Category: Daily Story

INTERFERING [During a Cabinet discussion of a ticklish international problem, he reminisces about peddling wares along the way as the family moved from Indiana to Illinois in 1829, Mr. Lincoln said:] ‘Just before we left Indiana and crossed into Illinois,’… Read the full story.

Doing the Job; Complaints [Quoting General James B. Fry about complaints respecting the draft sent by a Northern governor:] They did not disturb Mr. Lincoln in the least. In fact, they rather amused him. After reading all the papers, he said in a cheerful and… Read the full story

Pocket Money He knew a fellow once who had saved up fifteen hundred dollars, and had placed it in a private banking establishment. The bank soon failed, and he afterward received ten per cent of his investment. He then took his… Read the full story

Passing Hello [Albert C. Chandler recalls Al’s visits to the telegraph office during wartime:] It had so happened for several days that Major [Thomas] Eckert had been out whenever the President came into the office. Coming in one day and finding the Major counting… Read the full story

Daniel Webster “I heard a story last night about Daniel Webster when a lad, which was new to me, and it has been running in my head all the morning. When quite young, at school, Daniel was one day guilty of a gross violation of… Read the full story

Shadrach Story “In a time of despondency, some visitors were telling the President of the ‘breakers’ so often seen ahead — ‘this time surely coming.’ ‘That,’ said he, ‘suggests the story of the school-boy, who never could pronounce the names ‘Shadrach,’… Read the full story.

Pardons “The General had begun his military life as a Colonel, and, when he raised his regiment in Missouri, he proposed to his men that he should do all the swearing for the regiment. They assented; and for months no… Read the full story

HOGSHEAD At one time when very lively scenes were being enacted in West Virginia, a Union general allowed himself and his command to be drawn into a dangerous position, from which it was feared he would be unable to extricate himself without the loss of… Read the full story

Punishment After Death [Anthony J. Bleeker presenting letters of recommendation is asked by AL to read them aloud:] Before Mr. Bleeker had got half through with the documents, the President cried out, “Oh, stop! you are like the man who killed… Read the full story

Conduct of War “Gentlemen, suppose all the property you were worth was in gold, and you had put it in the hands of Blondin to carry across the Niagara river on a rope; would you shake the cable, or keep shouting out to him, ‘Blondin,… Read the full story