At the Cabinet meeting held the morning of the day of the
assassination, it was afterward remembered, a remarkable circumstance
occurred. General Grant was present, and during a lull in the
discussion the President turned to him and asked if he had heard from
General Sherman. General Grant replied that he had not, but was in
hourly expectation of receiving despatches from him announcing the
surrender of Johnston.
“Well,” said the President, “you will hear very soon now, and the news
will be important.”
“Why do you think so?” said the General.
“Because,” said Mr. Lincoln, “I had a dream last night; and ever
since the war began, I have invariably had the same dream before
any important military event occurred.” He then instanced Bull Run,
Antietam, Gettysburg, etc., and said that before each of these events,
he had had the same dream; and turning to Secretary Welles, said: “It
is in your line, too, Mr. Welles. The dream is, that I saw a ship
sailing very rapidly; and I am sure that it portends some important
national event.”
Later in the day, dismissing all business, the carriage was ordered
for a drive. When asked by Mrs. Lincoln if he would like any one to
accompany them, he replied, “No; I prefer to ride by ourselves to-day.”
Mrs. Lincoln subsequently said that she never saw him seem so supremely
happy as on this occasion. In reply to a remark to this effect, the
President said: “And well I may feel so, Mary, for I consider this day
the war has come to a close.” And then added: “We must both be more
cheerful in the future; between the war and the loss of our darling
Willie, we have been very miserable.”
* * * * *
Little “Tad’s” frantic grief upon being told that his father had been
shot was alluded to in the Washington correspondence of the time.
For twenty-four hours the little fellow was perfectly inconsolable.
Sunday morning, however, the sun rose in unclouded splendor, and in his
simplicity he looked upon this as a token that his father was happy.
“Do you think my father has gone to heaven?” he asked of a gentleman
who had called upon Mrs. Lincoln. “I have not a doubt of it,” was the
reply. “Then,” he exclaimed, in his broken way, “I am glad he has gone
there, for he never was happy after he came here. This was not a good
place for him!”