was one of the most gallant officers of the Union army. He entered into our plans with enthusiasm, talked Fair to everybody, and gave us all the encouragement and assistance that his commanding position afforded. We shall have occasion. to introduce him more fully in connection with the progress of the Fair, which he assured us he would attend, if he were carried thither on a litter from the battle-field.

Hon. Charles Sumner, and Chief-Justice Chase, with his accomplished daughter, Mrs. Sprague, proposed to visit the Fair, if possible. The sudden close of the war and the murder of the President, so changed the plans and scathed the hearts of public men, who were his staunch friends, that their intentions were unfulfilled. Hon. Charles Sumner entertained very favorably the proposition to deliver a lecture on the occasion, but felt in no humor for it, when his friend and Chief Magistrate had gone that way, to return no more forever. It will ever be a cause of deep regret, that the NorthWest lost the rare treat of a literary production from so able a statesman, so ripe a scholar, and so eloquent an orator. Mr. Sumner seemed the great Alone at Washington — grand, gloomy, resolute-and when fully roused by the charge of holding back Louisiana from recognition, by dilatory motions, sublime, in his frank acknowledgments of his intentions, and self-justification on conscientious principles.

Hon. Lyman Trumbull, of whom Illinois is so justly proud, and his patriotic wife, rendered us great assistance. We found Mrs. Trumbull's name the "open sesame" to every charmed circle. She wrought for the cause with a zeal worthy of her staunch husband, and the prairie State he so nobly represents. We met nothing but kindness and encouragement, and al

ANECDOTE OF THE PRESIDENT.

413

though the mighty events that intervened between our visit and the Fair curtailed the results of our mission, we had reason to know that not an inconsiderable portion of its success, under the adverse circumstances, was due to the publicity that it gained at the headquarters of the nation and in Eastern cities, and the substantial aid received in various ways from those directions. The U. S. Sanitary Commission, whose headquarters were at Washington, placed its manifold aids at our disposal. The General Secretary, John S. Blatchford, Esq., Rev. F. N. Knapp, and other officials, gave us every advantage and assistance in our work, and the near view of the breadth and activity of that organization, stimulated us to renewed efforts in its behalf.

While in Washington we met Miss Peabody, a rare and gifted woman, who first introduced Kintergarten, schools into the United States. Miss Peabody had visited the President, and been completely won from vague dissatisfaction, to admiration and love. Her appreciative nature responded to the elevated character of this good man. Miss Peabody was introduced by her friend, Mr. Everett; as the sisterin-law of Hon. Horace Mann. Mr. Lincoln at once received her with marked cordiality, and entered into conversation which dissolved every mist of prejudice, and revealed so sincere, discriminating, and magnanimous a character, that he thoroughly charmed her. The President, when placed in contact with Eastern people, appeared even more a revelation, than to his Western constituents, who had longer known his worth and his simplicity. In speaking of the Hon. Horace Mann, Mr. Lincoln naïvely remarked, "I can never forget his reception of me

when I first entered Congress. He was then a leader; a man of much learning and wide reputation. I was an obscure young member, from a remote Western State; shy, awkward, and unknown to fame. Nevertheless, he took me by the hand, helped me up, and stood behind me, when I needed backing." He added, in a deeply thoughtful tone, "But for his help I might not have been here to-day.” On the pinnacle of human fame, Abraham Lincoln did not forget the hand that helped him to mount, though it had long ago become stiff in death. His heart kept the record, his modesty believed it, and his big soul acknowledged and proclaimed it.

I copy an extract from a letter written by Mrs. Livermore from Washington, touching a marked specialty in the aspect of the city at the time-March, 1865.

"I think I have before spoken of the great number of deserters from Lee's army constantly coming into Washington. The number is incredible. You meet them two or three times a day, under the escort of our soldiers-ragged, unkempt, almost bare-footed, and often bare-headed; dirty, lean, wretched-looking fellows, but jubilant and sometimes hilarious. Fifteen hundred have come into Washington in less than ten days, most of them bringing their arms with them. A negro, who was believed trustworthy, was sent outside the lines with a six-mule team, to get a big load of wood. Having gone thus far, he seemed to think it worth while to venture a little further, and so kept on towards 'Uncle Sam's boys.' The rebel pickets saw him going, and rushed after him-our men saw him coming, and rushed towards him; the ebony teamster whipped up his mules, shouted,

THE NEGRO TEAMSTER THAT RAN INTO FREEDOM. 415

hurrahed, and urged them on. Guns were fired on both sides, and there was great yelling and confusion for a few moments. The negro gained the day, and ran out of slavery into freedom. He was taken to the Quartermaster, who gave him several hundred dollars for his team; and so he. got his liberty and a good start. You hear anecdotes like this by the dozen. Lee's army is melting away rapidly, and to him every deserter is a total loss, for the Confederacy cannot replace him. Most of the deserters who come into our lines are unmarried men, or, if married, their families are in the North."

CHAPTER XXIII.

Last Fair.-Reception of regiments.-Reception of Gen. Grant and Sherman.-Gen. Sherman's speech.-Gov. Yates' reception of Gen. Grant.-Humorous incidents.

I SHALL be pardoned for special and somewhat detailed notice of the last, as well as the first, of the series of great Sanitary Fairs, for the following reasons: The prestige of the first was its primogeniture, which gave it special birthright privileges; of the last, its faithfulness unto death, and its fulfilment of oft-repeated pledges to the soldiers, to work and minister, while one of them needed the help of the U. S. Sanitary Commission or Soldiers' Home.

The inauguration of peace, and the rapid return to civil life of so large a portion of the army, during its progress, made the last Fair a benefit for the "Boys in Blue," in a double sense. It afforded the opportunity to twelve entire regiments, in addition to large numbers of discharged soldiers and prisoners, representing almost the whole Western army, to see and enjoy the enthusiastic efforts that had been made, and continued to the end of the war, for their benefit. As each regiment of brave fellows came home, God bless them! with their brawn, bronze, and tatters, they were met in