Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-01-01
SECOND EDITION,
4 O'CLOCK p. M.
THE PRESIDENTIAL NEW YEARS REcEp

THE PkkSiDEN T1AL NEW bEARS hECEP-
TIOS.
Long before the hour of IL a. m. the crowd
began to gather around the east gate Leading TO
the Presidential Mansion. The men assembled
were evidently strangers in Washington, and
were determined to see all that was to be seen,
and therefore ranged themselves in files along
the road leading to the gate. Carriages then
began 10 arrive with the members OF the dipio-
matte corps and cabinet ministers. Marsha.
Lannon's carriage was the first to enter. aud
among the first TO pay their respects 70 the
Chief Magistrate were Secretary Seward and
the French Minister. At a o'clock the officers
of the Army and Navy moved in a body from
the Departments; the army officers headed
by Gen. HalIeck and stat, and the naval OIL
GERS by Admiral Davis and Commodore Mont
gomery, the new commandment at the Wash
iugton Navy Yard. Among the officers pres
ent were Generals Augur, Martinaale, Griffin
Barry and others.
As soon as all the officers had passed in. the
gate between the White House and the path
leading TO the Departments was thrown open,
and the large crowd there assembled moved
through and quickly filled every foot of space
in the large porch in front Of the. main en-
trance and as the last officer in the procession
passed through the door The crowd generally
attempted to gain admission; but, by herculaan
efforts, Sergeant Newman and his police force,
assisted by employees at the White House. kent
them back until the President had shaken
hands with the officers.
In few moments the gates on Pennsylvania
avenue were opened, aud then com Inenced the
rush for the door, and the GRO wding commenced.
Now and then 81 baated military or naval of.
ficer, or attache ola foreign legation, or soma
other Individual whose name was an sopen
sesame" arrived, and then the door would be
opened wide enough to admit one aud there
was another crowding to get him throueb
Among those thus getting good squeeze were
our worthy Mayor Wallach and Judge Fisher,
of the Supreme Court, ID. &.
Mayor Wailach was among the first to nav
his respects TO the President, and rs he was
retiring from The Mansion by the front door
found it rather hard work 10 get out
About IL o'clock The doors were thrown
open, and the crowd surged in, traInping on
one anothers heels and toes, and doing some
considerable damage TO hats. boanets and fine
dresses.
The Marine Band was In attendance in the
outer room and discourstd excellent musie
while the reception was progressing. Afteren-
terinS the crowd moved TO the right and passed
through the Green, Blue and Reception rooms;
and near the west door OF the latter stood Presi-
III,
hands cordially with his visitors of high and
low deg,ee. Marshal Lamon and Deputy Mar
shat Philips made the presentations to the
President, and Com missioner Il. Il. French thu
prs sensations 10 Mrs. Lincoln. The visitors
then passed into The East ROOM and thence out
by substantial platform through one OF the
windows on to the pavement.
Coverings were placed over The elegant car
pets il all the rooms, in order TO prevent their
b. ing soiIed by the mud
Over the principal doorway of the Mansion
a handsome shield, with large national flags on
each side, was put during the morning by Mr.
r. Fl. Stewart, the Assistant Commissioner OF
Public Bnildipgs, which attracted mu Oh at.en-
ton.
The throng of army Officers who assembled
in the lower hall OF the War Department. TO call
on the President, was larger than ever before.
completely jaming its entire space. In body
numbering between five and seven hundred.
apparently, they proceeded at II a. M to the
Executive Mansion on their errand of courtesy,
headed by the distinguished General in Chief.
INCIDENTS.
a lady, unattended by any one, being anxious
to gain admittance at the White House. and
finding herself unable to edge through the tn.
mense crowCs struck upon novel idea, and
threw open one of the large windows leading
from the por.ico to the ante-roon, and crawled
in upon all fours, greatly to the amusement of
the crowd. She was soon followed by
large crowd Of men and boys but the police
finding ont the "leak," soon "shut DOWN on
them.
A deaf and dumb printer, employed at The
Government Off ce, imagined that he saw Gen.
Scott among the large number of officers as
senbled, and be wrote the Generals name in
large capitals upon piece or paper and car
ried it around through the crowd and pointed
out i prominent character as being the old
veteran, creating no little crowding and lost
ling 10 see the hero of Lundy's Lane, who,
however, vas rot 'sthar.'
As usual upon such occasions, the pick
pockets were at work, and gentleman, whose
name we could not learn, had his Pc cket picked
OF wallet containing between two and three
hundred dollars in greenblcks.
The banks did not open at all for business
this morning, and large number o. the prin-
cipal stores on the avenue were closed at an
early hopr in the morning, and remained closed
All day.
business was suspended in the various DE
partments TO- day, which will account for the
absence OF our usual d. parmental items.