Federal General-in-Chief Ulysses S. Grant’s wife Julia had read newspaper accounts about President Abraham Lincoln’s exhaustion and urged her husband to invite the president to army headquarters at City Point, Virginia, to get him away from Washington. Illinois Congressman Elihu B. Washburne, Grant’s political benefactor who was visiting headquarters at the time, suggested it as well.
When Grant said that the president did not need an invitation because he had the right to visit any time he wanted, a staffer explained that Lincoln did not want to interfere with military affairs and would not come unless invited. Thus, Grant sent Lincoln a telegram: “Can you not visit City Point for a day or two? I would like very much to see you, and I think the rest would do you good.”
Lincoln quickly answered, “Your kind invitation received. Had already thought of going immediately after the next rain. Will go sooner if any reason for it. Mrs. L and a few others will probably accompany me. Will notify you of exact time, once it shall be fixed upon.” The president was anxious to meet with Grant and to visit with the Federal armies laying siege to Richmond and Petersburg.
Lincoln had initially planned to make the trip himself to get away from the politicians and office-seekers and get some much-needed rest. The commandant of the Washington Navy Yard was instructed to prepare the dispatch steamer U.S.S. Bat to take him down Chesapeake Bay to City Point. But First Lady Mary Lincoln insisted on going as well to see their son Robert, who was serving on Grant’s staff. Officials therefore exchanged the Bat with the more luxurious steamer U.S.S. River Queen.
The Lincolns left Washington’s Arsenal Wharf at Sixth Street on March 23. Their party included son Tad, Mrs. Lincoln’s maid, White House bodyguard William H. Crook, and a second bodyguard, Captain Charles Penrose, sent by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. Despite a heavy storm, the River Queen started down the Potomac and arrived at City Point around 9 p.m. the following night. Robert Lincoln reported to Grant that his family had arrived.
Grant and his staff came down to the wharf to greet the Lincoln party, and they all repaired to the headquarters hut atop the bluff to visit further. Mrs. Grant hosted this makeshift social hour, which included Major-General George G. Meade, commanding the Army of the Potomac, and Major-General E.O.C. Ord, commanding the Army of the James, and their wives. The visit would be temporarily interrupted the following day when a battle suddenly broke out.
Bibliography
- Anderson, Nancy Scott; Anderson, Dwight, The Generals: Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. New York: Vintage Books, 1987.
- Catton, Bruce, Grant Takes Command. Open Road Media, Kindle Edition, 2015.
- Clark, Champ, The Assassination: The Death of the President. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1983.
- Donald, David Herbert, Lincoln. New York: Simon & Schuster, (Kindle Edition), 2011.
- Foote, Shelby, The Civil War, A Narrative: Red River to Appomattox. New York: Vintage Civil War Library, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group (Kindle Edition), 2011.
- Goodwin, Doris Kearns, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2005.
- Long, E.B. with Long, Barbara, The Civil War Day by Day. New York: Da Capo Press, Inc., 1971.
- McFeely, William S., Grant. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1981.