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L Verge · 11-04-2014, 04:59 PM

(11-04-2014 01:55 PM)loetar44 Wrote:
(11-04-2014 12:38 PM)RJNorton Wrote: In continuing to research Kees' thoughts I wonder if the New York Herald of April 17, 1865, made an error. According to John S. Goff's Robert Lincoln bio that newspaper reported Grant's arrival was April 14 and in time for him to attend a Cabinet meeting that same day. He also lists a second source for the April 14 arrival. This was a letter from Robert Lincoln to Judd Stewart dated May 14, 1919 (in the Huntington Library). Possibly Robert's memory had faded when he wrote that letter? This all seems strange as we know from a previous discussion that the Grants checked in to the Willard Hotel on April 13.

Julia Grant writes in her memoirs that after disembarking at Washington “the General drove with us directly to Willard’s and, as soon as he saw me comfortably located, went to the Executive Mansion. Everyone was wild with delight. We received calls of congratulation all day. The city was illuminated that night. I went with Mrs. Stanton to the War Department, where we were joined by Mr. Stanton and General Grant.” This is according to me sufficient proof that the Grants and his staff arrived in Washington on April 13, and because Robert Lincoln was part of his staff and was traveling with the Grants he was also there the same date. Julia wrote, he “went to the Executive Mansion”, so Grant was in the White House. Also on the same day he accompanied Mary Lincoln to witness the illumination of the city, and was later that evening at the reception at Stanton’s residence (with his wife). The Grants retired at a late hour and returned to their room at Willard’s.

(11-04-2014 01:24 PM)L Verge Wrote: This is a very good site and also has a timeline of events from April 9-14 showing Robert arriving in D.C. on April 14: http://www.fordstheatre.org/sites/defaul...incoln.pdf Since Robert was a junior officer whose main duty was to escort visiting dignitaries around Grant's headquarters, is it possible that more than one ship came up the Potomac from City Point and that RTL was not on Grant's flagship (if things were still called that)?

Of course it's a possibility that more steamers arrived shortly after each other, but is that documented somewhere? Grant wrote that the "'M. Martin’ was a Hudson River boat which was very comfortably fitted up for the use of passengers" , so I asume that the ship was huge enough to accommodate Grant's whole staff .... And Julia Grant wrote in her memoirs "Some of the officers remained [in City Point] to visit the fallen city [Richmond]".

Perhaps Robert was one who remained in City Point long enough to view Richmond and then left on a later boat? Speculation, of course, but Mrs. Grant's sentence might suggest that.