Description:

EYEWITNESS TO LINCOLN'S VISIT TO NEW YORK, FEBRUARY, 1861
Great content first-hand account of Abraham Lincoln's triumphant visit to New York with his wife and children on Feb. 19-20, 1861. In a 4pp. 8vo. letter written on Feb. 21, W. H. Prichard writes, in part: '...Henry, I have been in crowds I think sometimes, but yesterday I was in not only a crowd but a crush, a jam and was tossed to & fro and rolled round and round as if a parcel of paper rags, unheeded by the mass of humanity which pressed upon me on all sides. It was on occasion of the arrival of 'honest old Abe' in the city at 3 p.m. and every spot was occupied by a dense mass of men, women & children on the walks and houses and housetops, & what most surprised me was the universal good nature which prevailed. Cheers waving of flags & hats were constant. Mr. Lincoln rode in a barouche and stood up, head uncovered, bowing occasionally to the right or left. Near the Astor when I saw him, the whole space between Barnum's, St. Paul's. The Astor & the whole surface of the lower half of the Park was packed densely. He is a very tall, thin man, black hair & whiskers, very plain face, but intelligent & self reliant. I hope they won't wear him out by attentions before he gets into his seat at Washington. I should have been glad for you & Brother to have seen him as he goes into office under more trying circumstances than ever any previous president has done. I find the feeling here is stronger for him than I expected & opponents tell me that if another vote were to be cast, his majority here in the state would be over 100,000 instead of about 60,000 I think it was and some say 100,000 more than that majority...' Fine condition. The Lincolns pulled into New York City's 30th Street Station at about 3:00 p.m. on February 19. Evidently Mrs. Lincoln wanted to ensure that her husband made a good impression on the city for it was reported that she smoothed his hair and gave him a kiss before he left the railroad car. Lincoln occupied one of eleven carriages that formed the procession to the Astor House at 217 Broadway, between Vesey and Barclay Streets across from City Hall. Lincoln made remarks at the Astor House at about 4:00 p.m. and then met with a variety of Republican electors, delegates, and Republican club members. The following morning Lincoln had breakfast at former congressman Moses H. Grinnell's house at Fifth Avenue and Fourteenth Street. He returned to the Astor House where he met 94 year old Joshua Dewey who had voted in every presidential election since America's first presidential election of George Washington in 1789. Lincoln then visited City Hall where he met Democratic Mayor Fernando Wood and the city council members and held a public reception which included shaking hands with about thirty War of 1812 veterans.

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December 6, 2024 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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