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Lincoln's Last Days: April 7, 1865

On Friday, April 7, 1865 (150 years ago today) Abraham Lincoln was still at City Point, Virginia, and was relishing the rapid progress that the Union army was making in bringing about the end of the Civil War. Mary Lincoln had arrived the previous day in the company of Senators Charles Sumner of Massachusetts and James Harlan of Iowa. Lincoln was reviewing telegrams from the front and relaying the information to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton in Washington. One of the telegrams Lincoln reviewed was from General George Gordon Meade, sent the previous night, and it provided the following information:

no title

At daylight this morning I moved the 2d 5 & 6th Corps along the R R in the direction of Amelia C.H soon after moving reliable Intelligence was received that the Enemy was moving toward Farmville [and] the direction [of] the 2d & 5th Corps was immediately changed from a northerly to a north westerly direction the directing Corps the 2d moving on Deatonville & the 5th heretofore in the centre moved on the right of the 2d & the 6th facing about and moving by the left flank taking position on left of the 2d it was understood the Cavalry would operate on the extreme left the changes were promptly made the 2d corps soon becoming engaged with the Enemy near Deatonville driving him by night across sailor Creek to the Appomatox the 5th corps made a long march but its position prevented its striking the Enemys column before it had passed. The 6th Corps came up with the Enemy about 4 PM & in conjunction with the 2d on its right & cavalry on its left attacked & routed the Enemy Capturing many prisoners among them Lt Gen Ewell & Gen Custis Lee. I transmit dispatch[es] both from Gen Humphreys & Wright which in justice to these distinguished officers & the gallant Corps they command I beg may be sent to the War Dept for immediate publication. it is impossible at this moment to give any estimate in [of] the casualties in either side or of the number of prisoners taken but it is evident todays works is going to be one of the most important of the recent brilliant operations The pursuit will be continued so soon as the men have a little rest [Charles] Griffin with 5th Corps will be moved by the left & Wright & Humphreys continue the direct pursuit as long as it promises success

GEO. G. MEADE


The following is a telegram sent the previous night by General A. A. Humphreys:

Our last fight just before dark at Sailors Creek gave us two (2) guns 3 flags considerable number of prisoners 200 wagons 70 ambulances with mules & horses to about one half the wagons & ambulances. There are between 30 & 50 wagons in addition abandoned & destroyed along the road some batty wagons forges & limbers I have already reported to you the capture 1 gun 2 flags & some prisoners & the fact that the Road for over 2 miles is strewed with tents baggage cooking utensils some ammunition some material of all kinds the wagons [are] across the approach to the bridge & it will take some time to clear it The Enemy is in position on the height beyond, with 6 artillery the bridge partially destroyed & the approaches on other side are of soft bottom land We cannot advance tomorrow in the same manner we have today. as soon as I get my troops up a little we are considerably mixed I might push a column down the road & deploy it but [it] is Evident that I cannot follow rapidly during the night

A A HUMPHREYS


Lincoln met with former journalist and current Assistant Secretary of War Charles Dana, the man who, years previously, he had dispatched to report on whether or not reports of General Ulysses Grant's drinking were accurate or exaggerated. Dana had helped convince Lincoln of Grant's competence. Lincoln told Dana that General Philip "Sheridan seemed to be getting Virginia soldiers out of the war faster than this legislature could think."

That day Lincoln also reviewed troops. According to Mary Lincoln's maid, Elizabeth Keckley, Lincoln tired himself out shaking hands with the men.

That evening on the steamship River Queen, Lincoln met with visiting Congressmen James G. Blaine of Maine (a future Secretary of State and Republican candidate for President) and Elihu Washburne of Illinois, the man who was one of Ulysses Grant's greatest supporters.
Tags: abraham lincoln, civil war, james g. blaine, ulysses s. grant
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