The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-01-13
ASSASSINATION NIGHT.
The Greatest Tragedy IN American History
Reyiewed-Hew Lincoln Met
His Death.

\ glorious spring day followed the
news of General Lees surrender. The
capital became a vast stage, with all
the actors imbued with popular frenzy
and excitement. The air was filled
with joy and glad tidings because the
people realized the long, cruel war was
substantially over. The streets were
alive with gay throngs of jubilant, EN-
thusiastic men, and most prominent
were the soldiers of both ~contending
sides, attired in blue and gray. BY
some of those means known to the for
tunes of war, 4 large number of paroled
C~onfederates in their ragged uniforms
were to be seen fraternizing with the
''boys in blue" They were noticed
Longing through the Capitol grounds
and public gardens, apparently keenly
alive TO the enjoyment of the spring
nowers-those loving harbingers of
peace and home. In the heart of Wash
ington, where two streets intersect, a
pump with q dipper attached to its neck
might be seen. A Confederate filed
the rusty cup from the delicious foun-
tain, held it out at chains length to II
soldier whose empty blue sleeve was
pinned to his breast. Reconciliation,
forgiveness and hope p%ermeated the
living mass, and the divine elixir steep
ed the whole city in joy. At eleven
O'Clock the same day President Lincoln
called a special Cabinet meeting in
honor of General Grant, who had just
arrived from the battle field of Apo
mattOx with the terms of General Lees
surrender. A "Reminiscences 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. Sc
ward, our present Assistant Secretary
| of State, who occupied the same official
position Mt that time rs he does to-day.
He attended the historical session of the
Cabinet TO represent tn late Hon. Will
liam II. Seward, Who was lying. dan
gerously i'll at his residence from frac-
lures receivedby being violently thrown
from his carriage. Mr.. Seward says:
| recall the ~recollections of the day
of the assassination. 1t was q general
holiday in the city. The people were
celebrating the surrender of General
Lee. / was in the chamber where my
late father lay almost unconscious from
severe physical pain. In the morning
a messenger arrived from the White
House, saying there would be Il special
meeting of tho Cabinet ut eleven o'clock
to meet General Grant and hear the
statement of the surrender from him
in person. AS near Us | can remember
Hon. Gideon Wclles, one of the Cabinet
who was present, has given \ very per
feet account of what transpired, in Il
late magazine article. All the Cabinet
officers Were there, and all eager TO hear
what General Grant had to say, and
then followed IL general discussion on
reconstruction. President Lincoln
seemed to address most of his nnver-
satiOn to Secretary Stanton. who had
brought him q manuscript of mcmoran-
da and notes in regard to the method
of reconstruction. | remember the
recognition of Virginia was decided ut
that meeting, and the other states were
left in order to hear from General
Sherman. | recall more wildly than
any thing else connected with the
meeting Mr.. Lincoln's glowing face of
approval when he said to General
Grant, "What terms did you make with
the common soldier2" II told them
to go back TO their homes!'' | have
no words TO express the kind feeling
which prevailed in that Cabinet meet
ing. Had the enemy been the children
of Mr.. Lincoln he could have shown no
warmer desire to welcome them mt home
At the close of the meeting the presi-
dent said to General Grant that he was
going to the theatre, and laughingly
added lie twas going to have a little
celebration OF his own" and asked
General Grant to be present. then
asked the President what time it would
be agreeable for me to present the new
English Ministe., Sir Frederic Bruce.
He paused amoment in thought, and
then replied, Tomorrow at 2o'clock,"
then smiling in his own peculiar way
he said: Don't forget the speech,
Fred We separated at that moment
and that was. the last | ever saw of
President Lincoln. Mrs. L. L. Briggs
.lOlival.