F O R T H E P E O P L E A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION http://www.abrahamlincolnassociation.org VOLUME 19 NUMBER 2 SUMMER 2017 SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS Abraham Lincoln’s First Visit to Hampton Roads By Anna Gibson Holloway and Jonathan W. White In April 2016, several members of the board of directors of the Abraham Lin- coln Association joined the mayor of Hampton Roads image courtesy of The Mariners’ Museum, Newport News, Virginia Springfield, Illinois, for a visit to U.S.S. confer with Commodore Louis M. appearance about him which indicates Abraham Lincoln, which was undergoing great firmness, and strength of character; repairs in Newport News, Virginia. The Goldsborough about “military & naval movements, in connexion with the take him as I saw him, and he is just the presence of a vessel named after the na- dreaded Merrimac.”¹ The following day picture of a Western hoosier, tall, lank, tion’s 16th president in Hampton Roads the president and his entourage toured and gaunt.” is fitting. Lincoln’s most famous visit to the famous ironclad Monitor. Paymaster the area occurred on February 3, 1865, The next few days were spent preparing William F. Keeler observed that Lincoln ⁴ when he and Secretary of State William for an invasion of Norfolk. At one point H. Seward met with several Confederate “had a sad, care worn & anxious look” as the president personally boarded a boat he toured the vessel.² leaders for the Hampton Roads Peace to search the Confederate shoreline for Conference. But, in fact, the president In the afternoon General Wool proposed an ideal landing spot. Spurred on by had visited the region twice before, in the that the president’s party ride out to Lincoln’s presence, General Wool fi- spring and summer of 1862. Camp Hamilton “and see what was to be nally ordered his men to attack and cap- seen.” They saw the charred remains of ture Norfolk. When they got there on On March 9, 1862, the ironclad vessels the city of Hampton, which had been May 10, they found that the rebel sol- U.S.S. Monitor and C.S.S. Virginia bat- burned by the Confederates in 1861. “I diers had abandoned the place, and they tled to a draw in the waters of Hampton never saw such a ruin -- bare, blackened, took the city without any loss of life. Roads. Over the ensuing months, the crumbling walls on every hand,” wrote presence of the rebel steamer caused When news reached Fort Monroe, Chase after the ride. Stanton jumped out of bed exclaiming, great trepidation for Union leaders. Gen- eral George B. McClellan was stalled on The president and his companions re- “My God!” The secretary ran to the the Virginia peninsula, while army and turned from their tour “saddened,” but president’s room and in his nightshirt naval forces were making no headway soon the mood changed. General Wool gave the unsuspecting General Wool a toward capturing Norfolk. Finally, in had ordered a grand review, and the huge hug. The next morning the Con- May, President Lincoln decided to visit “troops were gratified by the President federates destroyed C.S.S. Virginia as it Fort Monroe to assess the situation and who rode along their line alone, uncov- no longer had⁵ a safe harbor. On his way spur action forward. ered, inspiring great enthusiasm,” wrote back to Washington, D.C., the president Chase. “It is delightful, by the way, to and his party steamed past the spot of Lincoln travelled down the Potomac observe every where the warm affection the “suicide” to see what remained on River with Secretary of War Edwin M. felt and expressed for the President.”³ the once terrifying rebel monster. Stanton, Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase, and a Union general. For many among the troops, this was An artist on the scene named George Upon reaching Fort Monroe on the eve- their first visual of the president. One Kaiser -- possibly a soldier -- captured ning of May 6, they went aboard U.S.S. New Yorker remarked, “The ex rail the scene at Fort Monroe on May 10 as Minnesota with General John E. Wool to splitter is as homely as a stone fence and Union soldiers were preparing to embark dresses shockingly, but their [sic] is an continued on page 3 2 A NEWSLETTER OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION FOR THE PEOPLE The Summer Greetings From President Harris Abraham Lincoln Association I hope that everyone enjoyed a happy, safe, and fun Fourth of July holiday with Kathryn M. Harris family, food, and friends. Since the last newsletter, the veggie garden is growing President and lots of flowers are blooming in my front and back yards … summer is here in Robert S. Willard Vice President Central Illinois, and so are the hot temperatures. James M. Cornelius Secretary I’m sending a special “Thank You” to Nancy Chapin and Ann Kramer for their work in organizing and coordinating a successful bus tour of Lincoln’s 8th Circuit Douglas M. Barringer in June. My sincere appreciation is extended to Guy Fraker for his commentary and Treasurer to all of the ALA members and friends who participated. To our friends who are Robert A. Stuart, Jr. not Association members, I hope that this experience will entice and encourage you Immediate Past-President to become members. Mary F. Shepherd Executive Manager I also thank Richard ‘Dick’ Hart for his coordination of the program “Thomas Lincoln Reconsidered.” I Board of Directors learned that the program was well attended and the speakers were excellent. Kenneth L. Anderson William E. Bartelt J. Steven Beckett I had the opportunity to be on a bus tour in June as well. It was a 6-day tour that traveled to Washington, Roger D. Billings, Jr. D.C., the ultimate destination being the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Our Justin A. Blandford Roger D. Bridges group spent half a day at the Museum. I’m sure I only saw about 20% of the exhibits, and as a result it is on Michael Burlingame my list for a re-visit at a later date. I was overwhelmed, inspired, informed, and mesmerized by the depth Julie Cellini Nancy L. Chapin and breadth of the exhibits. When in D.C., this is a MUST SEE stop. Our tour also enjoyed other sites in- Robert J. Davis cluding the Lincoln Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, the MLK Memorial, the Vietnam Wall and Jim Edgar Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial. On the way, a side stop at the Flight 93 Memorial in Pennsylvania Guy C. Fraker Donald D. Funk was somber, moving, and sobering. I don’t regret the “backside fatigue” and would do it all over again. Sara Vaughn Gabbard Seeing the monuments and memorials in D.C. is a living history lesson and well worth it. Joseph E. Garrera Donald R. Graham Allen C. Guelzo As the seasons move along, please support the Lincoln-related events in your area and help us keep the life Richard E. Hart th Amy Hathaway and legacy of our 16 President alive and well. I look forward to seeing many of you in Gettysburg in No- Matthew Holden, Jr. vember. Erika Holst Kathryn M. Harris Barbara Hughett David Joens Ron J. Keller Robert J. Lenz Russell Lewis ALA Vice President Bob Willard Visits Richard W. Maroc Edna Greene Medford Lucas E. Morel New Korea Abraham Lincoln Society Karen L. Nekrasz James W. Patton III Mark A. Plummer Seoul, Korea is the site of the lat- William Read est formation of a group devoted William G. Shepherd Ronald D. Spears to Abraham Lincoln. The Korea James L. Swanson Abraham Lincoln Society (KALS) Louise Taper Donald R. Tracy was established in April 2017 by a Andy Van Meter group of public servants, lawyers, Daniel R. Weinberg Jonathan W. White academics, and other folks who Stewart L. Winger believe the life of Abraham Lin- coln can provide inspiration for Honorary Directors President Donald Trump dealing with internal political dys- Governor Bruce Rauner function there and addressing the Senator Richard Durbin Senator Tammy Duckworth 65-years-and-counting civil war Congressman Darin LaHood between the north and south. lead speaker at the first formal lyn, met Donggill Kim, Korea’s Congressman John Shimkus Congressman Rodney Davis Among KALS founders were the meeting of KALS on April 24, foremost expert on Lincoln. Pro- Chief Justice Lloyd Karmeier retired chief justice of the consti- 2017. He sketched out a brief fessor Kim received his Ph.D. Mayor James Langfelder tutional court, two former prime biography of Lincoln and dis- from Boston University; his 1971 Emeritus Directors ministers, the former chief prose- cussed how Lincoln’s commit- dissertation, Abraham Lincoln – Cullom Davis cutor, and numerous university ment to freedom and democracy An Oriental Interpretation, was Judge Richard Mills and bar leaders. Attorney Chulho can provide guidance for dealing published in 1983. Professor Kim Distinguished Directors Kim is the president of the new with today’s political unrest. He presented the Willards an in- Doris Kearns Goodwin Lewis E. Lehrman group. looked forward to ongoing coop- scribed copy of the 2015 print of Thomas F. Schwartz eration between the newly formed his one-volume Korean language Wayne C. Temple Abraham Lincoln Association vice KALS and the ALA. While in biography of Lincoln. president Bob Willard was the Korea, Willard and his wife, Caro- FOR THE PEOPLE A NEWSLETTE R OF THE ABRAHA M LINCOLN ASSOCIATIO N 3 Judge Frank Williams Donates Lincoln The Elijah Iles House Collection to Mississippi State University Fall of 2017 Fireside Chats 5:30 p.m Wednesdays, In June 2017, Mississippi State University at Starkville an- September 6, 13 and 20.