Abraham Lincoln, Two Telegrams Related to Lincoln’s Visit to City Point

Description

President Lincoln received an invitation from U.S. Grant on March 20, 1865, to visit him in City Point, Virginia.  Initially the USS Bat was to be used by him, but since Mary Lincoln and a few others decided to accompany him, the River Queen conveyed the party instead. The Bat went along as protection.  This culminated in historic meetings with Grant, Sherman, Admiral Porter, Secretary Stanton, and others.  Lincoln and his son Tad visited Richmond on April  4 and Lincoln and party returned on board the River Queen to Washington on April 9 – while Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox.

 Fox, Gustavus V.  Manuscript Telegram, signed “G. V. Fox” as Ast. Sec’y of Navy.  Telegram / Navy Department / Washington:  22 March 1865 / 10:30 A.M.  4to.; 1p.  To:  “Commo. J. B. Montgomery / Comdt. Navy Yard / Washington, D.C.”  In full:  “Have the Bat ready to convoy the “River Queen” to-morrow noon.  The President will be in the “River Queen” bound to City Point / By order of Sec’y of Navy.”  This is marked “Recd 10:35 am / sent 11:15 am by K.” with the overlay of an official oval stamping (why the 40-minute delay in sending the telegram is unknown).

Fox, Gustavus V.  Manuscript Telegram, signed “G. V. Fox” as Ast Sec’y of Navy.  Telegram / Navy Department / Washington:  23 March 1865.  4to.; 1p.  In full, with Fox’s own annotations in italics:  “The ‘River Queen’ leaves the 6^th Street wharf about 1 P.M. with the President(.)  Have the ‘Bat’ [crossed out] accompany her. to City Point and back. / By order Secy Navy.”  Marked “Recd 10:05 am / Sent 10:20 am by L”

There are five telegrams listed here. Of the other three, one is from 1864 on his return from visiting with General U. S. Grant; and two in 1865 during his historical 16-day visit to City Point – his last trip out of Washington while alive.  Each is signed by either G. V. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the Navy or Samuel P. Lee, Acting Rear Admiral or J. A. Dahlgren, Commandant of the Washington Naval Yard.