Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1878-03-16
ASSASSINATION NIGHT.
THE GREATEST TRAGEDY IN AMERICAN
HISTORY REyIEwED--How LINCOLN MET
HIS DEATH.


HISTORY YREvIEwED--How LINCOLN MET
HIS DEATH.
A glorious spring day followed the
news of General Lees surrender. The
capital became vast stage, with all the
actors imbued with popular frenzy aud
excitement. The air was filed with
JOY and glad tidings because the people
realized the long, cruel war was sub
stantially over. The streets were alive
with gay throngs OF jubilant, euthusias.
tic men, and most prominent were the
soldiers of both coatending sides, at
tired in blue and gray. BY some of
those means known to the fortunes OF
war, large number OF paroled Conted-
crates in their ragged uniforms were to
be seen fraternizing With the ''boys in
blue" They were noticed lounging
through the Capitol grounds and public
gardens, apparently keenly alive to the
enjoyment of the spring fowers-these
loving harbingers of peace and home.
In the heart of Washington, where two
streets intersect, pump with dipper
attached to its neck might be seen. "A
Confederate filled the rusty cup from
the delicious fountain, held il out at
chains length to soldier whose empty
blue sleeve was pinned to his breast.
Reconciliation, forgiveness and hope
permeated the living mass, and the di-
vine elixir stepped the whole city in
Joy. At eleven o'clock the same day
President Lincoln called special Cab
met meeting in honor of General Grant,
who had just arrived from the battle
field of Appomattox with the terms of
General Lees surrender. A reminis-
cence of this Cabinet meeting is given
to the public for the first time, as it
now exists in the mind of the Hon.
Frederick w. Seward, our present As
sistant Secretary of State, who occupied
tue same official position at that time
that be does today. lie attended this
historical session of the Cabinet to rep
resent the late Hon. William ii. Sew
ard, who was lying dangerously i'll at
his residence from fractures received by
being violently thrown from his car
riage. Mr.. Seward says:
l recall the recollections OF the day Of
the sensation. 1t was general holiday
10 the city. The people were celebra-
ting the surrender of Gen. Lee. was
in the chamber where my father lay al
most unconscious from severe ply steal
pain. In the morning messenger ar
rived from the White House, saying
there would be special meeting OF the
Cabinet at eleven o'clock, to meet Gen.
Grant and hear the statement of the
surrender from him in person. As near
as can remember, Hon. Gideon Wells,
one of the members of the Cabinet who
was present, has given very perfect
account of what transpired in late
magazine article. All the Cabinet olli-
GERS were there, and all eager to hear
what Gen. Grant had TO cay, and then
followed general discussion on recon-
struction. President Lincoln seemed
to address most OF his conversation to
Secretary Stanton, who had brought
with him q manuscript Of memoranda
and notes in regard to the method Of
reconstruction. remember the recog-
nition of Virginia was decided at that
meeting, aud the other Suites were left
in order 10 hear from Gen. Sherman. I
recall more vividlY than anything else
connected with the meeting Mr.. Lin
coins glowing face Of approval when he
said to General Grant, "Wbat terms
did you make with the common sol.
diers 7" 81 told them to 60 back to
their honest l have no words 10 ex-
press the kind feeling which prevailed
in that Cabinet meeting. Had the en-
emy been the children of Mr. Lincoln
he could have shown no warmer desire
TO welcome them all home AT the close
of the meeting the President said to
General Grant that be was going to the
theatre, and laugbingly added, be "was
going to have q little celebration of his
own" and asked Gen. Grant to be pres
ent. l then asked the President what
time it would be agreeable for Inc TO
present the new English Minister, Sir
Frederick Bruce. He paused a mo-
ment in thought, and then replied, ITO.
morrow, at 2 o clock )" then smiling in
bis own peculiar way he said: "Don't
forget the speeches, Fred" We scpa-
rated at that moment, and that was the
last / ever saw Of President Lincolu.-
Mrs Il. p. Briggs ("OiiUio' in Phiio.
Weekiy Times. 5ii9I - 9