Grant and Lincoln's invitation

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thank you, Kees, for YOUR kind words and wishes. So then here it goes again:

Kees, THANK YOU for this excellent research and explanation, and for sharing it. I, too, have always wondered why the "4****" rank had not existed in the USA before, but failed to research it. I just accepted the USA had their own, different system - period. But the reason and info are as interesting as they do make sense.

Kees, it was a cold and rainy fall break day and I down with a cold, so I checked the "One Hundered Eyewitness Accounts" in "We saw Lincoln Shot" as for 1.) statements on Gen. Grant's and/or A. Lincoln's announced attendance being the decisive attraction, and 2.) hints on how packed the theater was. [I add some personal thoughts in brackets, you may, of course, draw different conclusions from the accounts.]

Roger, please see Spencer Bronson's account of April 16, 1865 (800 came)!

- Jason S. Knox (Apr. 15, 1865): "I could not resist the temptation to see General Grant and the President."
- Helen DuBarry (Apr. 16, 1865): "It was given out during the day that Mrs. Lincoln had engaged a "Box" for the President and Genl. Grant and having a desire not only to see them but to see the "American Cousin" performed, we determined to go."
- Charles A. Sanford (Apr. 16, 1865): "As I was going to dinner last night and passing Ford's Theatre, I saw by a poster that Laura Keene was to make her last appearance that night…I stopped and procured a ticket." [So there were still tickets available at last minute!]
- Spencer Bronson (Apr. 16, 1865): "I would make an attempt to be present not so much for the attraction of the play but for the sake of seeing Mr. Lincoln & most of all Gen. Grant who I have heard but seen once At an early hour. 800 came."
- Major General B. F. Butler (?): I arrived at the theater about 8 ¼ PM and …found a vacant seat…" [Still vacant seats after the first curtain had risen…]
- John Downing, Jr. (Apr. 26, 1865): "That evening about 7 o'clock I saw…Ewell, and five others…my companion, who had never seen Gen. Grant proposed that we shoukd go to Ford's…Although I had seen the Lieutenant General Grant, I was willing and anxious to see him again, and so we went…Gen. Grant was not there…We soon got over our disappointment however…" [Another seven tickets available at last minute!]
- Roeliff Brinkerhoff (?): "…I had a couple of friends who had never seen General Grant. Therefor…I concluded to go with them."
- Henry Williams (1900, newspaper article): "He was one of the 1700 persons who strolled into Ford's." [As for newspapers and the figure 1700 I still believe what I said in post # ]
- Laura H. Freudenthal (Feb.13, 1908, newsp. art.): "Mrs. Freudenthal…wanted to see the President…"
- W. H. Taylor (March 3, 1920): "…an announcement that President Lincoln, General Grant, and other notables were to attend Ford's Theatre that night. This caused me to resolve upon going to the theater, as I had never seen General Grant, whose fame had for some time so well been established."
- Captain Oliver Gatch (Feb. 5, 1909, newsp. art.): "…he met his brother…they went to Ford's Theatre, attracted thither by the announcement that President Lincoln was to be a guest."
- William H. Flood (Feb. 15, 1911): " I was invited to Ford's Theatre by my captain, Silas Owen. He had heard that president Lincoln would attend the performance... - and, of course, I accepted the invitation."
- James N. Mills (Apr. 12, 1914): " General Grant, whose face was not then so familiar in Washington…was to attend in the company of President Lincoln…the "President and Lady" and the "Hero of Appomattox" . the theatre therefore was packed.
- Captain William Greer (Dec. 1, 1914): "Captain Greer was with several covalescing army comrades, who went to the theater more for the purpose of seeing the President than to witness the play."
- Daniel Dean Beekman (Feb. 11, 1915): "…hearing that Lincoln and Grant were to be at Ford's…, I decided to stay over another day."
- Dr. Samuel R. Ward (Apr. 14, 1931, newsp. art.): "…had met the President and heard him speek at Gettysburg, but had never seen General Grant, and it was for that purpose that he attended the fatal performance."
- Charles H. Johnson (Apr. 11, 1915, newsp. art.): "The two young men learned that Gen. Grant was expected to be in the presidental party, and they decidedthey wanted a look at the famous leader, who had not, up to this time, been seen much in Washington."
- Mrs. Nelson todd (May 1935, newsp. art.): "…our only opportunity, probably, of seeing President Lincoln, we might wave our religious scruples.”
- [ plus Fergusson’s account, see Roger’s post., and A. C. Richards’ which I had already posted.]

∑ = 18 comments on motives, 10 (9) x Gen. Grant, 5 x A. Lincoln, 3 (4) x both

Susan - yours are excellent points IMO!!!