The National tribune., 1896-10-01

the city Richmphd) April 3, 1865, or
passing out from Clay street, from JEFF
Davis's house, T. SAW crowd coming
headed by President Lincoln, who wa'
walking with his usual long, careless
strides, and looking about with an in.
terested air and taking in everything.
"Upon my saluting him, he said
: Is it far to President Davis's house ?
I accompanied him to the house, which
was occupied by Gen. Weitzel as Head
quarters The President had arrived
about 9 o'clock at the landing called the
The Rockets upon Admiral Porter's
flagship, the Malvern, and as soon as the
boat was made fast, without ceremony, he
walked ashore, and started off up town
As soon as Admiral Porter was informed
of it he ordered
GUARD OF MARINEe
to follow as escort; but in the walk o1
about two miles they never saw him, and
he was directed by negroes.
"At the Davis house he was shown
into the reception-room, with the remark
that the housekeeper had said that that
room was President Davis's office. As
he seated himself he remarked, This
must have been President Davis's chair,
and, crossing his legs, he looked far of
with serious, dreamy expression. AT
length he asked me if the housekeeper
was in the house. Upon learning that
she had left, he jumped up and said,
with a boyish manner: Come, let's look
at the house.
"We went pretty much over it. !
retailed all that the housekeeper had told
me, and he seemed interested in every
thing. As we came down the staircase
Gen. Weitzel came in in breathless haste,
and at once President Lincoln's face lost
its boyish expression, as he realized that
duty must be resumed. Soon afterward
Judge Campbell, Gen. Anderson (Con-
federates) and others called and asked for
an interview with the President. It was
granted, and took place in the parlor
with closed doors"
The statement of Capt. Graves, in the
same article, that Gen. Weitzel sent his
pocketbook to Gen. Lee after his re-
turn to Richmond, with the generous re-
quest that he would help himself to its
contents (the pocketbook was to be re-
turned), and that Gen. w. n. F Lee
presented the book to his father kneel-
ing at his feet, andthat Gen. Lee courte-
ously declined the offer, makes fitting
FINISH r3 THE ROMANCE,
Of which the author is the hero.
Due allowance should be made for
statement made from memory alone
after lapse of over 25 years, but there
is no excuse for picturing the President
as being devoid Of common sense, and
an Admiral, in the navy, whose
guest he was and wAo was responsible
for his safety, by rudely leaving his pro-
tection without ceremony, and wander
ing through the Streets of hostile city
alone and unprotected, shining mark
tor an assassin's bullet. ae
Following is All extract from the New
York Times of April 8, 1865, dated
Tuesday, April 4, 1865:
"The most interesting event to be re-
corded to-day is the visit of the President
o Richmond. Mr.. Lincoln, accom-
panied by his young son and Admiral
Porter, arrived at The Rockets at 2 D.
n. in the Malvern. and proceeded at
,nce to the mansion of ex-President
Davis, now the Headquarters of Maj
1en. Weitzel.
"The arrival Of the President soon
got noised abroad, and the colored popu-
alton turned out in great force, and for
time blockaded the quarters of the
resident, cheering vociferously. After
short interval the President held
evee, Gen. Devens introducing all the
Mcers present. The President shook
lands with each, and received the hearty
of all.
"The Presidential party, attended by
1ens. Weitzel, Devens, and Shepley,
nd brilliant staff of officers, then
made tour around the Capitol, stop
ing few minutes to admire Crawford's
statute of Washington in
he grounds of the Capitol, and returned
o Gen. Weitzels Headquarters at $50
clock.
"The President and party left Rich
nond at 6:3o p. m. The following off
ers attached to the Army of the Poto-
nae were the first to arrive in Rich
nond yesterday belonging to that army
lieut.. Thos. Fuller, Schenectady, N. Y,
\. @. NJ, City Point; Capt. P. F. Tai
ot, c. S., Dept Field Hospitals, A. of
,; Capt. j. II. Woodward, Gen. Meade's
Headquarters, A. of p, and Lieut.. Geo.
!. Dudley, Headquarters Engineer Bri-
ade, City Point.-R. ID. FRANCIS, Cor
A cs.Ia