President Lincoln walked into Richmond...alone?

[LincolnMan]

Yes, love those Ram commercials he narrates.

[Jim Garrett]

Anyway, back to AL walking alone. I don't think Rockett's Landing is 2 miles from the Confederate Executive Mansion (help me out here Betty O). I think that he was joined by his military escort much much earlier in his walk. Several accounts mention Tad with him, only William Crook's account from some 30 years later says that he was also in this group. The coal bomb, I have to doubt that one was in the Executive Mansion, let alone President Davis' office.

I believe I read somewhere that Lincoln opened Jefferson Davis' desk drawer and found a Confederate note. Could this be the note in his wallet at his death?

[BettyO]

Jim - Rocketts Landing is about 3.23 miles from the MOC (White House of the Confederacy) -

[JMadonna]

(10-14-2012 12:58 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  The coal bomb, I have to doubt that one was in the Executive Mansion, let alone President Davis' office.

Jim,
Read
Edward H. Ripley - The capture and occupation of Richmond p.13

Ripley was there - Believe it or not!

[LincolnMan]

I'm really interested to know if any of the iterative mentions Lincoln finding the five dollar note in Davis' desk. Anyone know?

[RJNorton]

I cannot answer on how Lincoln acquired the note, but I do have another question. When Lincoln was in Richmond has anyone ever come across independent confirmation that he took time to call at the Pickett home and kiss the baby as Mrs. Pickett said? I tend not to believe this unless there is another source.

[LincolnMan]

Great ongoing question Roger.

[Jim Garrett]

(10-14-2012 02:37 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  I cannot answer on how Lincoln acquired the note, but I do have another question. When Lincoln was in Richmond has anyone ever come across independent confirmation that he took time to call at the Pickett home and kiss the baby as Mrs. Pickett said? I tend not to believe this unless there is another source.

Wow, I never heard that one. I will have to follow up on LaSalle.

[RJNorton]

(10-14-2012 12:58 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  only William Crook's account from some 30 years later says that he
was also in this group

Hi Jim. I had always assumed Crook was with the group because so many books say this. Do you believe this is another embellishment (or falsehood) created by White House personnel in their later years? I assume you are saying no one else saw Crook with the group. I know William Hanchett and perhaps others have questioned Crook's "memories." Is this in the same category as Charles Forbes' affidavit in which he states that he was inside the State Box when Booth fired the fatal shot?

[Hess1865]

I heard somewhere the Lincoln meeting with Mrs. Pickett was a figment of her bizzare imagination.

[LincolnMan]

I'm sure we would like to think that the "Pickett residence call" was something that Lincoln would do-but would he? To me, his being in Richmond at that time was very risky. I'm not sure he would take what I think represented even a greater risk by making a "house call" at the residence of a Confederate general. True, he did go to the Davis office- but that was risky too, wasn't it?

[Mark MacKenzie]

Lincoln, of course, was completely aware of the risk of his assassination. Why would such an intelligent man walk into bombed out Richmond holding his dear son's hand where he would be the target of any Reb? What was he thinking? Was he tempting fate? Did he have a death wish? Did he want to be martyred? I would have to think that Lincoln thought a great deal about what his assassination would bring to the Union. Are there any books on this topic? Any theories, crackpot or otherwise?

Is it true he didn't carry a penknife for fear of suicide? Such a person ponders their mortality.

And to put himself and the country at such risk, why? For his selfish satisfaction of sitting at Jeff Davis' desk? For a symbolic show? I truly don't understand.

[L Verge]

Even Mary Lincoln referred to her husband's attitude towards life and the future as "What will be, will be." My own father had that attitude, which I attributed to him being a soldier; however, for Lincoln to take his son into danger's path does seem a little cold to me.

[Rob Wick]

Mark,

I think a good place to start would be with Allen Guelzo's "Abraham Lincoln and the Doctrine of Necessity" which was published by the Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association in 1997.

I don't think Lincoln thought twice about his personal safety for a myriad number of reasons, but first and foremost (at least in my mind) is that no one ever seriously considered that assassinating a president would ever happen in America, even in an occupied city. Plus, ala Guelzo, if Lincoln thought seriously that his life would ever be in danger, there would be little he could do to forestall such an action.

By the way, welcome to the forum.

Best
Rob

[Mark MacKenzie]

Thank you, Rob. I will take your advice.
So much to read, so little time.