Middletown transcript., 1922-02-18
A. LINCOLN ADDRESS
Delivered to Bethesda M. e. Sum-
day School
BY REV. EDWIN W. CASWELL

call for delegates. Rev. Samuel Brown,
pastor of the Methodist Episcopal
Church at Herkimer, N. Y, who had
served one term as u delegate. invited
me to accompany him to Philadelphia,
where we were TO make application tor
the position. MIR. Brown was easily re-
appointed. l was rejected, partly be-
cause of my youth, 1 being then only
2l years of age. and also because of the
great rush of delegates to the front at
that time. had taken the precaution
to take with me a receipt, just received
from the Treasurer OF the Christian
Commission, for 200 90, the proceeds
of fair held in lion. N. Y, under the
auspices of the Local Auxiliary, of
which | was treasurer. The presenta-
ton of that receipt Immediately gave
me my commission. Rev. ,r. Brown
and joyously started on our trip to
Baltimore, and thence down the Chesa-
peake TO Fortress Monroe and to City
Point, Va, arriving on Tuesday, April
At that time, there We're about 1000
wounded soldiers at Guy Point, incluu-
ing about 8, 900 Confederates. The tents
containing the wounded, were arranged
in rows, facing the street. each tent
furnishing accommodation for about
to pass between the rows ot cots in the
centre. Our work among sick and
wounded was to distribute the following
articles: Shirts, drawers, socks, hano-
kerchiefs, towels, bandages. lint, la
rina, corn starch, crackers, cordials,
dried fruit, canned fruit, jeiiies and
pickles, Jamaica ginger. ana condensed
milk, Bibles for huspitals and Tesla
ments to all soldiers. We Aere also 10
distribute books for gunboat libraries,
hospital libraries, and weekly anu
monthly religious papers.
On Wednesday. April 5th, President
Lincoln and party arrived al City Point,
on the steamboat River Queen" The
President and company continued their
journey by rail to Petersburg and Rich
Inond returning to City Point on >atur-
day, April Sth. On this day, it was my
never-to- be forgotten privilege to study
the face and to erjoy the society of
Abraham Lincoln. accompanied the
President and his party while they
briefly visited every hospital tent in
City Point. The President walked
through each tent. shaking hands with
each soldier, as he passed by, while
Mrs. Lincoln, upon the arm of Char,es
Sumner, Attorney-General Joshua
Speed, the Marquis de Chambrun. and
others of the company, slowly saunter-
ed along the street between the tents
The President moved 81 rapidly that he
nearly kept up with the party. Many
Of the wounded had only just arrived
from the battles around Petersburg, and
from the running fight beyond, to
Burkesville. There were nearly as
many Confederate wounded as Union
men. Mr.. Lincoln made no distinction,
grasping the hand of the Rebel as
warmly as he did the hands of his own
bows.
The President would often make a
cheering remark in passing, especially
to the boys IN gray, saving. "The war
is over now, boys; you will soon be
home again Cheer up re all
to bed where captain was dying.
He was suffering from IL wounds Mr..
Lincoln walked over to him, and, taking
him .by the hand, with other friends,
formed circle around him. Presently
the dying man half opened his eyes;
faint smile passed over his lips. 1t was
then that his pulse ceased heating.
What privilege for a young man, tC
be with Abraham Lincoln during those
afternoon hours, when he had laid aside
the cares of state. forgotten the bur
dens of government, and poured ou
his great heart in sympathetic friendI
ness, in gentle tenderness upon the
wounded, suffering spirits of noble
soldier boys That remarkable expert
ence has ever been an inspiration in my
life. ! can see to-day, that tall, ben
form, those lines of care, scanning tn,
sun-browned face. those gray-browi
eyes, with oceans of love behind them
nxrta lAl L.
ing eyebrows, surmounted by a wide
high forehead, furrowed with darl
wrinkles, that expressive nose, thos
firm lips, all speaking to me of tn
greatness and goodness that wonderful
face mrrored. At times, deep sad
ness was reflected from his countenance
that was indescribable. making on
think that the merriment and illumina
ton on his face was only momentary
The deeps of his being were sad. Ofte
he had letters, warning him of comm
assassination, while the whole Republic
in the throes of rebellion, had reste
upon his bent shoulders, his burdene
heart.
In the evening, the distinguishe
party re-embarked on the Rive
Queen" for Washington. We littl
imagined we should never see the fac
OF the PRESIDENT again. All day SUI
day, they were steaming up the Pt
tomac. The Marquis de Chambrun tel
us that, for several hours, Mr.. Linco
read passages from Shakespeare to tt
company. When he read of Duncan
ASSASSINATION and of Macheth's becon
ing king, he remarked, How true
description of the murderer that or
was when, the dark deed achieved, /
torturing perpetrator came to envy Il
sleep of his VICTIM" and then Mr. Iii
coin REID over again the same seen
with greater emphasis. Perhaps
had some premonition of his own d
parture in similar way.
On the day Abraham Lincoln W
assassinated, Friday, April Ia, he W
cheerful, even to joyousness. The W
was over, peace reigned. a great day
Thanksgiving was soon to be calls
General Grant had just arrived fra
the front. Captain Robert Linco
was, on that day, paying his father
visit, preparatory to returning to
studies. Driving out that evening. t
President seemed so joyous that Nj
Lincoln said, 81 have seen you til
only once before; it was just before q
dear Willie died." At 10 80 that eve
ing, the President was shot. Dying |
next morning, Secretary Stanton e
quently exclaimed, Now heibelongs
the ages"
City Point did not learn of
tragedy till Sunday morning, April l6