carpenter, Six Months at the White House, Liii. (search)
intimate knowledge of the man. A nature of such tenderness and humanity would have been in danger of erring on what many would call the weak side, had it not been balanced by an unusual degree of strong practical good sense and judgment. The Secretary of War, and generals in command, were frequently much annoyed at being overruled,--the discipline and efficiency of the service being thereby, as they considered, greatly endangered. But there was no going back of the simple signature, A. Lincoln, attached to proclamation or reprieve. My friend Kellogg, representative from Essex County, New York, received a despatch one evening from the army, to the effect that a young townsman, who had been induced to enlist through his instrumentality, had, for a serious misdemeanor, been convicted by a court-martial, and was to be shot the next day. Greatly agitated, Mr. Kellogg went to the Secretary of War, and urged, in the strongest manner, a reprieve. Stanton was inexorable. Too many c
Francis B. Carpenter, Six Months at the White House, Lxviii. (search)
additional number of brigadier and major-generals. Among the immense number of applications, Mr. Lincoln came upon one wherein the claims of a certain worthy (not in the service at all) for a generalship were glowingly set forth. But the applicant didn't specify whether he wanted to be brigadier or majorgeneral. The President observed this difficulty, and solved it by a lucid indorsement. The clerk, on receiving the paper again, found written across its back: Major-General, I reckon. A. Lincoln. A juvenile Brigadier from New York, with a small detachment of cavalry, having imprudently gone within the Rebel lines near Fairfax Court House, was captured by guerillas. Upon the fact being reported to Mr. Lincoln, he said that he was very sorry to lose the horses! What do you mean? inquired his informant. Why, rejoined the President, I can make a better brigadier any day; but those horses cost the government a hundred and twenty-five dollars a head! Mr. Lincoln sometimes
William H. Herndon, Jesse William Weik, Herndon's Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life, Etiam in minimis major, The History and Personal Recollections of Abraham Lincoln by William H. Herndon, for twenty years his friend and Jesse William Weik, Chapter 1. (search)
oughout the South, and known as poor whites. They are happily and vividly depicted in the description of a camp-meeting held at Elizabethtown, Kentucky, in 1806, which was furnished me in August, 1865, by an eye-witness. J. B. Helm, Ms. The Hanks girls, narrates the latter, were great at camp-meetings. I remember one in 1806. I will give you a scene, and if you will then read the books written on the subject you may find some apology for the superstition that was said to be in Abe Lincoln's character. It was at a camp-meeting, as before said, when a general shout was about to commence. Preparations were being made; a young lady invited me to stand on a bench by her side where we could see all over the altar. To the right a strong, athletic young man, about twenty-five years old, was being put in trim for the occasion, which was done by divesting him of all apparel except shirt and pants. On the left a young lady was being put in trim in much the same manner, so that he
William H. Herndon, Jesse William Weik, Herndon's Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life, Etiam in minimis major, The History and Personal Recollections of Abraham Lincoln by William H. Herndon, for twenty years his friend and Jesse William Weik, Chapter 2. (search)
hip, after some practice, became so regular in form that it excited the admiration of other and younger boys. One of the latter Joseph C. Richardson, said that Abe Lincoln was the best penman in the neighborhood. At Richardson's request he made some copies for practice. During my visit to Indiana I met Richardson, who showed these two lines, which Abe had prepared for him: Good boys who to their books apply will all be great men by and by. To comprehend Mr. Lincoln fully we must know in substance not only the facts of his origin, but also the manner of his development. It will always be a matter of wonder to the American people, I have no doubt — as it has been to methat from such restricted and unpromising opportunities in early life, Mr. Lincoln grew into the great man he was. The foundation for his education was laid in Indiana and in the little town of New Salem in Illinois, and in both places he gave evidence of a nature and characteristics that distinguished him from ev
William H. Herndon, Jesse William Weik, Herndon's Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life, Etiam in minimis major, The History and Personal Recollections of Abraham Lincoln by William H. Herndon, for twenty years his friend and Jesse William Weik, Chapter3. (search)
. The first time I ever remember of seeing Abe Lincoln, is the testimony of one of his neighbors,ecame apparent that Grigsby was too much for Lincoln's man, Johnston. After they had fought a lon Crawford gave me as a souvenir of my visit. Lincoln had often used it himself, she said. The queIn the discussion of all these grave subjects Lincoln took a deep interest.--Blue Nose, as Abe had literary feature as affording us a glimpse of Lincoln's boyhood days may to a certain extent grate ated at the outset, I intend to keep close to Lincoln all the way through. Some writers would probiew to take of history. If we expect to know Lincoln thoroughly we must be prepared to take him ase same day married The original chapter in Lincoln's handwriting came to light in a singular manhat the waiters had been carefully drilled by Lincoln in advance for the parts they were to performled, was merciless in satire. In after years Lincoln, when driven to do so, used this weapon of ri[2 more...]
William H. Herndon, Jesse William Weik, Herndon's Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life, Etiam in minimis major, The History and Personal Recollections of Abraham Lincoln by William H. Herndon, for twenty years his friend and Jesse William Weik, Chapter 5. (search)
o laid the ground off for the government many years before. So fairly and well had the young surveyor done his duty that all parties went away completely satisfied. As late as 1865 the corner was preserved by a mark and pointed out to strangers as an evidence of the young surveyor's skill. Russell Godby, mentioned in the earlier pages of this chapter, presented to me a certificate of survey given to him by Lincoln. It was written January 14, 1834, and is signed J. Calhoun, S. S. C., by A. Lincoln. The survey was made by Lincoln, says Godby, and I gave him as pay for his work two buckskins, which Hannah Armstrong foxed on his pants so that the briers would not wear them out. Honors were now crowding thick and fast upon him. On May 7, 1833, he was commissioned postmaster at New Salem, the first office he ever held under the Federal Government. The salary was proportionate to the amount of business done. Whether Lincoln solicited the appointment himself, or whether it was given
William H. Herndon, Jesse William Weik, Herndon's Lincoln: The True Story of a Great Life, Etiam in minimis major, The History and Personal Recollections of Abraham Lincoln by William H. Herndon, for twenty years his friend and Jesse William Weik, Chapter 9. (search)
egradation or a fight were the only alternatives, he would fight. In the afternoon Shields and Whiteside arrived, and very soon the former sent to Mr. Lincoln, by the latter, the following note or letter:-- Tremont, September 17, 1842. A. Lincoln, Esq.:--I regret that my absence on public business compelled me to postpone a matter of private consideration a little longer than I could have desired. It will only be necessary, however, to account for it by informing you that I have been ty morning, that he might endeavor to bring Mr. Shields to reason. On Monday morning he called and presented Mr. Lincoln the same note as Mr. Butler says he had brought on Saturday evening. It was as follows:-- Tremont, September 17, 1842. A. Lincoln, Esq.:-- In your reply to my note of this date, you intimate that I assume facts and menace consequences, and that you cannot submit to answer it further. As now, sir, you desire it, I will be a little more particular. The editor of the
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