Compiled  by london swaminathan

Date: 25 December 2015

Post No. 2426

Time uploaded in London:- 13-06
( Thanks for the Pictures  )

General Washington seldom indulged in joke or sarcasm, but when he did, he always made a decided hit. It is related that he was present in Congress during the debate on the establishment of the Federal army, when a member offered a resolution limiting the army to three thousand men. Upon this Washington suggested to a member an amendment providing that no enemy should ever invade the country with more than two thousand soldiers. The laughter which ensued smothered the resolution completely.

Xxxx

One day Lincoln and some of his friends were discussing the amount of man power involved in the American Civil War. Someone asked him how many men the confederates had in the field. Lincoln astonished them by saying, “Twelve hundred thousand, according to the best authority”.

“Yes, Sir”, repeated Lincoln, “twelve thousand – no doubt of it. You see, all our generals, when they get whipped, say the enemy outnumbers them from three or five to one, and I must believe them. We have four thousand men in the field, and three times four make twelve. Don’t you see it?”

xxx

Nearly all great scientific discoveries have been combated and misunderstood, even by great men. Admiral Sir Charles Napier fiercely opposed the introduction of steam power into the Royal navy, and one day exclaimed in the House of Commons:

“Mr. Speaker, when we enter Her Majesty’s Naval Service and face the chances pf war, we go prepared to be hacked in pieces by cutlasses, to be riddled with bullets, or to be blown to be bits by shot and shell; but, Mr Speaker, we do not go prepared to be boiled alive.”

Xxx

President Lincoln once wrote to General McClellan, when the latter was in command of the army. General McClellan, as is well known, conducted a waiting campaign, being so careful not to make any mistakes that he made very little headway. President Lincoln sent this brief but exceedingly pertinent letter:

“My dear McClellan: If you don’t want to use the army I should like to borrow it for a while.”

Xxx

Stories concerning the clashes between Lincoln and the inadequate General McClellan are common. Lincoln deemed it necessary for McClellan to report frequently and the General chaffed at this. One time he sent the President the following telegram from the field:

President Abraham Lincoln

Washington D C

Have just captured six cows. What shall we do with them?

George McClellan

Lincoln promptly wired:

General George McClellan

Army of the Potomac

As to six cows captured – milk them

A.Lincoln.

–Subham–