As another Lame Cherry exclusive in matter anti matter.
So the Napoleonic French warship, the Gassendi, named for Pierre Gassendi, was off the coast of the United States and President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 AD in the year of our Lord, with coup plotters galore, was rowed out to the French ship, and was received with high honors from the nation of France as the crew dressed in grey, cheered, Vive le President!.
Drums rolled, bugles sounded, with the Stars and Stripes unfurled at the top of the main cast. The French Minister was on board to receive the President and Secretary of State in this historic first in an American President on board a foreign warship.
Champagne was served, the armament was reviewed and Mr. Lincoln chatted with the officers who spoke English.
This is the story which went out over the wires. What really happened follows.
Upon leaving the ship, President Lincoln requested Captain Dahlgren to row around her bow as he wanted to observe the rigging and build from that direction. All went a ordered and the Captain standing, off the French bow, noted the French deck officer, looking at his watch and counting off the seconds, "Un, deux, trois....."
At that moment, the French Navy opened up with a salute of Mr. Lincoln, thinking he was at stern and not off their bow.
Dahlgren was enveloped in gunpowder smoke and was screaming, "PULL LIKE THE DEVIL BOYS! PULL LIKE HELL!"
The crew rowed the boat out of harms way, and Dahlgren calmly took his seat. The son of Secretary Seward asked in a low voice, "Those guns were not shotted were they and we were below their range?"
Dahlgren replied, "Yes, but to think of exposing the President of having his head taken off by the wad which drops soon after the firing was a danger as wadding had taken heads off before".
This story was never reported and few ever knew it took place. Mr. Lincoln at 6 foot three was pleased he was no taller that day in this French Salute.
Nuff Said
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