Lincoln's Last Days: April 8, 1865
Saturday, April 8, 1865 (150 years ago today) was Abraham Lincoln's final day at City Point, Virginia. He began the day by meeting Illinois Congressman Elihu Washburne on shore and handing Washburne a letter to give to Lincoln's oldest son, Captain Robert Lincoln, who was with General Ulysses Grant at the front. The Marquis de Chambrun and Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts met with Lincoln that morning aboard the River Queen, and the President showed them the seating arrangement at the Hampton Roads Conference.
Later that morning, the Presidential party, including Mrs. Lincoln, left by special train to Petersburg. When he arrived there, Lincoln conducted an inspection of the hospital camps and he conferred with some of the generals at the Union headquarters on far side of town. He would also visit injured soldiers at City Point later in the day. In Team of Rivals, author Doris Kearns Goodwin describes the day as follows at page 722-3:
On Saturday morning, Lincoln and his guests visited Petersburg. At a certain spot, the Marquis recalled, "he gave orders to stop the carriage." On his previous visit, Lincoln had noticed "a very tall and beautiful" oak tree that he wanted to examine more closely. "He admired the strength of its trunk, the vigorous development of branches," which reminded him of "the great oaks" in the Western forests. He halted the carriage again when they passed "an old country graveyard" where trees shaded a carpet of spring flowers. Turning to his wife, Lincoln said "Mary, you are younger than I. You will survive me. When I am gone, lay my remains in some quiet place like this." On the train ride back to City Point, Lincoln observed a turtle "basking in the warm sunshine on the wayside." He asked that the train be stopped so the turtle could be brought into the car. "The movements of the ungainly little animal seemed to delight him," Elizabeth Keckley [Mary Lincoln's maid] recalled. He and Tad shared "a happy laugh" all the way back to the wharf.
Such distractions could not forestall the afternoon's grim task. Lincoln visited injured soldiers at City Point, moving "from one bed to another," the Marquis recalled, "saying a friendly word to each wounded man or at least giving him a handshake." At one bed he held the hand of a twenty-four year old Captain who had been cited for bravery. "The dying man half-opened his eyes, a faint smile passed over his lips. It was then that his pulse ceased beating." Lincoln remained among the wounded for five hours and returned to the steamer depleted. "There has been war enough," he said when the Marquis inquired about the troubles with France and Mexico, "during my second term there will be no more fighting."
That evening, as the River Queen prepared to return to Washington, Grant's officers and staff came to say farewell. Lincoln had hoped to remain at City Point until Lee's surrender, but felt he should visit [Secretary of State William] Seward. "As the twilight deepened, the lamps were lighted and the boath was brilliantly illuminated," Elizabeth Keckley recalled, "it looked like an enchanted floating palace." When the military band came aboard, Lincoln asked them to play "La Marseillaise in honor of the Marquis de Chambrun."
Of that incident, author David Herbert Donald, in his 1995 biography Lincoln, adds this anecdote at page 580:
Before their departure, he requested the military band on the River Queen to play La Marseillaise in honor of the Marquis de Chambrun, who, the President remarked, had to come all the way to America to hear the revolutionary song that was banned under the Second Empire. Then Lincoln asked the surprised band director to play Dixie. "The tune is now Federal property," he announced, and it's "good to show the rebels that with us in power, they will be free to hear it again."
At 11 p.m. the River Queen, with the Presidential party aboard, left City Point, for return trip to Washington. It is said that Lincoln was quiet on much of the trip back. The upcoming week would be an eventful one that would bring about the surrender of Lee's Army. It would also be the last week of Lincoln's life.
Later that morning, the Presidential party, including Mrs. Lincoln, left by special train to Petersburg. When he arrived there, Lincoln conducted an inspection of the hospital camps and he conferred with some of the generals at the Union headquarters on far side of town. He would also visit injured soldiers at City Point later in the day. In Team of Rivals, author Doris Kearns Goodwin describes the day as follows at page 722-3:
On Saturday morning, Lincoln and his guests visited Petersburg. At a certain spot, the Marquis recalled, "he gave orders to stop the carriage." On his previous visit, Lincoln had noticed "a very tall and beautiful" oak tree that he wanted to examine more closely. "He admired the strength of its trunk, the vigorous development of branches," which reminded him of "the great oaks" in the Western forests. He halted the carriage again when they passed "an old country graveyard" where trees shaded a carpet of spring flowers. Turning to his wife, Lincoln said "Mary, you are younger than I. You will survive me. When I am gone, lay my remains in some quiet place like this." On the train ride back to City Point, Lincoln observed a turtle "basking in the warm sunshine on the wayside." He asked that the train be stopped so the turtle could be brought into the car. "The movements of the ungainly little animal seemed to delight him," Elizabeth Keckley [Mary Lincoln's maid] recalled. He and Tad shared "a happy laugh" all the way back to the wharf.
Such distractions could not forestall the afternoon's grim task. Lincoln visited injured soldiers at City Point, moving "from one bed to another," the Marquis recalled, "saying a friendly word to each wounded man or at least giving him a handshake." At one bed he held the hand of a twenty-four year old Captain who had been cited for bravery. "The dying man half-opened his eyes, a faint smile passed over his lips. It was then that his pulse ceased beating." Lincoln remained among the wounded for five hours and returned to the steamer depleted. "There has been war enough," he said when the Marquis inquired about the troubles with France and Mexico, "during my second term there will be no more fighting."
That evening, as the River Queen prepared to return to Washington, Grant's officers and staff came to say farewell. Lincoln had hoped to remain at City Point until Lee's surrender, but felt he should visit [Secretary of State William] Seward. "As the twilight deepened, the lamps were lighted and the boath was brilliantly illuminated," Elizabeth Keckley recalled, "it looked like an enchanted floating palace." When the military band came aboard, Lincoln asked them to play "La Marseillaise in honor of the Marquis de Chambrun."
Of that incident, author David Herbert Donald, in his 1995 biography Lincoln, adds this anecdote at page 580:
Before their departure, he requested the military band on the River Queen to play La Marseillaise in honor of the Marquis de Chambrun, who, the President remarked, had to come all the way to America to hear the revolutionary song that was banned under the Second Empire. Then Lincoln asked the surprised band director to play Dixie. "The tune is now Federal property," he announced, and it's "good to show the rebels that with us in power, they will be free to hear it again."
At 11 p.m. the River Queen, with the Presidential party aboard, left City Point, for return trip to Washington. It is said that Lincoln was quiet on much of the trip back. The upcoming week would be an eventful one that would bring about the surrender of Lee's Army. It would also be the last week of Lincoln's life.