The inner life of Abraham Lincoln : $b Six months at the White HouseCarpenter, F. B. (Francis Bicknell)
History
The inner life of Abraham Lincoln : $b Six months at the White House
Carpenter, F. B. (Francis Bicknell)
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Anecdotes; Presidents -- United States -- Anecdotes
The Hon. Orlando Kellogg, of New York, was sitting in his room at his
boarding-house one evening, when one of his constituents appeared,--a
white-headed old man,--who had come to Washington in great trouble,
to seek the aid of his representative in behalf of his son. His story
was this: “The young man had formerly been very dissipated. During an
absence from home a year or two previous to the war, he enlisted in the
regular army, and, after serving six months, deserted. Returning to
his father, who knew nothing of this, he reformed his habits, and when
the war broke out, entered heart and soul into the object of raising a
regiment in his native county, and was subsequently elected one of its
officers. He had proved an efficient officer, distinguishing himself
particularly on one occasion, in a charge across a bridge, when he
was severely wounded,--his colonel being killed by his side. Shortly
after this, he came in contact with one of his old companions in the
‘regular’ service, who recognized him, and declared his purpose of
informing against him. Overwhelmed with mortification, the young man
procured a furlough and returned home, revealing the matter to his
father, and declaring his purpose never to submit to an arrest,--‘he
would die first.’” In broken tones the old man finished his statement,
saying: “Can you do anything for us, Judge?--it is a hard, hard
case!” “I will see about that,” replied the representative, putting
on his hat; “wait here until I return.” He went immediately to the
White House, and fortunately finding Mr. Lincoln alone, they sat down
together, and he repeated the old man’s story. The President made
no demonstration of particular interest until the Judge reached the
description of the charge across the bridge, and the wound received.
“Do you say,” he interrupted, “that the young man was wounded?” “Yes,”
replied the congressman, “badly.” “Then he has shed his blood for his
country,” responded Mr. Lincoln, musingly. “Kellogg,” he continued,
brightening up, “isn’t there something in Scripture about the ‘shedding
of blood’ being ‘the remission of sins?’” “Guess you are about right
there,” replied the Judge. “It is a good ‘point,’ and there is no going
behind it,” rejoined the President; and taking up his pen, another
“pardon”--this time without “oath,” condition, or reserve--was added to
the records of the War Office.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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