March 28, 1865: The End-of-War Meeting With Lincoln, Grant, Sherman and Porter

MARCH 28TH, 1865:  Rear Admiral Porter visited President Lincoln with Generals Grant and Sherman on board the steamer River Queen, the President's headquarters during his stay at City Point.  The four men informally discussed the war during the famous conference, and Lincoln stressed his desire to bring the war to a close as quickly as possible and with as little bloodshed as possible.

After the conference, Sherman returned to New Bern, N.C., on board the USS Bat, a swifter ship than the steamer on which he had arrived at City Point.

Porter had ordered Lieutenant Commander Barnes of the Bat:  "You will wait the pleasure of Major-General W.T. Sherman ...and when ready will convey him, with staff,  either to New Berne, Beaufort, or such place as he may indicate.  return here as soon as possible."

At the time, Sherman's troops were at Goldsboro and a little more than 125 miles in a direct line from Petersburg.

--Old B-Runner