CHAPTER XI

LINCOLN IN RICHMOND

LITTLE more than two months before these CHAP. XI.

events, President Lincoln had written to General Grant: "Please read and answer this letter as though I was not President, but only a friend. My son, now in his twenty-second year, having graduated at Harvard, wishes to see something of the war before it ends. I do not wish to put him in the ranks, nor yet to give him a commission, to which those who have already served long are better entitled, and better qualified to hold. Could he, without embarrassment to you, or detriment to the service, go into your military family with some nominal rank, I, and not the public, furnishing his necessary means? If no, say so without the least hesitation, because I am as anxious and as deeply interested that you shall not be encumbered as you can be yourself."

Grant replied as follows: "Your favor of this date in relation to your son serving in some military capacity is received. I will be most happy to have him in my military family in the manner you propose. The nominal rank given him is immaterial, but I would suggest that of captain, as I have three staff-officers now, of considerable service, in

Lincoln to
Grant,

Jan. 19,

1865. MS.

CHAP. XI.

Grant

no higher grade. Indeed, I have one officer with only the rank of lieutenant who has been in the service from the beginning of the war. This, however will make no difference, and I would still say give the rank of captain.- Please excuse my writto Lincoln, ing on a half sheet. I have no resource but to take the blank half of your letter." The President's son therefore became a member of Grant's staff with the rank of captain, and acquitted himself of the duties of that station with fidelity and honor.

Jan. 21,

1865. MS.

We may assume that it was the anticipated important military events rather than the presence of Captain Robert T. Lincoln at Grant's headquarters which induced the General on the 20th of March, 1865, to invite the President and Mrs. Lincoln to make a visit to his camp near Richmond; and on the 22d they and their younger son Thomas, nicknamed "Tad," proceeded in the steamer River Queen from Washington to City Point, where General Grant with his family and staff were "occupying a pretty group of huts on the bank of the James River, overlooking the harbor, which was full of vessels of all classes, both war and merchant, "Memoirs." with wharves and warehouses on an extensive scale." Here, making his home on the steamer which brought him, the President remained about ten days, enjoying what was probably the most satisfactory relaxation in which he had been able to indulge during his whole Presidential service. It was springtime and the weather was moderately steady; his days were occupied visiting the various camps of the great army in company with the General.

Sherman,

Vol. II.,

p. 324.

Gen.

Horace

Porter,

in "The Century Magazine,"

1865.

"He was a good horseman," records a member of CHAP. XI. the General's staff, "and made his way through swamps and over corduroy roads as well as the best trooper in the command. The soldiers invariably recognized him and greeted him, wherever he appeared amongst them, with cheers that were no lip service, but came from the depth of their hearts." Many evening hours were passed with Oct., 1885, groups of officers before roaring camp-fires, where Mr. Lincoln was always the magnetic center of genial conversation and lively anecdote The interest of the visit was further enhanced by the arrival at City Point, on the evening of March 27, of General Sherman, who, having left General Schofield to command in his absence, made a hasty trip to confer with Grant. He was able to gratify the President with a narrative of the leading incidents of his great march from Atlanta to Savannah and from Savannah to Goldsboro', North Carolina. In one or two informal interviews in the after cabin of the River Queen, Lincoln, Grant, Sherman, and Rear-Admiral Porter enjoyed a frank interchange of opinion about the favorable prospects of early and final victory, and of the speedy realization of the long hoped for peace. Sherman and Porter affirm that the President confided to them certain liberal views on the subject of reconstructing State governments in the conquered States which do not seem compatible with the very guarded language of Mr. Lincoln elsewhere used or recorded by him. It is fair to presume that their own enthusiasm colored their recollection of the President's expressions, though it is no doubt true that he spoke of his willingness to be liberal to the verge of prudence,

CHAP. XL and that he even gave them to understand that he would not be displeased at the escape from the country of Jefferson Davis and other principal rebel leaders.

1865.

On the 29th of March the party separated, Sherman returning to North Carolina, and Grant starting on his final campaign to Appomattox. Five days later Grant informed Mr. Lincoln of the fall of Petersburg, and on his request the President made a flying visit to that town for another brief conference with the General. Here, also, amid the wildest enthusiasm, the President again reviewed the victorious regiments of Grant, marching through Petersburg in pursuit of Lee. The capture of Richmond was hourly expected, and that welcome information reached Lincoln after his return to City Point.

Between the receipt of this news and the following forenoon, but before any information of the great fire had been received, a visit to Richmond was arranged for the President and Admiral Porter.1 Ample precautions were taken at the start; the President went in the River Queen with her escort the Bat; Admiral Porter went in his flagship, the Malvern; the transport Columbus carried a small cavalry escort and ambulances for the party. A tug used at City Point to convey the President to and from the landing to the River

1 Since this chapter appeared in serial form, Major C. B. Penrose, U. S. A., who was detailed by Secretary Stanton to accompany President Lincoln on his visit, has permitted the editor of "The Century Magazine," to print in the June number, 1890,

a copy of the skeleton diary he kept at the time, from which we have been able to fill up the historical narrative with much greater accuracy. The authors are also indebted to Major Penrose for much additional information.