Evening star., 1935-04-14

p Of the I'd United States Artillery
and Battery H of the l4th Pennsyl-
vania Artillery. from Camp Barry.
under the direction of Brig. Gen.
Hall.
"A salute of 100 guns was also fired
from the battery of the navy yard
wharf.
Numbers Of persons chartered
whatever conveyance was available
and set out through the streets with
their vehicles profusely decked with
the American flag, and at this time
the Avenue is gay with such carriages,
the steam Fire Experimentation the
steam fire brigade and the city de-
partment. having long hook and
ladder truck, being decorated with
flags, and the apparatus OF the other
companies with steam on, which they
blew of in triumphant screams"
WHILE in Richmond President
w Lincoln visited the home of Gen.
George E. Pickett of the Confederate
Army. and of this visit his widow, the
late Mrs. La Sale Corbell Pickett, has
Interestingly recorded:
THE day after the fire there was a
rap at our door. The servants had all
run away. The city was full Of North
ern troops and my environment had
not taught me to love them. With my
baby in my arms. answered the
knock, opened the door and looked up
at a tall, gaunt. sad-faced man in i'll
fitting clothes. who asked with the ac-
cent Of the North:
"Is this George Pickett's place.?
"'This is Gen. pickett's home, sir
I replied. but he is not here
"'I know that. ma'am: I know
where George Pickett is he answered.
But I just wanted to see the place.
Down in old Quincy. ILL.,. where I used
to hear George Pickett whistle the
songs Of Virginia in his birdlike notes,
l have heard him describe his home
till in spirit have been here many a
time.
"'I have smelled the Multiflora roses
and the Lady Bankshire roses and the
Golden Cluster roses and those great
cabbage roses. I have seen the bor-
ders of hyacinth in the Springtime
and the lilies -of-the- valley blooming
in the chimney corner. the beds of
violets, the rows of beehives and the
lily beds that the bees knew were
theirs-had been planted just for
them.
81 have stood under the arbor and
gathered those green-looking grapes
that are like the Virginia ariStocracy,
growing each one on its own individ-
ual stem. I think he called them
Scuppernongs. I have sat on the back
porch and listened to the music as
his sister Virginia. of whom he was SO
proud, sang in that glorious voice he
told me about. and I have swung in
this old swing here while the moon
and watched and waited for the old
cat to die. So wanted to see the
place
It, listening. wondered who he could
be till he finished. and then he said:
"I am Abraham Lincoln
THE PRESIDENT I gasped.
'No-no-just Abrah ham Lincoln,
George Pickett's old friend
"I am George Pickett's wife and
this is his baby was all could say.
THE baby reached out his arms and
Mr.. Lincoln took him, look Of ten
derness almost divine glorifying that
sad face. I have never seen that ex-
preston on any other face. My little
one opened his mouth and insisted
upon giving his fathers friend dewy
baby kiss. AS he handed my baby back
to me Mr.. Lincoln shook his long hand
at him and said:
"'Tell your father, the rascal, that
I could almost forgive him anything
for the sake of those bright eyes and
that baby kiss
CIX days later. on April 9. q dispatch
~ was received at the War Depart
ment. forwarded from Gen. Grant at
$40 pm, announcing the surrender Of
Gen. Lee at Appomattox Court House.
BY the morrow Lincoln had returned
to the Capital and the press told the
people the gladsome news. which soon
spread throughout the city like wild
fire.
There was no thought of work, we
are told. 1.-THE Government DEPART
ments, the city Offices and places Of
business were closed. 'Salutes. bell
ringing and the music Of myriad bands
were heard on all Sides In the after
noon, at the request Of Mayor Wal
ZACH, a battery from Camp Barry took
position in front of the City Hall and
fred a salute of 200 guns and the
City Council paid for the shattered
window glass in that structure. The
rejoicing crowds formed professions
and, headed by bands and singing
The Star Spangled Banner old
Hundred and other favorites, marched
through the streets"
At the White House large crowd
gathered and called upon the Presi-
dent for q speech, and when he ap-
peared he was greeted with repeated
cheers. HE stood at hoisted window
Of the second story, clothed In q new
suit Of black" says l.. A. Gobright,
noted nsvspapas eorEsspondent 4