rlike counselors in the
beginning of the war who equaled him in military sagacity_." His
reliance, in the new duties and perils that confronted him, was upon his
simple common-sense, his native power of judgment and discernment.
"Military science," says a distinguished officer, "is common-sense
applied to the affairs of war." While Lincoln made no claim to technical
knowledge in this sphere, and preferred to leave details to his
subordinates, he yet developed an insight into military problems and an
understanding of practical operations in the field which enabled him not
only to approve or disapprove judiciously, but to direct and plan. A
striking confirmation of this is given by Mr. J.M. Winchell, who thus
relates what happened in a personal interview with the President:

"I was accompanied by one of Mr. Lincoln's personal friends; and
when we entered the well-known reception-room, a very tall, lanky
man came quickly forward to meet us. His manner seemed to me the
perfection of courtesy. I was struck with the simplicity, kindness,
and dignity of his deportment, so different from the clownish
manners with which it was then customary to invest him. His face
was a pleasant surprise, formed as my expectations had been from
the poor photographs then in vogue, and the general belief in his
ugliness. I remember thinking how much better-looking he was than I
had anticipated, and wondering that anyone should consider him
ugly. His expression was grave and care-worn, but still enlivened
with a cheerfulness that gave me instant hope. After a brief
interchange of commonplaces, he entered on a description of the
situation, giving the numbers of the contending armies, their
movements, and the general strategical purposes which should govern
them both. Taking from the wall a large map of the United States,
and laying it on the table, he pointed out with his long finger the
geographical features of the vicinity, clearly describing the
various movements so far as known, reasoning rigidly from step to
step, and creating a chain of probabilities too strong for serious
dispute. His apparent knowledge of military science, and his
familiarity with the special features of the present campaign, were
surprising in a man who had been all his life a civilian, engrossed
with politics and the practise of the law, and whose attenti