At 8 A.M. President orders Samuel A. Beckwith, cipher operator at General Grant's headquarters, to accompany him to Richmond. Bates, Telegraph Office, 353-54.

Presidential party travels on River Queen to meet Rear Admiral Porter's fleet. Transfers to flagship USS Malvern for trip to Richmond. Abandons Malvern for Captain's gig manned by 12 sailors. With President are Porter, Captain Penrose, Tad Lincoln (celebrating his twelfth birthday), and William H. Crook. Party lands around 3:00 PM at point called Rocketts on edge of town, 100 or more yards back of Libby Prison. With six sailors in front of President and six in rear, with Porter and Penrose on one side and Tad and Crook on other, party proceeds on foot to General Godfrey Weitzel's headquarters, the house recently occupied by President Jefferson Davis. Daily National Republican, 8 April 1865, 2d ed., Extra, 2:2; William H. Crook, "Lincoln's Last Day: New Facts Now Told for the First Time. Compiled and written down by Margarita S. Gerry," Harper's Monthly Magazine 115 (September 1907):520-22.

At Davis house is shown into room used for office. Sits and remarks, "This must have been President Davis's chair." Inspects house accompanied by aide to General Weitzel. Thomas Thatcher Graves, in Battles and Leaders of the Civil War: Being for the Most Part Contributions by Union and Confederate Officers, 4 vols. (1884-1887; reprint, with a new introduction by Roy F. Nichols, New York: T. Yoseloff, 1956), 4:728.

Lunches with Generals Weitzel and Shepley; rides around in ambulance through crowded streets to various points of interest, stopping only at Capitol, before returning to Malvern for night. Among visitors to see President is Duff Green, diplomat and journalist. William H. Crook, "Lincoln's Last Day: New Facts Now Told for the First Time. Compiled and written down by Margarita S. Gerry," Harper's Monthly Magazine 115 (September 1907):520-22; Barnes, "With Lincoln," 746-49; Evening Star (Washington, DC), 8 April 1865, 2d ed., Extra, 1:5-6.

Interviews former Assoc. Justice Campbell on subject of peace. Washington Chronicle, 9 April 1865; Official Records—Armies 1, XLVI, pt. 3, 723.

Lincoln's reception at Richmond is described by Weitzel as "enthusiastic in the extreme." Official Records—Armies 1, XLVI, pt. 3, 574-75.