Lincoln's 1864 City Point Trip-- Part 16: Another Soldier's Account of the President

Frank Johnson, a soldier with the 142nd New York Infantry Regiment (which took part at the Battles of Fort Fisher) witnessed the visit from Abraham Lincoln during the visit to Butler's troops at Bermuda Hundred and recollected in 1914:

"Lad that I was, the expression I then saw on his [Lincoln's] face has never left me.  Anxiety, pity, love, courage, and faith, were all depicted there, showing that he was a man of sorrow, and one carrying a heavy burden.

"When our boys raised up and gave him a real old St. Lawrence county cheer, his face lighted up, his eyes brightened, and I am sure his faith was strengthened that he would be permitted to bring his people out of the wilderness of war, and into the shining path of peace."

President Abraham Lincoln returned to City Point, Virginia, to confer with U.S. Grant in March of 1865, shortly before his death.

--Old B-Runner

Lincoln's City Point Trip 1864-- Part 12: 'Burden of the War Upon His Shoulders'

Still writing about President Lincoln's meeting General Butler's troops at Bermuda Hundred during his trip to City Point, Virginia, to meet with General Grant.

Many of Butler's troops were the ones involved in the attacks on Fort Fisher, so that makes them of particular interest to me.

Some other observations of the President from the ranks:

**  "A tall gaunt sad man, he seemed to have the burden of the war upon his shoulders, as he stopped to speak to some of us, where we sat, shaking but trying to write home and tell the folks, once again, we are safe."

**  "...a very ordinary looking personage... he is a man  that cannot be judged by his looks."

**  Another soldier wrote that he an his companions "greeted the immortal President with enthusiastic cheers."

--Old B-Runner

Lincoln's 1864 Trip to City Point, Va.-- Part 10: Like 'A Monitor's Turret Coming Overland'

President Lincoln then rode through the lines of Gen. Benjamin Butler's Army of the James at Bermuda Hundred.  Many of these soldiers took part in the two Battles of Fort Fisher, so I will write down some of their observations of their commander-in-chief.

One of the first camps they encountered was that of the 117th New York, where a soldier named John Humphrey recorded:  "Prisedent Lincen and Gen Buttler rode along the lines visiting the troops."  Another wrote his father the next day that there "is quite an object now for him to be familiar with the soldiers," probably referring to the upcoming elections in November as well as the huge losses Grant's Overland Campaign had experienced so fat in 1864.

Soldiers in the camp of the 7th Connecticut, another regiment that took part in the Fort Fisher Expeditions, had their fun when first spotting Lincoln toward them on his horse with his tall hat, joking that "it was a monitor's turret coming overland."

Especially if the mounted Lincoln was coming over the top of a hill and that was the first you saw of him.

That Top Hat Did Resemble a Monitor's Turret.  --Old B-Runner