''Abe'' Lincoln's Yarns and Stories - University of Macau Library

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 10he made Marshal of the District of Columbia to have him by his side, wasone with whom he felt entirely "at home." Davis was of a more sober orderbut loved Lincoln's humor, although utterly incapable of a humorousexpression himself. Swett was ready with Lincoln to give and take instoryland, as was Lamon, and either of them, and sometimes all of them,often dropped in upon Lincoln and gave him an hour's diversion from hisexacting cares. They knew that he needed it and they sought him for thepurpose of diverting him from what they feared was an excessive strain.His devotion to Lamon was beautiful. I well remember at Harrisburg on thenight of February 22, 1861, when at a dinner given by Governor Curtin toMr. Lincoln, then on his way to Washington, we decided, against theprotest of Lincoln, that he must change his route to Washington and makethe memorable midnight journey to the capital. It was thought to be bestthat but one man should accompany him, and he was asked to choose.There were present of his suite Colonel Sumner, afterwards one of theheroic generals of the war, Norman B. Judd, who was chairman of theRepublican State Committee of Illinois, Colonel Lamon and others, and hepromptly chose Colonel Lamon, who alone accompanied him on hisjourney from Harrisburg to Philadelphia and thence to Washington.Before leaving the room Governor Curtin asked Colonel Lamon whether hewas armed, and he answered by exhibiting a brace of fine pistols, a hugebowie knife, a black jack, and a pair of brass knuckles. Curtin answered:"You'll do," and they were started on their journey after all the telegraphwires had been cut. We awaited through what seemed almost an endlessnight, until the east was purpled with the coming of another day, whenColonel Scott, who had managed the whole scheme, reunited the wires andsoon received from Colonel Lamon this dispatch: "Plums delivered nutssafely," which gave us the intensely gratifying information that Lincoln hadarrived in Washington.Of all the Presidents of the United States, and indeed of all the greatstatesmen who have made their indelible impress upon the policy of theRepublic, Abraham Lincoln stands out single and alone in his individualqualities. He had little experience in statesmanship when he was called to