Tad Lincoln

[RJNorton]

Karen, here is Tad's testimony from the John Surratt trial in 1867:

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Thomas Lincoln sworn and examined.

By Mr. PIERREPONT:

Q. You are a son of the late President Lincoln?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Were you with your father down at City Point in March, 1865?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Where were you--in a house or on a steamboat?
A. On a steamboat.
Q. Were you with him during the time he was there?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Do you remember anybody coming to the steamer and asking to speak to him?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What did the man say?
A. He said he would like to see the President.
(Question objected to by Mr. Bradley. Objection overruled.)
Q. Did he tell you where he came from?
A. Yes; he said from Springfield.
Q. What further did he say?
A. He said he would like to see the President on particular business.
Q. State the mode of his saying it; whether he urged it.
A. Yes, sir; he wanted to see him "real bad."
Q. State whether he tried more than once to pass in where he was.
A. He tried twice, I believe.
Q. State whether they would allow him to see the President.
A. They would not.
Q. Do you see the man who tried to see the President?
(Prisoner made to stand up)
A. He looked very much like him.
Q. Like the prisoner.
A. Yes, sir.

Mr. Bradley desired an exception to be noted to the ruling of the court admitting the testimony of this witness.

The court here took a recess for half an hour.

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Tad was actually also present at the conspiracy trial in 1865 (not as a witness). This information is in Ruth Painter Randall's "Lincoln's Sons." It was reported by a newspaperman on May 18th that Tad was in attendance.