In the beginning of 1865, the President was wont to pay visits to the
James River, not merely to inspect the camps and the field-hospitals,
but to have a peep at "the promised _land_"--that is, Richmond, still
held by the rapidly melting and discouraged Southerners as the "Last
Ditch." In one of his strolls he came upon a gang of lumbermen cutting
up logs and putting up stockades and cabins for the wet weather.
Joining one group he chatted freely with the woodmen and as one of
themselves. Presently, he asked for the loan of an ax. The man
hesitating, since his blade had just been fine-edged, he explained that
he was one of the Jacks and "used to be good on the chop." Then seizing
the arm with familiarity he attacked a big log and, using it as a
broad-ax, shaped the rough-hewn sides till it was a perfect slab. He
handed back the tool and stalked off amid cheers.
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