At the taking of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, 1862, the steamer
_Valley City_ was saved from blowing up by a gunner's-mate. This John
Davis coolly sat on a powder-keg from which the top had been shot off,
and was so found by an officer, who hastily censured him for his
loafing--"bumming" during recess. But, on the reason for his taking his
seat being pointed out, Davis was recommended for promotion. In
countersigning the papers entitling him to the rank of gunner, at a
thousand a year for life, the President mock-solemnly observed:
"Metaphorically, we occupy the same position; _we_ are sitting on the
powder under fire!"
* * * * *
"ABE, A THUNDERING OLD GLORY!"
Ex-Registrar Chittenden tells the following incident. It was the 14th
of April, 1865. Captain Robert Lincoln, on General Grant's staff, had
brought the details of the victory of Appomattox, and the gratified
chief had passed the day with the Cabinet revolving those plans of
reconstruction which amazed all the world by their exclusion of all
bitterness and retaliation. He was coming down the White House stairway
to take his accustomed ride in the carriage when he heard a soldier in
the waiting crowd say:
"I would almost give my other hand (he was one-armed) if I could shake
Abe Lincoln's hand!"
Lincoln confronted him. "You shall do that, and it shall cost you
nothing!" interrupted the revivified President, grasping the lone hand,
and, while he held it, he asked the man's name, regiment, etc.
The happy soldier, in telling of this meeting, would end: "I tell you,
boys, Abe Lincoln is a thundering Old Glory!"
* * * * *