The Washington herald., 1914-06-21
THE WAR DAY By DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
june 2 lS64Pden Lincoln Visited the Federal Army Front Of Pc
rsbus Inspected the Positions Troops
Demonha6ons Of Joy by Negro Troops Seeing Lincoln

The emotional blacks. looking for ths
] first time upon the man whom they re-
garded as the liberator Of their race. wers
uncomfortable In their desire to pay
homage TO Lincoln.
They patted his horse. selzed his
hands. shouted hymns Of praise and fer
vent blessings for "Farder Abraham. .
and even kissed his garments.
Lincoln was deeply moved by this
demonstration. and the officers near him
saw tears gather in his eyes and roll
dusty course down his careworR deep
ly-lined cheeks.
When he next spoke his voice shook
with emotion. Before seeing the negro
troops Lincoln had said to Grant. Ae
cording to Col Porter.
Il was opposed on nearly every side
when, / first favored the raising OF
colored regiments, but they have proved
their efficiency When We wanted every
able bodied man who could be spared to
go 10 the front. and my opposers kept
objccting to the negroes. I used to tel
them that at such times Il was just as
well TO be a little color blind
Lincoln then told n story of an old
time abolitionlst In Illinois who had seen
Forrest in "Othello.'' and had declarer
that "layin' aside all sectional preju-
dice" he was 'derned' II he didn't think
the Niger held his own with any on
EN-
That evening. In front Of Grants camp
al City Point. Lincoln delighted a little
group of officers with his quaint ana
touching stories. As the party broke up
the President followed Col Porter into
his tent. and looked about II curiously,
as IL to see how a young officer liveu
in the field. His eye lighted on an OBJ
ject that seemed TO arouse his interest.
and Col Porter informed him that II was
a patent artillery trace. Lincoln at one
with smile quoted the line: Sorrow
had fed. but left her traces there"
How Grant Held On.
That night the President slept aboard
his steamer. The next day the PresI-
dent, Gen. Grant, Admiral Lee and
few others went up the James River on
the Presidents boat The President was
of the river
made at Bermuda Hundred. for can
on Gen. Il. F. Butler, commanding the
Army OF the James. which was en-
camped there. The President knew that
Gen. Butler had proven a failure as
commander in the field. but admired him
for his political and administrative abii-
titles. and felt that he should be treated
with consideration on account OF his in
nuence with Democrats OF the North
Their meeting was cordial
The trip being resumed. the steamer
went as far as II was safe. and turned
back only when a point had been reached
that was not much more than a dozen
miles from Richmond.
That was as near as Lincoln was des-
tined 10 get to the Confederate capital
until a memorable visit to the army in
April, 1876. when he visited il almost on
the heels of the retreating Confederate
government and army.
After returning from his trip up the
James the President started on his re-
turn journey to Washington. The OFF,
GERS who had been with him cherished
his remarks, and none more than one
he had made TO Gen. Butler: when
Grant once gets possession OF a place
he holds on to il as If he had inherited
it"
Lincoln was well pleased with what he
had seen and heard At the front lie
now knew from personal observation
that his faith in Grant was not mis-
placed. The political hounds might bay
as they would, the situation was sound.
The Presidents visit ano its result did
not pass unnoted by The statesmen at
Charles Sumner wrote a
British correspondent that on his return
from Grants headquarters the President
had told him CSumnerI that Grant had
said: Il am as far of from Richmond
now as ! ever shall be: shall taKe the
place" But Grant added. Sumner noted, !
that the task might require. as the Con- I
federate papers had said. "a long sum
mer's day"
Tomorrow: Federals repuIsed at Peters |
burg.
Tomorrow; FedernIs repuISed Mt |
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