Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-02-09

Az OLD NEGRO THREW HIMSELF AT TIIR
PET Oh LINCOLN.
did he betake himself TO Il swamp jun
gle or mountain fastncss TO shoot
bears or wildcats. lie took a boat ride
He went down 10 city Point. on the
James river. In Virginia, TO see how
General Grants army was getting
along. Grant had his headquarters
there in a group OF cottages on a high
blur where the James and the Ap-
pomattOx rivers join. For ten days
the president lived there. greeting his
great generals. chatting with the lesser
officers aud visiting the private sol
diers in their tents. Always for COM
manding general or for the blue blous-
ed man Ia the ranks he had a word OF
cheer and frequently funny little
story that illustrated some wise point
OF argument
1t was an odd sort OF vacation. Lin
coin called it his holiday, but as a mat
ter Of fact he was still at work, doing
his duty by the people. making person
al inspection OF the army and onering
Ia his almost apologize manner now
and then a suggestion to General
Grant
General Sherman. fresh from his Ia
nous march 10 the sea, visited City
Point 10 confer with Lincoln and
Grant All knew that the war was
drawing 10 its close; that the great
struggle was nearly over; that ultimate
victory lay just beyond. Grant and
Sherman each believed that he must
fight one more terrible battle.
Don't do il if you can help IT,"
urged the humane Lincoln. "Ne more
blo0dshcd, no more blOOdshed," he re-
peatedly said
All day on the 31st OF March, when
Grant was beginning his final move
ment against Lee, Lincoln sat in the
telegraph office at headquarters for
warding to Mr.. Stanton, secretary Of
war. the reports that came in from
Grant who was here and there and
everywhere up and down his long line
or army maneuvers. Joyous news Lin
coin sent to Washington. One item
was the victory of General Sheridan ut
Five Points on the LIST os April An
other was the evacuation of Peters
burg. The president himself entered
Petersburg but a few hours after the
Confederates moved out for a final talk
with Grant. who was about to move on
from there after the retreating army.
On the 2d Of April the joyful news that
Richmond had been evacuated reached
City Point. and Lincoln Immediately
said, Il want to see Richmond"
Two days later he started up the
James. and. with four friends aud a
guard OF ten United States marines.
the president of the United States.
landing from his little steamer. walked
into Richmond. the Confederate capt.
tai. which for four years his armies
had been irving TO capture II is re-
lated thar an old negro threw himself
at the feet or Lincoln. kissing the big
boots which he wore. and cried out:
Dress de Lawdl Hcah am de great
Messiahr
Such crowds gathered about the pres
ident. who was so tan that he could
be seen and recognized even from the
outer edge OF the multitude. that the
small guard OF marines had n bard
struggle to Get him through the throng
20 tho White House OF the CoDfedera-
cy. the home OF Jefferson Davis dur
ing the war MIR Davis OF course had
taken his departure The Federal
troops made his house their headquar-
tiers. For two days Lincoln remained
In Richmond. amid a hostile population