The National tribune., 1900-06-07
ASSASSINATION OF LINCOLN.
nl-Fated Steamer Sultana First to Garry the
News to NatcheZ, Miss.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Soon
after the 18th of April, 1865, was standing
on the bluffs overlooking the Father OF
Waters, at NatcheZ, Miss. | was still q
member of my veteran command, the 2Stt
i'll. We had vcteraniZed and the regi.
ment was doing provost duty in that city
Near me on the bluffs were twogentlemen-
civilians-and our attention was attracted
to the steamer Suitana descending the
stream; her flag waS half -masted, and
she was toIing her bells at intervals oi
perhaps 80 seconds. | approached the two
gentlemen, and remember of hearing them
say that the steamer possibly had dis
patches announcing the death of Secretary
Seward, then known to be sick. AT any
rate, it was ominous of some great National
loss, and as. .the war was practically over
it could not be battle loss.
! Immediately went to the landing, and
learned that our beloved Lincoln had been
asSaSSnated. | was the first TO convey
the news to my Captain, in our quarters
near Natchez. The Sultana had received
the dispatches at Memphis, and in those
days of meagcr telegraphic facilities was
the pioneer which brought us this sad
announcement.
On her return trip from New Orleans
she received at Nicksburg her ill-fated
human freight, and on the 21St of April,
at or near Memphis, her boilers were ex-
ploded, killing and drowning 1,300 of the
800 paroicd Union soldiers en- route to
their homes i'll the North She had been
overloaded at Vicksburg.
During the following Summer ] was
transferred to the 5Sth u. S. &. T., and in the
following Winter. returning from leave Of
absence TO my command at Jackson, Miss,
called on Lieut.-CoI. n. 5. Gibson, then
Judge Advocate of the Department OF
Mississippi, and he proposed to have me
detailed to assist him, as described i'll his
letter. Al first | declined, and proceeded
TO my command, but soon reconsidcred
my decision and wrote him, and WAS i'm
ordered to join him in Vicks-
burg.
In the meantime Capt. Joseph Speed,
Assistant Adjutant tGeneFal on the staff Of
Maj.-Gen. Morgan j.. Smith, had been
charged with criminal carelcssness in
overlooking the Sultana, and wo:s then
on trial. .,.,
Reconstruction had set in, and vicksburg
was III a state Of turmoil. Maj.-Gen.
Il. j. Wood was commanding the depart
ment al this time. Brig Gen. Charles A.
was the President OF the Court
Martial, and the findings Of the court were
not published or promulgated for some
time after left the service. ] was mustered
out, rs will be seen, April 80, 1866, and my
chief, Col. ellison, remained until June of
that year. He has since served Is years
as Circuit Judge at Fond du Lac, Wis.
He recently. declined a reelection and
retired as he wrote me recently, TO take
life easy; but Gov. Schoficld had appointed
him President Of Tax Commission, in which
position he is now Serving
The following letter WAS handed me by
this good friend and faithful officer and
jurist. which | treasure as | do letters |
received from him "a years ago:
DEPARTMENT OF MIS-
SISSpPI. JUDGE-ADVOCATE'S OFFICE,
VICKSBURG, MISS, April 80, 1866.
EDWIN l.. HOBART, First Lieutenant,
Co. X, 5Sth L. S. c. Inf.
SIR: | have the honor to state that by
special order number 81. from Head
quarters Department of Mississippi, you
have been relieved from further duty in
my Office, TO enable you TO muster out of
service with your regiment; and while
you on a safe return to
your friends after Il long and arduous term
)f service in the army, yet | very much
regret the necessity which deprivcs me
Df your assistance in conducting the buSi- |
ness Of my office. In taking final leave of
you, desire TO tender You my sincere and |
'arneSt thanks for the faithful and efficient
manner with which you have performed all |
thc duties assigned to you while serving |
with me III the Judgc-Advocate'S office of |
his department | shall always hold YOU |
n remembrance for the kind and courteous |
way in which YOU did these duties, and it |
s my wish that your future career in civil |
ife may be as prosperous and as II ppy |
rs your record as a soldier has been fair and |
honorable. | am, very respectfully, your |
)bedient servant,
n. S. gibson. Judge-Advocate, Depart |
nent of Mississippi.
When | bid Gen. r. J. Wood. our COM
nander, good-by, he said to me, BE good |
10Y. You have been good soldier; be |
good citizen. e. l.. HOBART, Denver, |
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