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Many thanks for the scans.
My notes from the transcript are as follows:
Lincoln Walk Account from the New York Herald, February 5, 1865?
purports to be a transcript of despatches published in the NY Herald, February 5, 1865 (Sunday), but the very first despatch is dated the 8th (I suspect that is an error and meant to be the 3rd.
The despatches were attributed to:
N. Davidson
and are from the Steamer Thomas Colyer which carried Lincoln to the Peace Conference aboard the River Queen at Fortress Monroe.
Davidson writes that he happened to be on board the Colyer when Lincoln arrived unexpectedly "yesterday" (Thursday the 2nd?).
[Secretary of State William Seward left Annapolis for the conference on Wednesday the first (on January 31, Tuesday, Secretary Stanton went to Baltimore to attend a lecture by Henry Ward Beecher.]
"He, therefore, left Washington yesterday, arriving at Annapolis at one p.m.. He immediately proceeded on board the steamer Thomas Colyer, supposed to be the fastest in the world, an she was ordered to run to Fortress Monroe as soon as possible. The illustrious passenger was entirely unexpected, and was only accompanied by two personal attendants, Messrs. Smith and Forbes. Neither of his secretaries werewith him, and he walked from the depot to the boat, something over half a mile, being guided by Captain Blodgett, Post Quartermaster. ... The Colyer sailed from Annapolis at twenty minutes to two p.m., February 2, with the President and attendants, Mr. George Colyer, of New York, Captain Samuel Colyer, Captain P. Elmendorf, Mr. Edward Fields, clerk, your correspondent, who accidentally happened to be on board, and the usual crew."
They arrived at 22 minutes past 10 (Thursday the second?). Lincoln retired to the Indian Queen; Davidson filed (telegraphed) his story at 8 p.m (Friday the third?)
Reporter and Lincoln were back in Washington on Saturday the Fourth, early in the morning.
I would very much like to find the issue of the newspaper in which this account appears. It is possible it was also published in the Washington Star around the same time. Any assistance you can give us would be much appreciated.
I suspect the committee that is organizing recreating the walk will want facsimiles of the newspaper account, which if we can locate it on film or in the original we will want scans.
Ed Papenfuse
note to file:
Gary Johnson's phone numbers:
202-707-5208
202-707-3012
