New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-26
HISTORY AND FICTION.
EX-SENATOR WILKINSON CHALLENGES RECENT
STATEMENTS MADE BY ADMIRAL PORTER
Coplrf2hL 1885.

EX-SENATOR NIIlkiNSON CnAlLENoro
STATEMENTS MADE BY ADMIRAL PohIEh
Copyright 1885. !.
Tn an article published over the signature Oh
Admiral David d. Porter in January last, In TIE TRiB
UNE and other newspapers, the writer gave renueri"s
of the historical events which attended President bh
coins visit Richmond Immediately after its surre uer
to the Union forces. inconsistent with TACT anu ~
belittling to the character OF Mr.. Lincoln tnae eo
impeed to set the matter right My own share IN Tue
matter was such to make me perfectly cogilan' vi
the exact facts.
before, however making q statement with its acco"
panyng vouchers 1t will be proper to repeat the g "
Admiral Porters account of the TRANSACTION WHICH ~ 10
specially important TO correct The Admiral staVeu 'u
on the day after Mr. Incolns arrival at Richmond tue
President then being his flagship. the maven,
General Wcitzel the officer in immediate command o
the Union force occupying the city, accompanied Ny
John H. Campbell. OF Virginia, formerly Untcd 0'o'
Supreme Court Judge. on board. After an 'h'o'
view with MIR. Lincoln they left and the fresuen'
remarked to Admiral Porter Admiral, am sorry you
were not here when Mr.. Campbell was on boaru' iio
has gone on shore happy gave him written permis-
sion TO allow the State Legislature to convene In inc
Capitol In the absence OF all other Government nv
this the Admiral expressed his amazcment ana ventures
respectful but decided dissent in these Words i'
President. ] suppose you remember that TINS Guy "
military Jurisdiction. and that no courts Legs
ture or civil authority exercise any power without
the sanction OF the General commanding the army l'
order OF yours should go through General Grant "uo
would inform you that Richmond was under martiai ""'
and sure. he would protest against this arr'nso
ment OF Mr. Campbell"
We wore then told that the Presidents common sense
Immediately the point and he took steps at once W
rescind the order with the remark: Wei. came no"
knocking all the fat into the fire. didn't L T. INC
Admiral, in his narrative. continues rs follows
To make thugs had orier written to ienerai
weitzel. and signed by the President as nJ 20
- nntu m GeUqlatura
meet and don't allow II TO meet at all " There was u
fruit at the Ian ling. aud giving the order 20 an
officer. said 10 him: Jump into that wagon anu MI,
the horse il necessary. but catch the carriage when
carried General wozc and Mr. Campbell and de e,Sf
before 1t reached the city The old fruit wagon nS
minutes The General and Mr. CamIb were SURPRISED:
The Presidents order was sent PACK. anu tneS ho''
returned TO try and reverse tho Prcsdoht ueois'o"
or course the plain implication OF all this Is that Mr.
Lincoln saseI from doing most foolish aud I'm
polite thing by the interference OF Admiral Porter Now
let see what the facts In the matter were
In the early part OF April. 1868 as soon after the
evacuation of Richmond could obtain transporta-
tion gentlemen In Washington and myself got
vessel from Mr.. Stanton and started down the river
We met Mr.. Lincoln coming from Richmond or GOV
eminent vessel under command of Admiral Porter az
City Point on the 9Th OF April. 1865 He gave me
letter and requested 10 take It 20 General Weze nv
Richmond, who was In command OF the Union forces III
that city arrived in Richmond the morning OF the
9TH OF April took the letter Immediately to tho neal
quarters OF the army at Richmond. and delivered IL 10
General Weitzel After that was anxious to look
around the city. AMI went Of the back streets
do Of remember its name bat 1t the most popular
and fashionable portion OF tho city The business part
had all been destroyed by fire. In walking along the
street I came to very largo. fashionable church,
should think. and services being cOnd iced there
walked In. down. and found the church filed with
women I think every Of them dressed In
Z hat "A To-
RIBBON OF any color be observed any ono OF the
ladies' They appeared TO be cultured and refined
people In the church were probably about twenty-l
or thirty officers o. the Confederate army. | saw no
other there Than those who wore the Confederate
uniform These officers hal evidently just returned
home from Lees army.
II wa a highly interesting sight to was not 50
much Interested In what took place In the chirch the
church service Indeed, being It's conclusion when
went In. saw In the appearances OF tho people IL
looked like funeral for the people were sad and mel
ancloly stood there the people cano out OF the
church: they passed. a lto way and then turned TO
look at me- evidently believing that I WA Northern
man Tho appearance OF tho onlcera their uniforms
etc., indicated that they among Tho hshor and
cultivated officers NJ the Confederate army, for
they all appeared 20 be gentlemen.
Strolng along tho streets little returned after
a while to the headquarters Of General Wetzc. While
was there there talk about convening IN" rebel
Legislature about their meeting do not remember
tho exact conversation now but undest that the
subject OF the meeting OF tho Legislature was being con-
sldorcd In view Of tho letter had delivered to General
Wcl;zcl from Mr. Lincoln. In that letter he had given
permission 10 the members OF the Legislature 10 meet
provided they did not attempt 10 do act which would
be against the interests OF the General Government.
The question | remember. up OF issuing ratons
TO the people OF Richmond The orerd made while
was there that ratons should DO issued to the people,
and the next morning went down to the CommS'ary
office where the quartermasers stores we're delivered
There I very queer sight There were negroes
men and women; abOrng white mon and women ana
women who had the appearance Of being cultivated
people Some Ia lies present with little negro girls.
carrying baskets they had undoubtedly been doing In
former days when going to and from market These
baskets were intended get ratons drawn from the
general Government sufficient to last them for the day
Tho scene ITSELF and the general appearance OF tho city,
we're such ~ TO take all the bitterness out OF mans
feelings II he had any no matter how cxreme Union
man he may have been. how much of an aboitioni'
during the war.
think that Mr.. Lincoln appreciated this state OF
things fully. and while no not willing that anything
should be done that would cause the loss OF a single
drop Of blood to tho Union army still think IL was very
gratifying him to have opportunity to do acts OF
Kindness TO that people, and to get them back into the
Union again win the kindly relations that existed
between them personally before the war broke out |
think that great desire OF hs heart and yet he
too shrcwd man 70 allow his affections, or MS
heart to get the advantage Of his Judgment. lie WAS
an extremely cautious and In all OF the written
concessions which no offered Thorn ho WAS careful to
include such qualifications this You shall not use
this paper that grant you. against the Government;
the moment you do IT, tnen 1t Is 10 be considered as with
drawn" Such Mr.. Lincoln. think the whole cor
respDndence connected with the that took place
Immediately after the fall OF Richmond show this worry
| concusivey. The papers which am about to cite.
when grouped together, will prove that Admiral Porter
is mistaken entirely IN regard to the facts They cannot
10 IA Admiral Porter stated thcm In his second article.
entitled Lincoln at Richmond published In the papers
OF the country When read that article. knew that II
could not he that Mr. Lincoln had given permission
Legislature to convene, and then had taken
| IL back suddenly as Admiral Porter claims IN his
arcIe Mr ILncnln nlns ton cnniinns man To do