Daily Story
General Sherman
Early in the war, President Lincoln visited the troops at the front. According to William T. Sherman, “In the crowd at Fort Corcoran, I saw an officer with whom I had had a little difficulty that morning. His face was pale, and lips compressed. I foresaw a scene, but sat on the front seat of the carriage as quiet as a lamb. This officer forced his way through he crowd to the carriage and said: “Mr. President, I have a cause of grievance. This morning I went to speak to Colonel Sherman, and he threatened to shoot me.” Mr. Lincoln, who was still standing, said, “Threatened to shoot you? “Yes, sir, he threatened to shoot me.” Mr. Lincoln looked at him, then at me; and stooping his tall, spare form toward the officer, said to him in a loud stage-whisper, easily heard for some yards around: “Well, if I were you, and he threatened to shoot, I would not trust him, for I believe he would do it.”
Francis Fisher Browne, Everyday Life of Abraham Lincoln, p. 445.