The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1899-08-18
LincOln's Last Day.

Oh Liz Dtdln vi EADl l-lDCOlllf
by Miss Ida NJ. Tarbell. The writel
tells how for ten days prior to the trag
,edy there was such rejoicing as the
world had rarely ever seen. News Of
reported victories were coming in
Petersburg evacuated, Richmond fallen
Jefferson Davis and his Cabinet fled
Lee surrendered-nothing in the Con
federacy in short remained but John
ston's army, and it was generally be-
lieved that its surrender to Sheridan
was but matter of hours. The man
that was most glad of all was Abra-
ham Lincoln. He had seen the end APP
preaching for weeks. Now, his duties
were to "bind up the Nations wounds,
to care for him who Shall have borne
the battle, and for his widow and his
orphan" But something like a spell
was over him. A few days before he
was sailing down to James, and re-
peated two or three times:
Duncan is in his grave;
After life's fitful fever, he sleeps we'll;
Treason has done his worst, rcr steel,
nor poison,
Malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing,
Can touch him further.
The day prior to the night on which
he was killed there was a Cabinet
meeting. Gen. Grant had been asked
to remain to it. The Cabinet officers
were plying Grant with questions, but
the writer says the President was least
anxious of ALL "The news would soon
come" he said, "and it would be favor
able. He had no doubt of this, for the
night before he had had dream which
had preceded nearly every important
event of, the war" OF this dream, Sec
rotary Welles afterward wrote;
He said it was in my department; that
he seemed to be in singular and in
describal ID We ;sel, but always the same,
and that he was moving with great
rapidity toward the dark and indefinite
shore; that he had had this singular
dream precedi" g the firing on Sumpter;
the battles of Bull Run, Antietam, Get
tysburg, Stone River, Vicksburg, Will
mington, etc. Victory did not always
follow his dream, but the event and re-
suits were important. He had no doubt
that battle had taken place or was
about being fought, and Johnston will
be beaten, for l had this strange dream
again last night. 1t must relate to Sher-
man; my thoughts are in that direction, |
and l know of no other very important |
In that Cabinet meeting the ques-
tion of reconstruction was taken up, |
and Lincoln said he chopped there would |
be no persecution, no bloody work af-
ter the war was over. None need eX-
pect he would take any part in hanging
or killing these men, even the worst of
them. Enough lives have been sacri-
feed. We must extinguish our resent
ment if we expect harmony and union"
"On that day he was more cheerful and
happy" said Secretary Stanton, "than
l had ever seeu him." he rejoiced at
the near prospect Of firm and durable
peace at home and abroad, manifested
in marked degree the kindness and hu
manity of his disposition, and the ten
oCi gnu ioi BiihS opiill lhtb oO CHI
nently distinguished him."
That afternoon he took a drive with
his family. As he returned and left
the carriage he saw going across the
lawn toward the treasury a group of
friends, among them Richard Oglesby, {
then Governor Of Illinois. Come back, {
boys; come back" he shouted The i
party turned and joined the President S
on the portico, then went to his office 7
"How long we remained there l do il
not remember" says Gov. Oglesby, {
Lincoln got to reading some humor. a
Jus book; think it was by John Phoe. Y
nix. They kept sending for him to f
,ome to dinner. He promised each
line to go, but would continue reading
he book" b
Schuyler Colfax and Mr.. Ashmun of fl
were with him when he t.
vas called to the carriage to so to the
heatre. At the door he paused long
nough to write on card, admit Mr..
Ashmun and friend tomorrow morning =
t 8 o'clock" AS he shook hands with
hem, he said to Mr.. Colfax, "Colfax, !,
ont forget to tell those people in the =
inning regions what l told you this
lorning,H Then entering the carriage
Q was driven to the theatre. That
as his last message on earth, land IL
hat he told Mr. Colfax was the story
nat has often been repeated that he
xpected the mines would pay the debt
nd make the country rich, but be mr.
reatly feared the money power.l At lis
lie theater the party was entertained, m
pecially by the President, who nc
ughed good-hgmoredly at the jokes vo