de his entry into Richmond on the 4th (on foot from
a boat), almost without personal protection, and excited the highest
interest of the people, especially of the slaves, who looked upon
and adored him as their savior. There were no bounds to their
rejoicing. He, while there, in consultation with Judge J. A.
Campbell and other former Confederate leaders, talked of plans of
reconstruction, and went so far as to sanction the calling of the
Confederate Legislature of Virginia together with a view to its
withdrawing the Virginia troops from the army.(10)

He was in a generous mood, willing to concede much to secure a
speedy restoration of the Union.

Mr. Campbell reports the President's position thus:

"His indispensable conditions are the restoration of the authority
of the United States and the disbanding of the troops, and no
receding on his part from his position on the slavery question as
defined in his message in December and other official documents.
All other questions to be settled on terms of sincere liberality.
He says that to any State that will promptly accept these terms he
will relinquish confiscation, except where third persons have
acquired adverse interests."(11)

Abraham Lincoln returned from Richmond to Washington filled to
overflowing with hope, joy, and thoughts of generous treatment of
his rebellious countrymen. He, too, was soon to become a sacrifice
in atonement for his nation's sins. He fell, at the apex of human
glory, by the hands of a disloyal assassin, April 14, 1865.(12)
The great and the humble friends of freedom, not only of his own
country but of the world, wept. He had been permitted, however,
to look through the opening portals of peace upon a restored Union
with universal freedom, under one flag.

( 1) See map, and _Battles and Leaders of the War_, vol. iv., p.
538.

( 2) One enterprising Confederate managed to escape to our lines
with a wagon and six mules from a party gathering wood. His outfit
was valued at $1200.

( 3) Grant's _Memoirs_, vol. ii., p. 460.

( 4) _Memoirs of Sheridan_, vol. ii., pp. 145-7.

( 5) General Wright, speaking of this position in his report of
the storming of the fortifications at Petersburg, says:

"It should here be remarked that, but for the success of the 25th
ultimo, in which was carried the intrenched line of the enemy,
though at a cost in men which at the time seemed hardly to have
warranted the movement, the attack of the 2d i