Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-23
TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER %, 1890.
Lincoln in Richmond.


Lincoln IN Richmond
In Bofords Mqga1ine for October Admiral
PosrER has an article descriptive OF Presi'
dent IlNCoLN's visit to Richmond.
The important facts connected with the
Presidcnts entry into this city very early
after the evacuation have been related be-
fore bv the Admiral. but 10 present them
in this form he has dressed them elaDo-
rately and colorcd them with various start
Tnp surlnisos-among others that WHKEs
RoorH was in this city at the time and
would have attempted the assassination OF
Mr.. LINCOLN had opportunity not been de-
MED him.
Mr.. LINCOLN came up here with Admiral
PoErEE from CITY Point. and their gun
boat. the Malvern. was anchored III the
James river some distance below the city,
from which the distractions and torpe-
does had not been completely removed.
Immediately upon landing LINCOLN ana
poErrR drove 20 what had been the resi-
dence of President DAVIS but which was
then occupied as the headquarters Of Gen
erals WEIrzEL and SHErLEY. " 1t was quite
a small affair compared with the Nhlte
House nj Washington, and modest IN al
ITS appointments. showing that whle
President DAVIS was engaged heart ana
soul in endeavoring TO effect the division
of the States. he was not. at least, sur
rounding himself with regal style, but was
Iivinc in u modest, comfortable way, like
anv other citizen. Amid all his surround
ines the refined taste of his wife was APP
parent and marked everything about the
apartments"
After receiving the cheers of crowd
assembled about the Davis Mansion ana
lunching With General SHELBY the Presi-
dent and Admiral proceeded TO the Capt.
tol. which he found IN great disorder.
The writer fails. however, to say that the
Federal soldiers had pillaged the building.
including the library. and IN spirit OF
Wantonnoss cut ont of precious volumes
large plates and many leaves.
Now. as evening was approaching PORTER
relates that he began 20 get very uneasy
about the Presidents safety, and therefore
advised return to the Malvern, and IN
this Mr.. LIEcoLN acquiesced.
About o'clock that night. while they
were sitting on deck, "A man ashore hailed
the vessel and said ne had dispatches for
the President. A boat was sent for them,
but the man said that he must deliver
them in person. After some conversation
MIR. LINCOLN directed that the messenger
be brought aboard, but when the boat
again went ashore theindividual sought tor
had gone. II inquired about the appear
ance Of the person when seen by the officer
of the boat. lie was a tall man with a
black moustache. wore slouch hat
and long cloak-a regular theatri-
cal villain-one of the stereOtyped play
robbers" SAYS the Admiral. Hereupon
he concludes that without doubt" the
man WAS VILLAS BOoTH, and that " II would
have Sited BooTns traeical spirit 10 slay
the President on such an occasion; 1t
would have added greatly to the scenic
effect" Later on they were hailed again,
"a sailor wanted TO report himself on
hoard the Saugus. There was no such
vessel in the fleet. A boat with five men IN
II was sent ashore, but the alleged sailor
had disappeared. These two ciEcum-
stances made me suspicious and every care
was taken that no one should get on board
without full Identification. The President
b;msslf felt a little unpleasant and ner'
xous. and that night marine kept guard
at the door"
All Of this stuff the Admiral relates as II
there could be no doubt about 1t. Yet
,bere ia not the slightest foundation
ao far as we can learn, for the
supposition that WnRFs BooTH was II
Richmond at the time. and Mr. LINcoLN''
feet not only filed the river but thousand:
and tens of thousands of his soldier:
swarmed on the banks.
The Admiral sees the occurrences OF thai
NIGHT in the light of subsequent events
and blends the whole into picture which
may pass well enough IN magazine article
but should have no place in history. Not
half-dozen people in the world knew tha
Mr.. LINCOLN intended to visit Richmond
il was therefore impossible that BooTf
should have come here ready TO do his
bloody work.
The venerable Admiral now proceeds e
describe the occurrences Of the next day
most memorable Of which Though often
before TODD was hevisit to Mr.. LINCOLN OF
Hon. JoHS A. CAMPBELL, who had been on
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court OF
the United States. General WEITzKL came
with him. Their interview was private anC
the result of II was that Mr.. LINCOLN wrote
an order permitting the Virginia Legisla
ture TO reassemble at Richmond to vote
Virginia back into the Union.
After Mr. CAMPBELL and General WEITzEr
left the vessel Mr.. LINCOLN told PoRrEI
what he had done and the Admiral a
good as informed him that he had made 9
great biunder. and the President at one,
realized his error and had messenger
sent after CAMPBELL aud WEITzEL with {
written countermand Of the order The
Presidents order was sent back aud they
never returned TO try TO reverse the de
clsiOn."
Thorecall indeed was great mistake. Mr.
LrScolx's first view was the correct one
PonrER says il would have created grea
row at the North. II would have done nc
such thing. Mr. LINCOLN had such hole
upon the hearts of the people, they so be
heved in the infallibility of bis judgment
that he could have had his own way
Besides, il was the right way, the on
way that opened to perfect peace and re
Cancellation.
Another incident related was the visit L
the President aboard the ship of the vene
rable and somewhat eccentric DUR GREEN
He and Mr.. LIscoLs had been old friends
and the latter cheerfully granted him al
interview. but when the President extend
ed his hand Mr.. GREEN refused 20 take il
saving: ut is red with blood; / can
touch il"
MIR. GREER then roundly rated the Presi
dent as the cause of the war. and Mr.. LIN
COLIN finally got angry and replied in term
and ordered him from the vessel.
Soon after this the President and the Ad
miral turned the PROV of their gunboa
back TO City Point. On their way dowi
they passed large transport loaded will
captured Confcderates, who hailed tn