Abraham Lincoln is one of the United States' best-known presidents. We know a great deal about him, both as a man and as a leader. He grew up in a log cabin. He was very honest. He was president during the Civil War, and he helped end slavery at that time. What's more interesting, though, are some of the stories told about him. Many of these are true. Others have become tall tales or legends. They give us more a sense of the man than simple facts can. The following are just a few: This was reported by A.B. Chandler, manager of postal telegraphs. He worked for the War Department during the Civil War. On New Year's morning, 1864, President Lincoln entered the War Department building. He was always a bit jumpy. Now, though, he had become very tense. He was irritated by hearing a woman wailing over a child in her arms. Major Eckert asked the woman why she was crying. He brought back the painful but not surprising explanation. She was the wife of a soldier. She had come to Washington with her baby, expecting to have no difficulty in getting a pass to see her husband. She learned that this was not true. If she were the wife of an officer, she could easily get such a pass.