- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Location
- Central Massachusetts
During the 1909 centenary of Lincoln’s birth newspapers across the country, printed literally thousands of accounts, short and long, from ordinary people who had seen, met, interacted with the great man. Many of these accounts are simple and unassuming: “I saw him passing in his carriage, and he nodded to me.” A memorable moment in an aging man’s memory. A few tell of historically noteworthy incidents. But most fall somewhere in between, and reveal a little bit about the long-dead President, and more, perhaps, about the man or woman telling the story. All of them, I think, reveal a great deal about how America have come to “remember” our 16th President.
The February 12, 1909 issue of the Boston Globe, for instance, printed four full 8-column pages, more than 110 individual stories from “Living New England Men who Saw Lincoln.” In this thread I’m going to post a selection of recollections from that issue. Old men remembering, sometimes, perhaps, misremembering a brief moment 45 or more years in the past … memories that they brought home with them, and helped shape our perception of Abraham Lincoln.
George S. Ayer of Saco, Maine, met Abraham Lincoln twice. The first time was in December, 1861, when he went to Washington escorting some prisoners from the post at Relay House, on the B&O railroad [Md]. He was accompanied by his brother, S. P. Ayer, and George Fernald, both members of his company, and both still living in Saco in 1909. They traveled all over the city, visiting points of interest, and finally were ushered into the White House.
[That simple, intimate gesture, as he “placed my hand in his, and put his other hand over mine,” could seal a passing, otherwise insignificant moment, into any man's memory.]
Freeman E.Hodge
Freeman E. Hodge, of Amesbury, Mass., once a young soldier of Company K, 3rd Vermont Infantry, recalls:
Private William Scott [Wikimedia image]
We have had several discussions of the case of “The Sleeping Sentinel” here on CWT. I offer just one:
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/the-sleeping-sentinel.72056/#post-451278
For the full story of William Scott, see:
http://www.grotonvt.com/AboutGroton/Groton Sleeping Sentinel.htm
The Swampscott River, at Exeter, N.H.
During the war, William Wainwright of Lawrence, Mass., had been a member of the crew of the U.S.S. Kearsarge. But, his recollection of Abraham Lincoln dates from before the war, when he was a young lad living in Exeter, N.H.
Of Mr Wainwright, the newspaper notes, “to his regret he failed to retain the broken alder pole.”
Robert Todd Lincoln had flunked his entrance exam to Harvard in 1859, so he spent a year “rusticating” at Phillips Exeter Academy. Lincoln took time from his speaking tour early in 1860 to visit his son in Exeter. He spent three days in the town speaking at a Republican rally as well as, pulling eels from the Swampscott River. Robert entered Harvard that fall with a 93% score on his exam.
William Wainwright left an account of his time on the U.S.S. Kearsarge; it is frequently quoted in William Marvel’s The Alabama and the Kearsarge.
William F. Thayer
To some aging veterans their friendship with Abraham Lincoln seemed to grow with the passing years. Their enthusiasm for the great man sometimes seemed to run away with them … just a little bit. 95 year-old William F. Thayer, of Cohasset, Mass., for instance …
I expect many a youngster enjoyed listening to old Mr Thayer tell his tales.
More to come!
The February 12, 1909 issue of the Boston Globe, for instance, printed four full 8-column pages, more than 110 individual stories from “Living New England Men who Saw Lincoln.” In this thread I’m going to post a selection of recollections from that issue. Old men remembering, sometimes, perhaps, misremembering a brief moment 45 or more years in the past … memories that they brought home with them, and helped shape our perception of Abraham Lincoln.
George S. Ayer of Saco, Maine, met Abraham Lincoln twice. The first time was in December, 1861, when he went to Washington escorting some prisoners from the post at Relay House, on the B&O railroad [Md]. He was accompanied by his brother, S. P. Ayer, and George Fernald, both members of his company, and both still living in Saco in 1909. They traveled all over the city, visiting points of interest, and finally were ushered into the White House.
President Lincoln arose, shook each man by the hand, gave him a kindly greeting and a smile, and then passed out of the room. Said Mr Ayer:
“He looked as if he was carrying a heavy weight on his shoulders. His face was sad, and when he stood up as he shook hands he seemed to be looking a long ways off, as if his mind was far away.”
“The next time I saw him was when I was in White Church hospital in the fall of ‘62. He came along to my cot, placed my hand in his, and put his other hand over mine. He stooped down to my ear, and asked my name and where I was hurt. He seemed solicitous of my welfare, his voice was soft, but clear. He expressed the wish that I would soon be able to rejoin my regiment.
“I shall never forget how he looked as he made the rounds of the ward. His face was different from any that I have seen before or since. Mrs Lincoln made frequent visits to the hospital and always brought fruit or flowers for the soldier boys. She came that time with Lincoln, and after he had spoken to each man she distributed fruit and flowers among the soldiers.”
[That simple, intimate gesture, as he “placed my hand in his, and put his other hand over mine,” could seal a passing, otherwise insignificant moment, into any man's memory.]
Freeman E. Hodge, of Amesbury, Mass., once a young soldier of Company K, 3rd Vermont Infantry, recalls:
“Yes, I have seen Lincoln on several occasions -- the first of which, however, if the most lasting in my memory, due to the circumstances under which I saw him. It was in the fall of 1861, on the Virginia side of Chain Bridge, which spanned the Potomac. William Scott, ‘the sleeping sentinel,’ a member of my company, had been sentenced to be shot. He had been on picket duty one night, and the following night one of the men who was to do similar duty having been ill, he offered to substitute for him, and while performing this duty under the strain of two nights in succession he fell asleep.
“Scott was court-martialed and condemned to death. The day had arrived for his execution when President Lincoln drove out in an open barouche and suspended sentence, grantingthe man a pardon. It was on this visit of the President that I first saw and met him.
“A number in the group, of which I, a boy of 16, was one, said that they would like to shake him by the hand as he alighted from his carriage. The President having been informed of the fact, stretched out both his hands and for a while was shaking hands with all. I pressed forward and grasped him by the hand at this time. He gave us soldiers who were near a most cordial greeting, and talked and laughed most heartily with us all.
“I have seen it published not long ago that this story of William Scott was a myth. It appeared in a magazine article. I was a tent-mate of Scott all the following winter, and was with my company in a retreat at Lee’s Mills, when Scott in wading a stream was riddled with bullets by the rebs. Four companies were present at the time, and of 201men, 97 were killed.”
We have had several discussions of the case of “The Sleeping Sentinel” here on CWT. I offer just one:
https://civilwartalk.com/threads/the-sleeping-sentinel.72056/#post-451278
For the full story of William Scott, see:
http://www.grotonvt.com/AboutGroton/Groton Sleeping Sentinel.htm
During the war, William Wainwright of Lawrence, Mass., had been a member of the crew of the U.S.S. Kearsarge. But, his recollection of Abraham Lincoln dates from before the war, when he was a young lad living in Exeter, N.H.
“I cannot remember the exact year. Lincoln came to Exeter to see his son, Bob, who was a student at the academy. I was fishing on the bulkhead of the raceway of the mill on the river, which runs through Exeter. I had two poles and the eels were biting pretty fast. I heard someone climbing over the fence which surrounded the property. I thought that it was one of the boys, until a strange man came along side of me and sat down on the bulkhead. He said that he had been watching me from the bridge and that I seemed to be pretty busy.
“I replied that I was and when he said that he enjoyed fishing I offered him one of my alder poles. He remained about 20 minutes pulling out the eels until the pole, which he was using, broke. The stranger offered to pay for it, but I would accept nothing. He then went away.
“That night there was a meeting in the town hall and when I went I found that my fellow fisherman of the afternoon was Abraham Lincoln, speaker of the occasion.”
Of Mr Wainwright, the newspaper notes, “to his regret he failed to retain the broken alder pole.”
Robert Todd Lincoln had flunked his entrance exam to Harvard in 1859, so he spent a year “rusticating” at Phillips Exeter Academy. Lincoln took time from his speaking tour early in 1860 to visit his son in Exeter. He spent three days in the town speaking at a Republican rally as well as, pulling eels from the Swampscott River. Robert entered Harvard that fall with a 93% score on his exam.
William Wainwright left an account of his time on the U.S.S. Kearsarge; it is frequently quoted in William Marvel’s The Alabama and the Kearsarge.
To some aging veterans their friendship with Abraham Lincoln seemed to grow with the passing years. Their enthusiasm for the great man sometimes seemed to run away with them … just a little bit. 95 year-old William F. Thayer, of Cohasset, Mass., for instance …
“Did I know Abe Lincoln? Well, I guess I did. I can remember just how he looked and acted. He was the finest man I ever met except Grant. As commissary sergeant and later butcher of the regiment, I came in direct and constant contact with both of them for months, because they were always interested in the boys having good grub.
“Abe used to come down to camp very often and look over things. When he was pleased he just smiled, and such a kindly smile, you could never forget it. He used to chat with me and tell stories, which he was a dabster at. At first I naturally felt a little shy, he being the President, but he drove that away pretty quick. One had to get familiar with him. He always had his head full of something in the way of fun. But when he was serious it was the genuine article.
“I mounted a heap of rails with him many a time, while he looked over the camp. The rails were piled up from fences to get them out of the way of maneuvers. He liked to get on something high to get a view.
“Abe was anything but a still man; he was always on the move. But he always took time to talk and joke with the men and tell them stories. Everyone always had a good laugh, which acted like a tonic. The men always welcomed him to the camp, in fact looked forward to his coming with great pleasure. I know I did.
“”I have treated him with cigars many a time, though he was not an excessive smoker. He put them in his pocket, and doubtless gave them away to the boys before he left camp. Grant, however, smoked all the cigars I gave him.”
I expect many a youngster enjoyed listening to old Mr Thayer tell his tales.
More to come!
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