Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-09
THE PRESIDENTIAL LEvEir-OVA-
TIoH TO LIEUTEAAnT GENERAL
an hNr H..

NiON FO LhEUTEA ANT GEhEhAL
GRANT. .....'.. ..a II
The Executive mznsiSn' was crowded last
evening on tho occasion Of the usual weekly |
reception by toe President and Mra Lincoln.
More than ssual interest marked the grand
ieVee' "a the great company Of people who
paid Shsir respects to the President were many
distInguished gentlemen. Among them we
noticed Edw ard Count Piper, Swedish Minis
ter; the Cheyalier Berlnatti, Minister OF Italyi
Mr.. W. De Raaslofr, Charge d'AHaires OF Den
mark. The Cabinet, the Governmental De-
partments, both houses OF Congress, and the
Army and Navy were well represented. There
was also host of ladies, many Of them con-
spicuous for their beauty and grace of manner,
In the brilliant assembl age. The President
and Mrs. Lincoln appeart ID 10 be in the best Of
health and spirits and sceiyed their visitors
with charming affabllity Of manner.
Among the military gen tlemen present, Col.
streight, the lately escsl ped hero from Rich
mond, attracted much att cntion, and was most
warmly greeted by all.
About nine O'Clock In the evening, Lieuten-
ant General Grant, att ;anded by Brig. Gen.
Rawlins and Col. Comst oCk, his staff officers,
made their appearance. As he entered the re-
ception room, the PreSid ent and the General
seemed to recognize eN h other, although
they had never met before They entered into
earnest conversation, and the General intro
duced his staff oficera TO le President, also To
Senator Wilson, chairman of theCommittee on
Military Affairs. The. Pm sldent then intro.
duced Goa. Grant to Secret ary Seward.
na. of h,,tt t.to
tweSa tho parties, the President requested
Secretary Seward to tai o tho Lieutenant Cen
cral under his escort. By this time the arrival
Of the General was kp own throughout the as
semblage, and they cn ,wded behind the secre-
tary to get glance at the hero of q dozen hard
contested battles. tt 10 General was then con-
Quoted to the great Ia nRoom, and, as he passed
through the Blue Al i'd Green rooms, he was
recognized and cheer ID by the multitude.
When the General accompanied by secre-
tary Seward, entered the East Room, the great
est enthusiasm pre- vailed In the crowd that
flled this spacious room. Three cheers were
given for the Gener al and the throng pressed
Grant-ward in sue manner that there was
some danger that he would be crushed or
smothered. "Llft him up," "RaIse him 30
that we can see him'" was cried out from
various parts Of the room, and the crowd
were about to el sSate the hero upon their
shoulders and car him in triumph about
the apartment, Hhen, by a strategic move
ment, he took a position upon a sofa near
the eastern wall, where he stood, with Sec
retary Seward hlsi side, and received tho
ovation Of the co mpah.y. Three rouslng cheers
were given for Cfen. Gr ant, three for Secretary
Seward, three for Presto lent Lincoln, until the
rafters Of the White He 'use rang again. The
General stood ther seS eral minutes, smiling
and bow ing his &C know Judgments Of the hon
ors paid him, and shAln ing hands with the la
dieA and gentlemen who were able to get within
han d-shaklng dista pce.
During this grar ID leyee OF the Lieutenant
General In the EG ut Room, demonstration
was visible near the door leading TO the Blue
room, and 1t was Immediately observed that
Major General sicl les, accompanied by Msjor
General Birney an a several staff officers, had
just entered the Re II Room, and were endeav-
oring 10 make the r. way through the vast as
semblage present, to pay their respects to the
distinguished que t OF the evening. AS they
approached the G. neral, he inquired who they
were, and after b ang Informed he was IntrO.
ducCd to them by Mr.. Seward. The meeting
of these heroes wa very cordial and reciprocal
and for few mir nut eS they entered into close
conversation. On ne occasion, Gen. sickles
remarked to Genei al GrAnt-"General, this ID
ono Of your warm 0t campaigns;" to which
General Grant repll ~ -wiping the perspIratiou
from his face-that IL was, and that "the enc
my were not inclined 4 surrender"
After this officer, y RS. President Lincoln,
leaning on the arm Lieutenant General
Grant, followed BY Sea etary Seward, accom-
panying lady, secretn y Stanton and lady,
and Private Secretary NJ colay and lady, prom
enaded down thelEast DOM, the General re-
celving the salutatlons Of the other guests.
major General Halleck was not present at
the lOyee, tg.. .L -. -r
MAJ. GEN. W. y. sMIT9 ("Baldy" SMITH