Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-04-13
Scenes I'm Richm ond.
THR PRESIDENTS VISIT.

WAS sIdnulnS upon the Dank OF the
river, viewing the scene of desolation.
when boat, pulled by twelve sailors
came up stream. 1t contained Presi-
dent Lincoln and his son, Admiral Por-
ter, Capt. Penrose of the army Capt. A.
III, Adams Of the navy Lieut.. W. W.
Clemens of the signal corps. Somehow
the negroes on the bank of the river as
certained that the tall man wearing a
black hat was President Lincoln. There
was a sudden shout. An officer whe
had just picked up fifty negroes to do
work on the dock, found himself alone.
They left work and crowded round the
President. As he approached said toa
colored woman
There is the man that made YOU
free"
what, massa Z"
THAT is President Lincoln"
dat President Linkum I"
Eyes"
She gazed at him moment. clappe
her hands and jumped straight up and
down, shouting "Glory, glory, glory p'
till her voice was lost in the universal
cheer.
There was no carriage near, so the
President, leading his son, walked three
quarters of mile up to Gen. WeitzePs
headquarters - JEFF. Davis mansion.
What spectacle it was Such hurly-
burly-such wild indiscribable ecstatic
JOY | never witnessed. A colored man
acted as guide. Six sailors, wearing
their round blue caps and short Jackets
ana bagged pants, with navy carbipes
was the advance guard. Then came the
PRESIDENT and Admiral Porter fanked
by the officers accompanying him and
the correspondent of The Journal, then
SIX more sailors with enthusiastically
OF us all told-amid a surging mass of
men, women and children, black, white
and yellow, running, shouting. dancing,
swinging thelr caps, bonnets and hand !
Kercnlels. The soldiers saw him and
sWelled the crowd cheering in wild en-
thusiasm. All could see him, he was so
tall-so conspicuous.
one Colored woman, standing in a |
doorway, as the President passed along
the sidewalk, shouted Thank you. dear
Jesus, for this thank you Jesus An
other standing by her side was clapping
Lord !"
A colored woman snatched her bonnet
from her head, whirled it in the air.
screaming with all her might God
Dless you Massa Linkum !"
A few white women looking out Of
The houses waived their handkerchiefs.
one lady in a large and elegant build
ing looked while and then turned
away her head as If it was disgusting
sight.
President Lincoln walked in silence.
the salutes of officers
and soldiers and of the citizens, black and
eh'te! 1t was the man of the people
among the people. 1t was the great de-
lyerer, meeting the delivered. Yester-
lay morning the majority of the thous
snds who crowded the streets and him
Tered ope, advance were slaves. Now
.hev were free, and behold him who had
gwen them their liberty. Gen. Shepley
net the President in the street and es-
;orted him to Gen. Weitzels quarters.
Major Stevens hearing that the Presi-
lent was on his way suddenly sum-
noned detachment Of the Massachu-
etts 4th cavalry and cleared the way.
|
left Davis was reached. The immense
;rowd swept round the corner of the
street and packed the space in front.
zen. Weitzel received the President at
he door. Cheer upon cheer went up
rom the excited multitude-two thirds
If whom were colored.
The officers who had assembled were
presented to the President in the recep-
ion room of the mansion.
Judge Campbell, once on the Supreme
bench of the United States, who became
/ traitor, came in and had a brief pri-
rate interview with the President in the
irawing- room. Other citizens called
hose who have been for the Union
through all the war.
The President then took ride thro'
he city accompanied by Admiral Por-
er, Gems. Shepley Weitzel and other Of
lcers. Such is the simple narrative of
his momentous event, but no written
,age of Illuminated canvass can give
he reality of the event--the enthusiast
ic bearing of the people-the blacks
md poor whites who have suffered un-
old horrors during the war, their dem
'nstrations OF pleasure, the shouting,
lanclng, the thanksgivings to God, the
mention of the name of Jesus-as if
President Lincoln were next to the son
If God in their afiections--the jubilant
'ries, the countenances beaming with
JOY, the tossing up of caps,
he swinging of arms of a motley crowd
some in rags, some barefoot, some
wearing pants of Union blue, and coats
If Confederate gray, ragamuffins in dress
through the hardships of war, but yet
II stately bearing-men in heart and
men henceforth and forever,
heir bonds cut assunder in an hour
men from whose limbs the chains fell v
morning, men who through
many weary years have prayed for de-
iverance-who have asked sometimes if
God were dead-who when their child
zen were taken from them and sent to
,he swamps of South Carolina and the
zane brakes of Louisiana, cried TO God
or help and cried in vain, who told
heir sorrows to Jesus and asked for
1elp, but who had no helper-men VIII
nave been whipped, scourged, robbed,
for no crime. All of these
things must be kept in remembrance
Il we would have the nicture nnm |