President Lincoln walked into Richmond...alone?

[LincolnMan]

I was reading the account of Lincoln's arrival into Richmond as reported by Thomas Thatcher Graves, Aide-De-Camp on the staff of General Weitzel-and something he said got my attention- "The President had arrived about 9 o'clock, at the landing called Rocketts, upon Admiral Porter's flag-ship, the Malvern, and as soon as the boat was made fast, without ceremony, he walked on shore, and started off uptown. As soon as Admiral Porter was informed of it he ordered a guard of Marines to follow as escort, but in the walk of about two miles they never saw him, and he was directed by negroes." Now members of this Forum, am I to understand that President Lincoln having arrived in the newly fallen Richmond walked two miles within the city without escort? Do you all realize how far two miles is? (I know you do). I've seen the portrayals of Lincoln walking through the town surrounded by military personnel- so it really didn't happen that way? Also interesting to me is that the officer who wrote the report (and was there)- did not mention Tad-who accompanied his father.

[JMadonna]

I guess it depends upon the word alone. He certainly didn't row the dingy from ship to shore alone. I'm pretty sure that navy personell stayed with him.

[LincolnMan]

If the sailors did, indeed, stay with him-that would be consistent with portrayals of the event by artists.

[JMadonna]

What I thought was interesting about that event was that Jefferson Davis left a coal bomb on his neat and tidy desk. It was removed before Lincoln's arrival.

[LincolnMan]

Are you being serious?

[JMadonna]

Yes, it's true. I made mention of it and footnoted it in my book. He was going to try rallying the South to a guerrilla war. I guess he wanted to leave a message. He certainly didn't know Lincoln would walk into his study.

[LincolnMan]

I meant to ask about your avatar-any reason why the Lone Ranger?

[RJNorton]

Looks like Sam Elliott.

[JMadonna]

I meant to ask about your avatar-any reason why the Lone Ranger?

A Detroit Legend!!
But if you have to ask it's time to change.

---

Looks like Sam Elliott.

Yes I do.
Poor Sam gets mixed up for me all the time.

[LincolnMan]

Nice!

[Craig Hipkins]

I believe that is General Buford

[LincolnMan]

Sam Elliot was born to play in westerns- and movies of that era, wasn't he? Of course, he played Virgil Earp (the real Virgil Earp was a Civil War Union veteran, by the way). His first role was a bit part in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in 1969. He later married Katherine Ross who was the leading actress in that film.

[JMadonna]

I always thought that he should have played Lee in Gettysburg. He would have been so much better than Martin Sheen. Sheen looked like his son Emilio Esteves with a beard. I just couldn't take him seriously.

[LincolnMan]

I know what you mean about him looking like his son. Do you think Sam had the facial look of Lee? I suppose make-up artists certainly could have transformed him into Lee.

[JMadonna]

With that slow natural southern drawl he'd have commanded attention as a leader & definitely not looked like a young emilio esteves with a beard.