After Lincoln dismounted his horse, he stated, "He (Old Abe) came pretty near getting away with me, didn't he? He got the bit in his teeth before I could draw the rein." Nichols replied by asking where the president's hat was, and Lincoln replied by stating that someone fired a sniper rifle at him at the foot of the hill. Afterwards, his horse had become frightened, and took off at "breakneck speed," jerking his hat off of his head.