Links to the 150th Anniversary

Thursday, April 16, 2015

A Final Dinner tribute to Lincoln

A long trip to Washington DC takes me through beautiful farm country of Virginia where I pass once again through the Wilderness, that area of burning fires and ultimate slaughter at Cold Harbor and the death of Stonewall Jackson. But it also includes the mighty James River and large swatches of green and blossoms and empty roads that never seem to end.

They end in time for me to arrive in Washington DC so that I can attend the events that now commemorate that horrible evening of April 14, 1865.

The city during the days after the surrender was jubilant. The evenings  full of fireworks. All in the city turned on their lights to illuminate the feelings of relief and joy.

Vigil outside Ford's Theater
Abraham and Mary Lincoln decided to go to the theater, Ford's Theater for an evening of entertainment.  That is where my brother and I are going to go for a special 9:00 pm performance, for an evening of memory..

While I was in Appomattox, I heard about a vigil in front of the theater and tickets for a tour. Marc has managed to get tickets not just to the tour, but has found tickets for inside the theater.

We make an evening of it. First, of course we have to eat dinner. What better place than Chinese- but not just any Chinese restaurant. Noooo, we go to the restaurant that is on the first floor of the boarding house that belonged to Mary Surrat. There with John Wilkes Booth, ninth of ten children born to the famous, eccentric, and hard-drinking actor, Junius Booth they met to conspire with Lewis Powell, David Herold, Michael O'Lauglin, John Surratt, Edman Spangler, Samuel Arnold, George Atzerodt.
 
We arrived rather early, assuming there would be a crowd, so were surprised that it was rather empty. On the outside is a plaque commemorating the location, though most people don't seem to notice it or stop to read.

We ordered and soon enough,  3 men sat next to us. "Are you hear because..."  "Of course." They told us how they couldn't get tickets to the show at the theater because they hadn't become $1000 members of  Ford's Theater. I think both of us were internally smiling, knowing that we had gotten tickets. But best not to boast!

 As the restaurant slowly filled we chatted with young and old. The response was the same

"Of course!"

Letter to Ulysses S. Grant

U.S. Grant was scheduled to go to Ford's Theater on April 14 with Lincoln, but declined to go.

Isaac F. Quinby Rochester NY  to USG April 17
While the whole people are plunged in the deepest grief at the death of our wise and most excellent President there is mingled with it a feeling of thankfulness that you, for whom the same blow was intended, so providentially escaped. If our hopes of the recovery of Secretary Seward are also realized, the Nation will soon arouse itself from its almost stupor of grief, and forebodings of other calamities to follow in the train of this will give place to confidence in the ability of those at the head of our affairs to bring about the peace and National prosperity which seemed so well assured before this sad event. The people hope not less from you in the future than you have accomplished for them in the past, and I speak therefore not in the name of personal friendship alone, but in that the Nation, when I ask you to take all wise precautions to guard against the assassins who may be watching their opportunity to strike at your life. With the most earnest wishes that your life may be spared to your family and to the Nation...

The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant edited by John Y. Simon Vol 14


Me and Judy Collins

After an extraordinary 10 days on the road, I was able to spend the evening of April 14, 2015 in Washington DC Among the many reasons to remember that night one is documented in this picture that Marc managed to get for me.

We were attending the events at Ford's theater in honor of the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's fateful night out after  a joyous day when the city had celebrated the end of the war.

Among the singers for a star studded evening was, gasp, Judy Collins. When I was a teenager, Robin, Sally and I would always see her during her yearly visit to the outdoor stage in Columbia Maryland. Every year.

And even now, her voice is just as crystal clear and simple and beautiful. She sang Amazing Grace, then invited us to sing with her. Not a dry eye.

Outside, I happened to be standing in the back of the crowd when we saw the handlers  bringing her around right next to me. I told her that she was wonderful and that she had always been wonderful. Then Marc snapped this picture. My face is slightly visible to the right. I broke into tears.

Hannah Reynolds April 13, 1865

My name is Hannah Reynolds
I live here in Virginia
I cook and keep the house clean
I am a slave

My master Doctor Coleman
Lives west of Appomattox
He treats me well and kindly
I am his slave

     And the war came to the east
     from Mannasas to Petersburg
     And they sent their boys to die
     600,000 and more we heard
     While we lived a peaceful life


My name is Hannah Reynolds
My husband he lives with me
I clean he does the hard work
We are both slaves

My master Dr. Coleman
Heard the guns firing
He left with his wife and daughter
But not with his slaves

      And the war came to our town
      At night they fought with bayonets and horses
      At dawn on the ridge across the field
      The soldiers fired cannons
      On that final surrender day

      And the war came to our house
      Men running round with shouts and commands
      The shot went through the door
      It hit me and I faltered
      there as I lay

My name is Hannah Reynolds
The soldiers could not heal me
Doctors treated me so kindly
Was I still a slave?

My name is Hannah Reynolds
I lived near Appomattox
Three days upon this earth
I was no slave


To those I met along the way in mourning



Remembrance Day Gettysburg Nov 2014
Manassass
Gettysburg




Appomattox surrender



Farmville VA

People I met along the way in joy

Gettysburg
Ft. McHenry Baltimore
Meade and Lee

Raising the flag
200th Anniversary 
Star Spangled Banner Celebration




 Sept 2014
 April 7 2015
Antietam                                                             Battle of High Bridges


Pennypacker June 2015
Pennypacker Park June 2014
Bob Pifflin, educator, John
Bob Pifflen, educator and John High Bridges Va April 7 2015


High Bridges April 7, 2015
Realtimers under the bridge                                                                  


Appomattox Va April 8, 2015

With 
General Chamberlain









Appomattox Va April 8 2015
(Private)
John Griffiths
General Grant's great great grandson (son of daughter of Grant's son )








Sharp Top Peaks of Otter VA 3500 ft
April 11, 2015



Climbed to the top of Sharp Top mountain with old friend
David Scheim, west of Lynchburg







Mike and Lorane Brown
from Alabama, April 8-12, 2015
April 12 after Stacking of the Arms

Appomattox VA April 12, 2015










Appomattox McLean House April 9, n2015




                                                   General Grant aka Curt Fields 







Photographers 1865, 2015 
Museum of the Confederacy Appomattox April 10, 2015
Mclean House Appomattox NPS photographer, April 9, 2015
Lee meets with Grant

Sailors Creek Union camp April 7 2015
Met Albert and Jacob while lost on the trail at Sailors Creek Battlefield Park











 Chamberlain's assistant






April 7-12 2015





A special shout out to Phil 
from Arkansas












General Grant 
photo bombing 
General Lee












Officers encampment Appomattox April 12, 2015