Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-01-23
LINCOLN IN RICHMOND.

NAtAlALt AF4 LIB ENAObA-
TIoN BY THE REBELS, TOLD IN FULL FOR THE
FIRST TIME
Contributed by Admiral David d. Porter, U. s. N,
TO the New York sunday Tribune.l
The day after the fall Of Richmond Presi-
dent Lincoln expressed a desire to visit the
Confederate capital in the flagship Malvern.
In anticipation Of this event, by working
day and night l had all the obslructions on
the James taken up and all the torpedoes re-
moved from the river bed.
When the river was reported clear Of tor
pedoes "a large number OF which were taken
up), proceeded TO Richmond in the Nal
vern with President Lincoln on board, and,
Notwithstanding the great care that had been
taken to clear out the James, l felt great
responsibility upon me.
Every vessel that got through the obstruc-
tions wished to be the first one up, and push.
ed ahead with all steam, but they grounded
one after another, and then my vessel which
had passed them all, also grounded.
took the President in my barge, aud with
q tug ahead, and file of marines on board,
we continued on up to the city.
had never been to Richmond before by
that route and did not know where the land
ing was, neither did the coxswain nor any of
the barges crew. We pulled on, hoping
to see some one of whom we could inquire,
but no one was in sight The street along
the river front was as deserted as IL this had
been city of the dead. The troops bad
been in possession some hours, but not
soldier was to be seen.
The current was now rushing past us over
rocks, we could scarcely get ahead, and final
ly ran on a rock
"Send for Colonel Baily," said the Pres-
dent "he will get you out of this"
NO" said l, I'VE don't want the Colonel
this time. l can manage it," So backed
out and pointed for the nearest landing.
There was a small house on this landing
and behind it we're some twelve negroes Dig
ging with spades. The leader Of them was
old man sixty years Of age. He raised
himself to an upright position as We landed,
and put his hands up to his eyes. Then he
dropped his spade and sprang forward.
'Bress de Lord, be said, ''dere is de great
Messiah l know'd him as coon as seed
him. He's bin in my heart TO long yeahs,
an he's cum at las to free his chillun from
deir bondage Glory hallelujah - And he
fell upon his knees before the President and
kissed his feet The others followed his ex-
ample, and u q minute Mr.. Lincoln was sur
rounded by these people, who had treasured
up the recollection of him caught from a
photograph and had looked up to him for
four years as the one who was to lead them
out of captivity.
1t was a touching sight-thAt aged negro
kneelng at the feet of the tall, gaunt look
ing man, who seemed, in himself, to be bear
ing all the grief of the nation, and whose
sad face seemed to say, ~ suffer for you all,
but will do all l can TO help you"
Mr.. Lincoln looked down on the poor crea-
lures at his feet he was much embarrassed
at his position. Don't kneel to me"
he said. That is not right. You must
kneel to God only, and thank Him for the lib
erty you will hereafter enjoy. l am but
Gods humble instrument bat you may rest
assured that as long as l live no one shall put
a shackle on your limbs, and you shall bave
all the rights which God has given to every
other free citizen OF this Republic"
His face was lit up with divine look as he
uttered these words, Though not a hand
some man, and ungslnly in his person, yet
In his enthusiasm he seemed the personihca-
ton of manly beauty, and that sad face of
his looked down in kindness upon these ig
norapt blacks with grace that could not be
exceiled. He really seemed of another
world.
All this scene was Of brief duration, but,
though a simple and humble affair, it i'm
pressed me more than anything of the kind
ever witnessed.
the negroes to leave the President. The
scene was SO touching hated to disturb it,
yet we could not stay there all day, we had
TO move on, and l requested the patriarch
to withdraw from about the President with
his companions, and let US pass on.
"Yes, massa, =" said the old man, "but af-
ter bein' so many years in de dessert widout
water, it's mighty pleasant to be lookin' at
las on our spring of life. Scuse US, sir, we
means no dlsrespec TO Mass Lipcoln-we
means all love and gratitude" and then join
ing together in ring, the negroes sang a
hymn with melodious and touching voices
only possessed by the negroes of the South,
The President and all of US listened re-
spectfully while the hymn was being sung.
Four minutes, at most, had passed away
since we first landed at point where as far
as the eye could reach the streets were en-
tirely deserted-but now, what q different
scene appeared as that hymn went forth from
the negroes lips. The streets seemed to be
suddenly alive with the coloTed race they
seemed to spring from the earth, They
came tumbling and shouting from over the
hills and from ihe water side, where no one
was seen as we had passed along.
The crowd Immediately became very op.
pressive. We needed our marines to keep
them of l ordered twelve of the boats
crew to fix bayonets to their rifles, and tC
surround the President (Which was done in 9
moment); but the crowd poured in so fear
fully that thought we all stood chance of
being crushed to death,
now realized the imprudence of landing
without a large body of marines and yeI
this seemed TO me, after all, the fttest way
| for Mr.. Lincoln to come among the people
| he had redeemed from bondage.
What an ovation he had, to be sure, from
those SO called ignorant beingsl They al
had their souls in their eyes, and l dom
think l ever looked upon a scene whers
there were so many passionately happy faces
While some we're rushing forward to tTJ
and touch the man they had talked OF anC
dreamed of for four long years, others stood
of little way, and looked on in awe anC
wonder. Others turned somersaults, ant
many yelled for Joy. Half of them ac.eC
as though demented, and could find no way
of testifying their delight.
But We could not stay there all day look
ing at this happy mass of people the crowd
and their yells we're increasing, aud in
short time we would be unable to move a
all. The negroes, in their ecstacy, could no
be made to understand that they were detain
ing the President; they looked upon him u
belonging to them, and that he had come t
put the orowning act to the great work b.
had commenced. They would not feel rhA
they were free in reality until they heard
from his own lips,
At length he spoke he could not NOV
for the mass of people-he had to do some
thing. MY poor friends" he said, ''yol
are tree-fFee as air. You can cast of tn
name of slave and trample upon it it vii
come TO you no more. Liberty is your birth
right God gave it to you az he gave 1t +
others, and 1t ia sin that you have been de
prived of it for so many years But yo
must try to deserve this priceless boon. lie
the world SEQ that you merit ii and are abb
to maintain II by your good works Don
let your Joy carry you into exoesses lear
the laws and obey them harbor no ill.fee
ing against those who held you in bondage
obey God'sS sSeommandments and thank HiI
for giving you liberty, for to Him you ow
all things There, now, let me pass on
have but little time to spare. l want to Sc
the capital aud must return at onoe to Wasl
ington to secure TO you that liberty whic
you seem to prize 30 highly"
The crowd shouted and screeched as II the
would split the armament, though while Il
! President was speaking you might have hear