Lincoln never forgot anyone or anything.
At one of the afternoon receptions at the White House a stranger shook
hands with him, and, as he did so, remarked casually, that he was
elected to Congress about the time Mr. Lincoln’s term as representative
expired, which happened many years before.
“Yes,” said the President, “You are from--” (mentioning the State).
“I remember reading of your election in a newspaper one morning on a
steamboat going down to Mount Vernon.”
At another time a gentleman addressed him, saying, “I presume, Mr.
President, you have forgotten me?”
“No,” was the prompt reply; “your name is Flood. I saw you last, twelve
years ago, at--” (naming the place and the occasion).
“I am glad to see,” he continued, “that the Flood goes on.”
Subsequent to his re-election a deputation of bankers from various
sections were introduced one day by the Secretary of the Treasury.
After a few moments of general conversation, Lincoln turned to one of
them and said:
“Your district did not give me so strong a vote at the last election as
it did in 1860.”
“I think, sir, that you must be mistaken,” replied the banker. “I have
the impression that your majority was considerably increased at the last
election.”
“No,” rejoined the President, “you fell off about six hundred votes.”
Then taking down from the bookcase the official canvass of 1860 and
1864, he referred to the vote of the district named, and proved to be
quite right in his assertion.