Wednesday, November 18, 1863.Washington, DC, Baltimore, MD, and Gettysburg, PA. | President sad and depressed because Tad is too ill to eat breakfast and
Mrs. Lincoln is hysterical. Monaghan,
Diplomat, 340. Writes note that William H. Johnson, his valet, will accompany him to Gettysburg.
CW, 8:526.
President and party leave Washington at 12:10 P.M. on special train of four cars
furnished by B. & O. Railroad. Washington Chronicle, 19 November
1863; Daily National Republican (Washington, DC), 19 November 1863, 2d ed., 2:2; Nicolay, Lincoln's Secretary,
175. Party consists of John Nicolay and John Hay, Secretary of State William H. Seward
and Secretary of the Interior John P. Usher, Postmaster General Montgomery Blair, several members of diplomatic corps, and
foreign visitors, together with military guard from Invalid Corps and Marine
band. General Schenck's staff boards additional car at Baltimore about 2 P.M. Hay,
Letters and Diary; Washington Chronicle, 19
November 1863. During ride to Gettysburg President relates
number of stories and puts everyone at ease. Little girl presents flowers to
President at one stop and receives kiss in return. Rice, 509-13. Presidential party reaches Camden Station in Baltimore in 1 hour and
10 minutes. Train is transported to North Central tracks at the Bolton Station and leaves that station at 2:00 P.M. It proceeds on that
line to Hanover Junction, Pa. Changes to Hanover Line for remainder of trip.
Proceeds west to Hanover where "train passing east compelled the Presidential
train to halt. . . . The President stepped upon the platform . . . and
delivered one of the brief, quaint speeches for which he is celebrated. Said
he: 'Well, you had the rebels here last summer . . . did you fight them any?' "
Train is delayed 8 minutes at Hanover. DNA—WR, RG 107, Sec. of War
Telegrams Received, J. W. Garrett to Stanton, W. P. Smith to Stanton, 18
November 1863; Philadelphia Inquirer, 21 November 1863; Daily National Republican (Washington, DC), 19 November 1863, 2d ed., 2:2. Special
train arrives about 5 P.M. in Gettysburg, where Lincoln is guest of Judge
Wills. Washington Chronicle, 21 November 1863. After
supper Lincoln receives telegram from Sec.
Stanton : "By inquiry Mrs. Lincoln
informed me that your son is better this evening." LL, No. 1023. At 10 P.M. 5th New York Artillery band serenades President at Wills
house. After repeated calls Lincoln addresses crowd briefly. Remarks
to Citizens of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, 18 November 1863,
CW, 7:16-17. Singers
from Washington and choir from Baltimore also serenade President.
Washington Chronicle, 21 November 1863. Announces in Washington newspapers that from this date until the meeting of Congress in December, he will be "unable to receive visitors, his time being fully occupied by public business." Daily National Republican (Washington, DC), 18 November 1863, 2d ed., 2:1. |