President Lincoln rode about three miles from the Capitol on October 8 to review the Union troops being trained by General George McClellan. This was not a unique experience. Mr. Lincoln had reviewed local regiments two dozen different times up to this point. He knew it was important to the troops morale that they see their commander-in-chief take a personal interest in their units.
The men, on the other hand, seemed to admire so much their president to the point that they didn't notice his awkwardness riding on his horse. And he certainly made riding any horse look uncomfortable and perhaps even funny. Horace Porter said the troops "were so lost in admiration of the man that the humorous aspect did not seem to strike them."
Mr. Lincoln loved all the cheers and salutes he got from his army. He was their friend. He wanted them to succeed as a whole, but he also was empathetic to the possibilities that they might be injured or killed defending the Union.
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