Part 43 (2/2)

”NO PLACING THORNS IN THE SIDE OF MY WORST ENEMY!”

The Free Const.i.tution of Maryland was the work of Lincoln. His and its supporters made a party to go to Was.h.i.+ngton and congratulate the President on the victory. They had a band and serenaded him in the White House until he came forth. But he said, to the dampening of their ardor, when the cheering had subsided:

”My friends, I appreciate this honor very highly, but I am very sorry to see you rejoice over the defeat of those opposed to us. It is furthest from my desire to place a thorn in any one's side, though he be my worst enemy.”--(Recited by Mr. Hy. G. Willis, Baltimore, in the _Sun_ of that city.)

THE LINCOLN PLAN OF CAMPAIGN.

This historical doc.u.ment promised at one time to be a problem like the Sibilline Leaves or Czar Peter's will. But Secretary H. C. Whitney declares that it existed as he had it laid before him by the strategist.

”Running his long forefinger down the map of Virginia, he said: 'We must drive them away from here (Mana.s.sas Gap, where indeed were fights over the keystone), and clear them out of this part of the State, so that they cannot threaten them here (Was.h.i.+ngton) and get into Maryland.' (Unfortunately, the rebels did threaten Was.h.i.+ngton right on and entered Maryland and Pennsylvania, as late as July, 1863, and by a cavalry raid, a year later.)

”'We must keep up a good and thorough blockade of their ports. We must march an army into East Tennessee and liberate the Union sentiment there. (This was not finally done till the end of 1864.)

”'Finally, we must rely on the (Southern) people growing tired, and saying to their leaders: ”We have had enough of this thing, and will bear it no longer.”'”

In 1862, a year after, Lincoln says to McClellan: ”We have distinct and different plans for a movement of the Army of the Potomac: yours to be down the Chesapeake, etc.; mine, to move directly to the point on the railroads southwest of Mana.s.sas. (He hugs his original idea.)... In case of disaster, would not a retreat be more difficult by your plan than mine?” You see the prudence in him esteemed ignorant and consequently blindly rash. All this amounted to nothing when the President trusted fully to Grant as his lieutenant.

THE COMMANDER SHOULD OBEY ORDERS.

The President at Fort Stevens was the mark for a rebel battery.

A colonel in command was diffident about ordering the superior about, but he was averse to letting the ”dare” bring on a fatality, as the sharpshooters had an easy b.u.t.t in the Lincoln exceptional figure.

So he took the advice of Mr. Registrar Chittenden, on the staff, and bade the President retire, or he would move him by a file of men.

”And you would do quite right, my boy!” acquiesced the chief.

”I should be the last man to set an example of disobedience.”

THE IDLERS EQUALED THE EFFECTIVES.

During a review of General Howard's corps on the Rappahannock, in April, 1863, President Lincoln noticed, whether his eyes were ”unmilitary or not,” that a very numerous ma.s.s of men were spectators, though wearing a semisoldierly look and clothes. They were, in fact, the inevitable hangers-on of an army, the more in number, as the escaped slaves were welcomed by the soldiers, as they made them do their dirty work. The commanding general explained that they were ”the cooks, the bottle-washers, and the n.i.g.g.e.r waiters.” They had come out to see the President.

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