The next morning, being placed in their coffins, they were conveyed in solemn procession (during the progress of which minute-guns were fired) to the President's House, and placed in the East Room, where thousands on thousands of citizens and strangers gathered to view them. I can never forget the impression this fearfully sad sight made upon me. On the assembling of Congress at twelve o'clock, the President sent a message to the two Houses, referring in appropriate terms to the terrible disaster, and announcing the death of the two secretaries by name. Upon the reading of the message in the Senate, Mr. William C. Rives made a short address, from which the following is an extract. Said he, "Surely, Mr. President, never in the mysterious providences of God has a day on earth been marked in its progress by such startling and astounding contrasts— opening and advancing with hilarity and joy, mutual congratulations and patriotic pride, and closing in scenes of death and disaster, of lamentation and unutterable woe. It was my sad fortune, Mr. President, to be an eye-witness of these never-to-be-forgotten events. If I had language to describe them, the power of speech would fail me."

Mr. Hopkins, of Virginia, made the leading speech in the House, and upon the adoption of resolutions to attend the funeral, etc., both branches adjourned from the 29th of February till Monday, the 4th of March. On the evening of the 29th of February, the remains of Mr. Maxey were removed to the house of his son-in-law, Mr. Francis Markoe, and thence, on the following morning, to the family residence in Maryland.

The funeral was held at the President's House on the 2d of March. Assembling in their respective halls, the members of the Senate and House proceeded thence in a body to the funeral, the religious ceremonies at which were conducted by Rev. Mr. Hawley, of St. John's church; Rev. Dr. Laurie, pastor of the Presbyterian church, then occupying the building since converted into Willard's Hall, on F

Street; and Rev. Mr. Butler, of the Trinity church, corner of C and Third Streets. The East Room was filled to its utmost capacity, while still greater crowds assembled in the adjoining halls and in front of the edifice outside. The funeral escort under command of General Scott was most imposing. Besides the volunteer troops and a battalion of marines, there was a squadron of cavalry, troops of United States artillery, etc., and many officers of the navy as well as of the army. There were pall-bearers to each hearse. The President and surviving members of his Cabinet, the Senate and House of Representatives, with their officers, foreign ministers, judges of the courts, and officers of the executive departments, various societies and private citizens joined in the procession to the Congressional Cemetery. Never before, probably, except on the occasion of President Harrison's funeral, in April, 1841, when I remember MajorGeneral Macomb was in command, had so large a funeral procession been seen at the capital.

In returning from the cemetery, the President's horses took fright near the Capitol, and ran with fearful speed along Pennsylvania Avenue a distance of nearly one mile, when, fortunately without collision, they were finally arrested by a resolute colored man, and the distinguished occupants of the carriage escaped unhurt.

These scenes are impressed almost as vividly on my memory as though they were of yesterday. I might go to the records to show how few of the prominent actors in public life of that time still survive; but it would only add another mournful shadow to the picture.

WASHINGTON, D. C.

CHAPTER VIII

MY FIRST AND LAST SIGHT OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

His Secret Arrival in Washington-Calls with Seward on the President and Cabinet-Lee's Surrender-Great Rejoicing-The SerenadeStar-Spangled Banner and Dixie-The President's Speech.

THERE is no more vivid or apparently indelible impression on the tablet of my memory than my first and last sight of President Lincoln; and the circumstances connected therewith are equally well remembered. The first occasion was when he called on President Buchanan, in company with Senator Seward, on the 23d of February, 1861, and the last was when he excused himself from making a speech at the Executive Mansion on the evening of April 10, 1865, the next day after Lee's surrender.

It is generally known that Mr. Lincoln arrived in Washington, unannounced, several hours before he was expected by the public at large. It was supposed that he would rest at Harrisburg overnight, and probably not more than three or four persons were cognizant of his intention to come directly through without stopping. Indeed, it was stated at the time that he kept this intention entirely to himself, but it was doubtless known to his travelling companions, Mr. Lamon, afterwards marshal of the District of Columbia, and Mr. E. J. Allen, as well as to Senator Seward. None of the railroad officials on the train, either from Harrisburg to Baltimore, or from Baltimore to Washington, knew he was on board. Great preparations for his reception had been made, both at Baltimore and Washington; and as late as eleven o'clock, after his arrival in the morning of the 23d, active preparations were in progress to send the contemplated extra train for him to Baltimore. Shortly before six o'clock of that morning, somewhat to the won

der of the few around at that early hour, Senator Seward was seen waiting at Willard's Hotel, where rooms had been quietly engaged for Mr. Lincoln the previous day. He had not long to wait before Mr. Lincoln arrived, and was immediately escorted to his rooms by Mr. Seward, who left him alone for rest. At nine o'clock A.M., Mr. Lincoln received his breakfast in his private parlor, and his presence was so little known in the city that it was one o'clock in the afternoon before any callers came to see him.

About eleven in the morning, in company with Mr. Seward, Mr. Lincoln went to pay his respects to the President. There was a special meeting of the Cabinet that forenoon, and it was in session when the door-keeper came in and handed the President a card. With a look of pleasant surprise, Mr. Buchanan said, " Uncle Abe is down-stairs!" and immediately went to meet him in the Red Room.* In the course of fifteen or twenty minutes he returned with Mr. Lincoln and Governor Seward, who were presented to the members of the Cabinet, and, after a few minutes' conversation of no special importance, the visitors left to call on General Scott. Although I was living in Washington while Mr. Lincoln was a member of Congress, I had no recollection of having ever seen him before. I was at once struck by his tall, lank figure, towering, as it did, almost head and shoulders above Senator Seward, and even overtopping President Buchanan, as they entered the room. I was equally impressed, also, by his quiet, unaffected manner and placid disposition. I did not observe in him the least sign of nervousness or deep concern; and there is good reason to believe that, "with malice towards none, with charity for all," he felt confident of being able to gain the good-will of the Southern malcontents and of soon bringing the seceding States back to their proper relations in the Federal Government. The Peace Convention was then in

*The writer was one of the members of President Buchanan's Cabinet at the time.

session, and hopes of an amicable settlement had not yet. been abandoned. But, alas! alas!! Instead of allowing wisdom to assert its control, the madness of folly bore sway, and for four long years the country was deluged in blood!

The news of Lee's surrender was received at the War Department just before nine o'clock Sunday evening, the 9th of April, 1865, and ere the dawn of day the citizens were awakened by the sound of cannon proclaiming the joyful tidings. Soon crowds of people, accompanied by bands of music, passed through the streets, singing the "Star-Spangled Banner," "Rally Round the Flag, Boys," and other patriotic songs. The courts met and adjourned, and nearly all business was suspended. The clerks in the various offices were dismissed for the day, and hundreds of them, augmented by throngs of other citizens, gathered on the south steps and sidewalk of the Interior Department, and unitedly raised their voices to the grand old tune of "Old Hundred" in singing

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow."

Never in my life had I heard those words sound so sweetly or seem to touch the heart so tenderly. I was on my way to the Post-Office Department, where I found PostmasterGeneral Dennison in the main hall of the second story making a congratulatory address to a crowd assembled around him. About ten o'clock, a line, composed of nearly two thousand persons, mostly from the Navy Yard and vicinity, and constantly increasing, passed along Pennsylvania Avenue, headed by the Marine Band, and with two small howitzers in the rear, which were fired at intervals. On reaching the White House, after several airs by the band, loud calls were made for the President, when he shortly appeared at a front chamber window, and was greeted with hearty cheering. The band now struck up the stirring tune "America," and was joined vocally in the words,

"My country, 'tis of thee I sing,"