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

Yarns and Stories, by Alexander K. McClure 178of McClellan.'"I believe Lincoln was mistaken in his distrust of Grant."JUSTICE vs. NUMBERS.Lincoln was constantly bothered by members of delegations of"goody-goodies," who knew all about running the War, but had no insideinformation as to what was going on. Yet, they poured out their advice instreams, until the President was heartily sick of the whole business, andwished the War would find some way to kill off these nuisances."How many men have the Confederates now in the field?" asked one ofthese bores one day."About one million two hundred thousand," replied the President."Oh, my! Not so many as that, surely, Mr. Lincoln.""They have fully twelve hundred thousand, no doubt of it. You see, all ofour generals when they get whipped say the enemy outnumbers them fromthree or five to one, and I must believe them. We have four hundredthousand men in the field, and three times four make twelve,--don't you seeit? It is as plain to be seen as the nose on a man's face; and at the rate thingsare now going, with the great amount of speculation and the small crop offighting, it will take a long time to overcome twelve hundred thousandrebels in arms."If they can get subsistence they have everything else, except a just cause.Yet it is said that 'thrice is he armed that hath his quarrel just.' I am willing,however, to risk our advantage of thrice in justice against their thrice innumbers."NO FALSE PRIDE IN LINCOLN.