AL and God

[STS Lincolnite]

(01-10-2015 10:16 PM)Gene C Wrote:  I don't recall ever reading this before, but it's an interesting story about Lincoln's faith

From "the Story Life of Lincoln", by Wayne Whipple: How Lincoln and His Cabinet Received the News of Lee's Surrender

https://archive.org/stream/storylifelinc...0/mode/1up

I don't recall having read this account either. It is a nice story but I can't help but question it's veracity. Has anyone seen it corroborated somewhere else? The timeline of this account doesn't seem to fit with where Lincoln was and when the news of the surrender was received.

April 9. Lee surrenders (formalized at about 4:00 pm I think); Lincoln was en route back to Washington when this occurred (Lincoln Day by Day). Word had already been received in Washington by the time Lincoln arrived about sundown. Crowds in front of the White House called for the President that evening. He responded briefly but pleasantly. (Lincoln Day by Day)

April 10. A salute of guns "at day dawn" marked Lee's Surrender (Welles diary). Cabinet meets (Lincoln Day by Day {reference is Lincoln the President by JG Randall - I don't have that book so I can't check for his citation}) - it could have happened then I guess. However, Welles only reports that he called on the President and no mention is made of a cabinet meeting occurring this day (Welles diary).

April 11. Cabinet meets and main topic is of "the cotton question". (Welles diary).

All this is not to say it didn't happen, I would just suspect the story would have been corroborated by someone (like Welles) who is likely to have been there.