Point in landing from
the steamer. Admiral Porter went in his flag-ship, the _Malvern_, and a
transport carried a small cavalry escort and ambulances for the party.
But the obstructions in the river soon made it impossible to proceed in
this fashion. One unforeseen accident after another rendered it
necessary to leave behind even the smaller boats, until finally the
party went on in Admiral Porter's barge, rowed by twelve sailors, and
without escort of any kind. In this manner the President made his advent
into Richmond, landing near Libby Prison. As the party stepped ashore
they found a guide among the contrabands who quickly crowded the
streets, for the possible coming of the President had been circulated
through the city. Ten of the sailors, armed with carbines, were formed
as a guard, six in front and four in rear, and between them the
President, Admiral Porter, and the three officers who accompanied them
walked the long distance, perhaps a mile and a half, to the center of
the town.

The imagination can easily fill up the picture of a gradually increasing
crowd, principally of negroes, following the little group of marines and
officers, with the tall form of the President in its center; and, having
learned that it was indeed Mr. Lincoln, giving expression to joy and
gratitude in the picturesque emotional ejaculations of the colored race.
It is easy also to imagine the sharp anxiety of those who had the
President's safety in charge during this tiresome and even foolhardy
march through a city still in flames, whose white inhabitants were
sullenly resentful at best, and whose grief and anger might at any
moment culminate against the man they looked upon as the incarnation of
their misfortunes. But no accident befell him. Reaching General
Weitzel's headquarters, Mr. Lincoln rested in the mansion Jefferson
Davis had occupied as President of the Confederacy, and after a day of
sight-seeing returned to his steamer and to Washington, to be stricken
down by an assassin's bullet, literally "in the house of his friends."

XXXVI

Lincoln's Interviews with Campbell--Withdraws Authority for Meeting of
Virginia Legislature--Conference of Davis and Johnston at
Greensboro--Johnston Asks for an Armistice--Meeting of Sherman and
Johnston--Their Agreement--Rejected at Washington--Surrender of
Johnston--Surrender of other Confederate Forces--End of the Rebel
Navy--Capture of Jefferson Davis--Surrender of E. Kirby Smith--Number