Answer:
The quote you are referring to comes from a statement made by Abraham Lincoln in 1862 when he met Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of the anti-slavery novel "Uncle Tom's Cabin". However, he did not specifically refer to any "Great War" in the quote. The American Civil War (1861-1865) may have been considered a "great war" during that time period, as it was a significant conflict in American history and caused widespread casualties and devastation.