Clark: Abraham Lincoln in the National Capital 59

Army slouch hat he often wore, although he has so frequently been pictured in a tall hat of the old-fashioned stovepipe kind that nowadays a good many people think he invariably wore such headgear.

"Strangely enough also, people seem to think he was awkward, ungainly, even clumsy. But he was not. And that night he swung up into the saddle with the ease and unconscious grace of a cavalryman.

"For a few moments I rode on behind Mr. Lincoln, as was proper; gazing at his tall form sitting so easily, so erect, and wondering whether any human beingeven such a marvel of strength as he could continue indefinitely to carry the terrible weight that was laid upon his shoulders.

"Here he was, perfectly calm after spending hours studying that stream of dispatches telling of the battle of Antietam. Yet so critical was the situation that he felt it necessary, late as it was, to hasten for a consultation with Halleck, general in command of all the armies of the United States."

That Mrs. Lincoln dressed in good taste and Mr. Lincoln was no discredit to any fashionable taste appears in the account of the President's Levee. The author of the account makes one of his party speak in the language of the beautiful France.

"J'ai voulu vous dire tout simplement, que Madame Lincoln s'est bien habilleé, selon mon goût, malgré ce que disent les gobe-mouches. Mais le mari voilà un homme endimanché.""

My attempt at translation into English is-I would like to tell plainly that Mrs. Lincoln was well dressed, according to my taste, in spite of what the simpletons But the husband-there is a man dressed up for

say.

Sunday.

The Confederates appeared on the northern outskirts 'The Dobbs Family in America.

of the city, July 11, 1864. The encounter was more sanguinary than a skirmish as the markers in the nearby National Cemetery solemnly testify.

In a newspaper is an illustration, with the title, "Lincoln Under Rebel Fire", that has impressed the writer not in a serious way.' On the parapet of Fort Stevens stands the President unheeding the enemy's bursting shells and the efforts of a soldier who with both hands is tugging at his coat-tails. The illustrator has executed on paper General Wright's polite threat:

"Mr. President, you must really get down from this exposed position. I cannot allow you to remain here longer, and if you refuse I shall deem it my duty to have you removed under guard."

The President obeyed to the extent of taking a seat on an ammunition box from which he was constantly bobbing up to see what was going on.'

In a grove near the headquarters of General Early was found written on a fly-leaf:

"Near Washington, July 12, 1864. "Now Uncle Abe, you had better be quiet the balance of your Administration, as we only came near your town this time just to show you what we could do; but if you go on in your mad career, we will come again soon, and then you had better stand from under.

"Yours respectfully, the worst rebel you ever saw. "58th Virginia Infantry."

Mrs. Lincoln thought the Secretary of War had been lax in the Capital's protection. After the affair, a few weeks, and tranquility restored, Secretary Stanton visited Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln at Soldier's Home and to the latter said:

The Washington Post. October 7, 1902. 'Maj. Gen. Horace G. Wright.

Clark: Abraham Lincoln in the National Capital 61

"Mrs. Lincoln, I intend to have a full length portrait of you painted, standing on the ramparts of Fort Stevens overlooking the fight."

Mrs. Lincoln, quickly added:

"That is very well and I can assure you of one thing, Mr. Secretary, if I had had a few ladies with me the rebels would not have been permitted to get away as they did."

Joseph Stuntz was the proprietor of a fancy store and toy shop on New York avenue, present numbering, 1207. He died during the Civil War, and his widow, Appolonia, succeeded to the proprietorship. Mrs. Stuntz was tall and proportionately built. Her features were strong; and her expression was serious, or was when the writer saw her at the tax collector's office. Mr. Lincoln came to the modest emporium to buy toys. for his son "Tad"-tin and wooden soldiers in bright colors with guns and the soldiers' captains with swords; and cannon and everything else to arrange in peaceful miniature in counterpart to the terrible things of savage

war.

A soldier company of lads there was, the enrollment of which was forty strong. The boys were equipped with guns or imitation guns, and other imitation of military accountrements or habiliments, or whatever the proper word may be; all carried guns, except the Captain; he carried a sword. The soldier company marched before the White House and were reviewed with due solemnity by the Commander-in-Chief of the United States armies. Of the soldiers was "Tad", the Commander-in-Chief's son. Master John Strider was the Captain and the brother of the Captain, Luke, was

1 Francis B. Carpenter-The Inner Life of Abraham Lincoln. 2 Thomas Thaddeus Lincoln.