Ample precautions for their safety were
taken at the start. The President went in his own steamer, the
River Queen, with her escort, the Bat, and a tug used at City
Point in landing from the steamer. Admiral Porter went in his
flagship; while a transport carried a small cavalry escort, as
well as ambulances for the party. Barriers in the river soon made
it impossible to proceed in this fashion, and one unforeseen
accident after another rendered it necessary to leave behind the
larger and even the smaller boats; until finally the party went
on in the Admiral's barge rowed by twelve sailors, without escort
of any kind. In this manner the President made his entry into
Richmond, landing near Libby Prison. As the party stepped ashore
they found a guide among the contrabands who quickly crowded the
streets, for the possible coming of the President had already
been noised through the city. Ten of the sailors armed with
carbines were formed as a guard, six in front, and four in rear,
and between them the President and Admiral Porter, with the three
officers who accompanied them, walked the long distance, perhaps
a mile and a half, to the centre of the town.
Imagination can easily fill in the picture of a gradually
increasing crowd, principally of negroes, following the little
group of marines and officers with the tall form of the President
in its centre; and, when they learned that it was indeed "Massa
Lincum," expressing their joy and gratitude in fervent blessings
and in the deep emotional cries of the colored race.
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