“Mr. President, I’ll reinforce Fort Sumter.”

“You, Commodore!  We are just discussing the question.”

“There’s no need of discussing it; it must be done!  Give me the men and ships—­there won’t be many required—­and I’ll do it.”

The President saw that his caller was in earnest, and he respected him too highly to indulge in anything like jesting.

“I am inclined to think as you do, Commodore, but—­”

“But what?” impatiently interrupted the veteran.

“You have already done so much for your country that it seems only fair that we should give the younger men a chance.”

“Younger men!  What’s the matter with me?  I’m not old enough yet to need a cane.”

“I observe that; you are wonderfully spry for one of your years.  Let me see, what is your age?”

“Not quite eighty-four.”

“Why, you are still a young man; but the trouble is, Commodore, we have so many that are still younger, that they are plaguing the life out of me; I don’t see how I can refuse them, but I shall be grateful to have the benefit of your counsel any time you are willing to give it.”

[Illustration:  THE BOMBARDMENT OF FORT SUMTER.]

“Counsel be hanged!  We have had too much talk; it’s time for actions, and I demand that you give me a chance with the rest.”

With that inimitable tact for which President Lincoln was noted, he succeeded in soothing the ruffled feelings of the Commodore (soon afterward made an admiral), but the old gentleman was not quite satisfied, when he bade the President good-by, without having obtained the opportunity to re-enter the active service of his country.

This little anecdote, which is authentic, may serve to introduce my last references to one of the most remarkable naval heroes of our country.  If his fire, vigor and patriotism burned so brightly in 1861, little need be said in way of explanation of its nature when he was less than forty years of age.

Captain Stewart came back from a cruise in the West Indies in the spring of 1814, and found the Constitution, “Old Ironsides,” closely blockaded by a powerful British squadron.  That remarkable frigate had already won such a reputation that the enemy were determined she should not get to sea again.  They held her locked in the port for months, but despite their unceasing vigilance, Captain Stewart, who was a consummate seaman, slipped out in December and sailed away.

He made several captures, and the frigates of the enemy began an industrious search for him, while all the lesser craft strained every nerve to keep out of his way.  On the 20th of February, 1815, when off the coast of South America, he gave chase to two of the enemy’s vessels, one of which proved to be the Cyane and the other the Levant.  The two together carried 55 guns and 313 men, while the Constitution had 51 guns and a crew of