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WAS 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 
From life by Francis Ji. Carpenter. 
 
 Engraved by K. Hatpin. 
 
 m&m&n LDIMC®lLIMo 
 
 An authentic and perfect portrait from the engraving of the original now in the pos- 
 session of the artist, to whom Mrs. Lincoln wrote : — " I write you to-day, to thank you for 
 the most perfect likeness of my beloved husband that I have ever seen. The resemblance 
 is so accurate in Mr. Halpin's engraving, that it will require far more calmness than I can 
 now command to have it continually placed before me. More we could not ask or expect." 
 
 With sincere esteem, MARY LINCOLN. 
 
 In the same spirit from the now Honorable Minister Plenipotentiary to England :— 
 'Mr. Halpin has had most extraordinary success in engraving your portrait of my father 
 and has made the best likeness that I have seen. I do not know that I can express my 
 idea of it better than by saying, that I am perfectly satisfied with it. Please accept my 
 thanks, and my heartiest wishes for the success which vour work merits." 
 
 Very sincerely yours, ROBERT T. LINCOLN. 
 These letters ot recognition, together with many others, evidence the merit of this 
 superb portrait, a copy of which is now presented for the first time in book form, by special 
 permission of the artist, Francis B. Carpenter, Esq., of New York City. 
 Copyright, 1866 — 1891. 
 
WAS 
 
 ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
 
 A 
 
 SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 OR, 
 
 CURIOUS REVELATIONS FROM THE LIFE 
 OF A TRANCE MEDIUM. 
 
 Mrs. NETTIE COLBURN MAYNARD, 
 
 OF WHITE PLAINS, N. Y. 
 TOGETHER WITH 
 
 PORTRAITS, LETTERS, AND POEMS. 
 
 ILLUSTRATED WITH ENGRAVINGS, AND FRONTISPIECE OF 
 LINCOLN, FROM CARPENTER'S PORTRAIT FROM LIFE. 
 
 'After all, it is the old old story. 
 Truth is stranger than Fiction." 
 
 V * 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 RUFUS C. HARTRANFT, PUBLISHER. 
 
 1891. 
 
 V 
 
' 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1891, 
 
 By Mrs. NETTIE C. MAYNARD, 
 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
 
 JgggTAll rights of translation reserved by the Publisher, "^g 
 
 COLLINS PRINTING HOUSE, 
 705 JAYNE STREET. 
 
TO MY DEARLY BELOVED HUSBAND 
 
 WILLIAM PORTER MAYNARD, 
 
 WHOSE UNCEASING DEVOTION AND TENDERNESS HAVE 
 
 GIVEN ME THE NEEDED COURAGE, 
 
 IN MY HELPLESSNESS, TO COMPLETE THE CONTENTS 
 
 OF THIS VOLUME. 
 
 N. C. M. 
 
PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. 
 
 It is the old, old story, " Truth is stranger than fiction, and life is, 
 after all, a mystery." 
 
 That history which is most strange is most true. To-day is 
 the day of wonders, and the last decade has been more strange 
 than any preceding one. Abraham Lincoln was the most promi- 
 nent President that America has known ; his actions, official 
 and unofficial, have been, for thirty years, the constant theme 
 of biographers and historians, and the fondness of Americans 
 for him is as warm and widespread to-day as though he had 
 died but yesterday. 
 
 The statements contained in this volume regarding him are 
 given to the public for the reason that they are not less true 
 than surprising; and being so, they must see the light. Praise 
 from some quarters is natural ; censure from others is to be 
 expected. Nevertheless, what is here written is truth, fact, his- 
 tory, and what is more, no man should question them. Should 
 he do so, the field for adequate investigation is quite accessible. 
 The contents of this book will be seen to be remarkable for 
 three qualities : character of subject, historical importance, 
 simplicity of statement. Accordingly, a few words upon each 
 of these heads may not prove inappropriate or uninstructive. 
 
 The separation of the spiritual from the physical life of man, 
 
 (Vii) 
 
v iii PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. 
 
 and their reunion or return has, at every period in his history, 
 excited profound -wonder ami interest. If he accepts Biblical 
 history as final judgment upon the matter, his mind for a time 
 comprehends an assured future life, and he finds a calm happi- 
 ness in that belief. So long as he rests content in that belief, 
 and accepts as truth all Biblical statements, he finds little motive 
 for investigation. If he is truly intelligent, the hour arrives 
 •when he craves absolute proof of a future condition ; or, if he 
 wishes to answer what the prophet of old has left to follow man 
 as a spectre through all the ages, and to remain with him from 
 the first to the last hour of conscious understanding, he must 
 investigate : "If a man die, shall he live again ?" Therefore, 
 not only does the question, in its vital importance and scope, 
 make all men pause to consider it cautiously and honestly, but 
 it has a personal value for each investigator. 
 
 Spencer, Huxley, Darwin, Tyndall, Ingersoll, and other 
 leading minds state that there is no return of the spirit after 
 death, and that man, having ceased to breathe, bears precisely 
 the same relation to the physical world as does vegetable matter, 
 which lives, decays, or dies, and returns from whence it came — 
 to inanimate matter, to clay. Human and brute life offer but 
 little refutation of this theory. Insect and bird life indicate its 
 possibility by exhibiting a positive change from the inanimate 
 to the animate. Human reason, therefore, may logically set up 
 the hypothesis, that if life can come from no life, and life dis- 
 appear from life, presumption is strong that life still exists in 
 some form, and that there is a mode of communication between 
 the varied forms, but all persons do not comprehend that mode, or 
 even know of it, and the fact that there is any such communica- 
 tion. We, therefore, have left open for our consideration and 
 judgment, our acceptance or rejection, this subject as the 
 prophet saw fit to leave it when it became necessary to prepare 
 for his departure from this life. 
 
PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. { x 
 
 A new impetus will be given to Spiritualism by this work, 
 for the reason that it is not written from a standpoint of bias, 
 and is neither more nor less than a statement of facts, which are 
 a part of the experiences of the authoress, who, to say the 
 least, has had a very remarkable life, and who observes a tem- 
 perateness and reverence in statement, which must commend 
 her and her work to all who are fortunate enough to read this 
 unique volume. 
 
 Mr. Gladstone wrote so lately as September 16th, in replying 
 to a person who inquired whether the discussion of Theosophy 
 ought to be permitted in workmen's clubs where lectures and 
 debates on religious subjects are tabooed, and whether such dis- 
 cussion was likely to benefit workmen: " i" shall not adopt 
 language of determined disbelief in all manifestations, real or 
 supposed, from the other icorld. They give me little satisfac- 
 tion, but that does not warrant meeting them with a blank nega- 
 tive.^ He thus indicates that he feels an interest in the sub- 
 ject, and, like thousands of others, seeks its truth. 
 
 It is to be hoped that through the aid of this book, some such 
 master mind as that of Robert J. Ingersoll will give the matter 
 special attention, and follow out the thought to a point where 
 positive accurate information will yield its intelligence to the 
 world, and not to those only who profess Spiritualism. 
 
 The Rev. Dr. Savage, of Boston, when being criticised for 
 his attention to Spiritualism, replied: "If a Christian minis- 
 ter, preaching God's word, has no right to consider Spiritualism 
 and its phenomena, pray who, and what manner of man, does 
 possess that right, and who should, beyond peradventure, know 
 its truth or falsity, that is, whether the spirit does return after 
 death, and, if so, under what conditions and for what purposes ?" 
 
 A recent investigating commission, commenting upon the sub- 
 ject of Spiritualism, remarks: "It is no small matter to be 
 able to record any progress in a subject of so wide and deep an 
 
x PUBLISHERS PREFACE. 
 
 interest as the present. It is not too much to say that the fur- 
 ther our investigations extend, the more imperative appears the 
 demand for those investigations. The belief in so-called Spirit- 
 ualism is certainly not decreasing. It has, from the first, as- 
 sumed a religious tone, and now claims to be ranked among the 
 denominational faiths of the day. From the outset, we have 
 been deeply impressed with the seriousness of the undertaking, 
 and have fully recognized that men, eminent in intelligence and 
 attainments, yield to Spiritualism an entire credence, and who 
 can fail to stand aside in tender reverence, when crushed and 
 bleeding hearts are known to seek it for consolation and for 
 hope ? We beg that nothing stated may be interpreted as in- 
 dicating indifference or levity. Wherever fraud in Spiritualism 
 is found, that it is, and not whatever of truth there may be 
 within, which is denounced, and all Spiritualists who love the 
 truth willfully agree with us." 
 
 It is well known that from time to time stray notices on the 
 subject of Lincoln and Spiritualism have appeared in various 
 papers, not, however, in connection with any attempt on the 
 part of the writers or editors to verify the same. For this 
 reason we deemed it wise, before entering into this matter ex- 
 tensively, to examine the subject with deliberation and care. 
 The fruits of this examination have placed upon record infor- 
 mation of a remarkable character, which will have a marked 
 bearing upon the history of Spiritualism and upon the 
 literature of the day. That Abraham Lincoln should 
 have been a believer in, or follower of, Spiritualism, in 
 any form, will be an unusual statement, and to use the 
 words of an editorial writer of a leading New York daily : 
 "If it can be proven that Abraham Lincoln was in any way 
 connected with Spiritualism, or did take counsel from any 
 medium at a time when the nation's weal or woe hung in the 
 balance, or was in any manner governed by such counsel, it 
 
PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. xi 
 
 would be the literary event of the nineteenth century, and the 
 most astonishing statement of modern times." In February of 
 this year, the writer had the good fortune to meet a gentleman 
 who related that he knew from personal experience and con- 
 tact, that Abraham Lincoln was a Spiritualist, and implicitly 
 believed in the guidance and teachings of that science or re- 
 ligion, whichever it may be. He further stated that he attended 
 a stance where the President with several other persons had sat 
 upon a piano, and that the instrument had been bodily lifted 
 from the floor by means of spirit power, while the President 
 and his friends remained seated upon it ! He further stated 
 that he knew from personal knowledge that the President had 
 been instructed and guided by spirits in times of particular 
 stress in affairs of state, and that at a period when the nation's 
 future was uncertain, and while the States were in the midst 
 of the throes of a great civil war. He also stated that he knew 
 of his own personal knowledge and experience, that numerous 
 Spiritualistic stances were held in the White House, and that 
 they were frequented by many of the leading men of the time, 
 who were then located in Washington. 
 
 This gentleman's statement, being of such pecxdiar signifi- 
 cance, the writer did not believe it. This recitation, however, 
 caused the writer to become greatly interested in the subject 
 from a purely historical standpoint, and, therefore, he immedi- 
 ately started an investigation regarding the matter, the results 
 of which he is now obliged to state, reveal to the world, matters 
 of decided interest and importance, and which, as far as they 
 are related in this volume, are capable of proof, and based upon 
 circumstances of fact. 
 
 The writer incidentally learned that Mrs. N. C. Maynard, of 
 White Plains, New York, had resided in Washington during 
 several years of the War of the Rebellion, and had upon numer- 
 ous occasions given sittings for the President of the United 
 
xii PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. 
 
 States, his wife, and friends who were present by invitation, 
 and that she was preparing a record of these experiences, to- 
 gether with other incidents connected with an eventful life, for 
 publication in book form. He suggested that as many of the 
 statements therein were of a personal and unusual nature, re- 
 vealing habits of character in many persons who were prominent 
 before the nation, it might be well to have the accounts of cir- 
 cumstances verified as described, and affidavits secured from the 
 persons who must necessarily constitute her witnesses, as to the 
 truthfulness of her narrative, especially such persons as were 
 living to-day, and who were connected with the subject in any 
 manner, and who would be uniting to come forth and testify ; 
 to which suggestion she readily assented. Immediately there- 
 after investigation was commenced by the writer. The initia- 
 tory movement was to ascertain from those, who resided in the 
 neighborhood of her home, or thereabouts, the character and 
 standing of Mrs. N. C. Maynard. He was informed by those 
 who had known the family for a lengthy period, that her hus- 
 band had been a resident of White Plains for twenty-five years, 
 was cordially indorsed by many of the leading residents, was 
 trustworthy and honorable, and had been doing business during 
 all of that period in that village, and that he was a man noted 
 for truthfulness, honesty, and general integrity of character. 
 The family physician stated that he knew Mrs. Maynard and 
 had attended her for about fifteen years ; that she is now a 
 hopeless invalid, has been confined to her bed for nearly three 
 years, and cannot possibly recover ; that during his experiences 
 and contact with her, he has always found her to be an exem- 
 plary woman, but possessed of a peculiar organism and sensi- 
 tiveness of condition, and likewise of some peculiar power or 
 magnetism, which, to say the least, was unexplainable, and that 
 nothing within the science of medicine could clearly explain 
 her "psychic" condition, or briefly, in common-place words: 
 
PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. xiii 
 
 « We confess there Is something about Mrs. Maynard that we 
 do not understand; we, however, believe her to be a thorough 
 Christian woman of irreproachable character and antecedents." 
 Hon. Melville C. Smith, of New York City, a well-known 
 and responsible gentleman, informed the writer that he had 
 known Mrs. Maynard for more than thirty years, and placed 
 full confidence in her integrity of character, and of his own 
 knowledge found her to be a very remarkable woman and pos- 
 sessed of a peculiar « psychic" condition, which permitted her 
 to see and foresee and comprehend that which could not be 
 understood by ordinary people. 
 
 Mark M. ("Brick") Pomeroy, the well-known lawyer and 
 writer, unhesitatingly indorses Mrs. Maynard and states, " You 
 may say for me, Mrs. Maynard is one of the most remarkable 
 mediums to be found within the lines of Spiritualism. I have 
 known her for many years, she is a woman against whom not 
 one word of reproach may be truthfully uttered, and I believe 
 the truth of her statements." 
 
 Francis B. Carpenter, the distinguished artist, and the painter 
 of the "Emancipation Proclamation," which is in the Capitol 
 at Washington, who is also the author of the " Inner Life of 
 Abraham Lincoln," and the painter and possessor of the last 
 portrait in oil of Lincoln, a copy of which is in the frontispiece 
 of this volume, states: "I have known Mrs. Maynard for 
 some years. She is a talented woman ; I do not believe she 
 would tell an untruth ; she is a medium of remarkable ability. 
 I know that Mr. Herndon knew Mr. Lincoln better than any 
 other man, up to the time of his election in 1861 ; after his elec- 
 tion Mr. Herndon knew but little of him, and absolutely nothing 
 of his mental or spiritual condition before the sickness of his son 
 Willie, nor after Willie's death, and I must say that Mr. Lin- 
 coln's mind underwent a vast change after that event. Just 
 what Mr. Lincoln's religious views were, I do not know, but it 
 
xiv PUBLISHERS PREFACE. 
 
 is a fact that he was known to pray, and his condition was much 
 more in accordance with the statement found in ' The Inner 
 Life of Abraham Lincoln' than that stated by other biogra- 
 phers, and you may quote me, that Herndon's statements have 
 neither weight nor value, after the connection between the two 
 men ceased. I am not prepared to state that Mr. Lincoln was 
 a Spiritualist. I do know that he had faith in spiritual comfort 
 and believed that we ivere, in a measure, directed by spiritual 
 teachers and guidance." 
 
 Mrs. Daniel E. Somes, of Washington, wife of the late Hon. 
 Daniel E. Somes, Representative from Maine, in the Thirty- 
 sixth Congress, informs the writer that she attended stances at 
 the White House during the war when Miss Colburn (Maynard) 
 was the medium there, and upon one occasion met Major-Gene- 
 ral Daniel Sickles, and that the circumstances recorded as to 
 that stance are fully described in this volume. This statement 
 she fully and completely indorses ; and further adds that her 
 husband was closely and intimately connected with President 
 Lincoln, and had repeatedly informed her of interesting and 
 remarkable incidents which occurred at the White House at 
 stances as herein described and mentioned. She also states 
 that she knows Miss Colburn did not give stances in the White 
 House for money. The standing of Hon. D. E. Somes is fully 
 set forth in the following obituary notice taken from the Wash- 
 ington 'National Republican,' February 2, 1888 : — 
 
 HON. DANIEL E. SOMES. 
 
 THE END OF A DISTINGUISHED AND USEFUL CAREER. 
 
 In the death of Hon. Daniel E. Somes, formerly a member of 
 Congress from Maine, but for the last twenty-five years a resident 
 of this city, a distinguished and useful career is ended, and the com- 
 munity loses a most worthy and honorable citizen. 
 
 Mr. Somes was born at Meredith, now Laconia, N. H., May 20, 
 1815. He received an academic education, and was married in early 
 life to Miss Laura Chase, of his native place, who survives him. 
 
PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. xv 
 
 In 1846 he moved to Biddeford, Me., where he became largely 
 interested in various business enterprises, and was very prominent 
 
 n the temperance and anti-slavery movements of the tune He 
 established in Biddeford the 'Eastern Journal,' now the 'Union 
 and JournaV newspaper. He was the first mayor of Biddeford, and 
 wasiveraltmes re elected. Inthatposition he was active in execut- 
 mJ Se»Mame law," which was the first prohibition law passed 
 
 nthe Unued States and under his administration at east proved 
 successful He organized the City Bank of Biddeford in 1856, and 
 
 '^J^SSSS^&itn^ in Saco, Biddeford, and 
 
 ^^^^^^^S^^^S^X^ and was 
 on^of the original organizers of the Republican party, and was a 
 strong supporter of Fremont and Dayton in 185b. 
 
 In 1858 he was elected to the Thirty-sixth Congress from the dis- 
 trict now represented by Hon. Thomas B. Reed. He was known as 
 a radical Republican and strongly expressed his views to the coun- 
 try notably iu a patriotic speech delivered by him in the House of 
 
 R ^u'ngtnl wa?he was ffriend and confidant of President Lin 
 coin" who often sent for him, sometimes late at night, to come to 
 the Executive Mansion to confer on matters of public importance. 
 He was closely associated with Hannibal Hamlin, Horace Greeley 
 John P. Hale, Henry Wilson, and other leading men of the eailier 
 
 Re Inh l ough P p a ronounced in his Republican views, he was of a gentle 
 and pacific disposition and of moderate temper, ^m *^ ftetol* 
 was chosen a member of the "Peace Congress 'of 1861, which 
 proved so unequal to stemming the tide of war feeling that swept 
 over every obstacle in that turbulent time. 
 
 In 1862 Mr. Somes settled in Washington, and for several years 
 was a prominent practitioner before the patent office He also 
 turned his attention to inventing and took out over sixty patents 
 many of them relative to the general subject of refrigeration and 
 Ventilation. As an inventor he showed great originality and versa- 
 tility. More than twenty-five years ago he proposed the system ol 
 transporting fresh beef in refrigerator cars and suitable means for 
 accomplishing it ; but, as in the case of many inventors, he was too 
 early for his time and failed to reap the benefits o his invention, 
 which is now in quite extensive use throughout the country by 
 
 0t Mr F . SomS had an extremely hopeful and genial nature He was 
 a most tender and kind-hearted husband and father. In fact he 
 had the gentleness of a woman, combined with marked manly 
 strength and vigor, and was always a model gentleman in his 
 manners, and the soul of honor in his dealings and intercourse with 
 his fellowmen. 
 
X vi PUBLISHERS PREFACE. 
 
 For several weeks past Mr. Somes has been ill with a severe cold, 
 which on last Friday morning became aggravated and assumed the 
 symptoms of congestion of the lungs. This malady was followed 
 on Saturday morning by paralysis of his right side. Most of the 
 time after that he was insensible, gradually sinking until his death, 
 Which occurred on Monday, the 13th of February, at 10.15 P. M. 
 
 He had four sons, two of whom died in youth. Only one son 
 Burvives, Mr. F. C. Somes, a prominent patent attorney of this city. 
 Mr. Byron Somes, a younger son, who was night editor of the Bos- 
 ton ' Globe,' and a young man of much promise, died about one year 
 ago. 
 
 Mrs. E. 1). E. N. Southworth, a well-known authoress, who 
 now resides at Prospect Cottage, Georgetown, freely and cheer- 
 fully corroborates the account herein mentioned in this book of 
 a circle held at her house, and, in a letter to the publisher, 
 states: "I am glad that in the inextricable mazes of this 
 world's wilderness, I have, through you, found a trace of Netf'e 
 
 Colburn (Maynard) Please give my love to Mrs. 
 
 Maynard, and tell her I have a perfect memory of that evening 
 of which she gives so warm a picture." 
 
 Col. Simon P. Kase, of Philadelphia, states that he was pres- 
 ent at a stance with Mr. Lincoln, and that he, with several 
 other gentlemen, the President included, sat upon the piano, 
 while it was lifted bodily from the floor by spirit power, and 
 that lUr. Lincoln was not only interested in this physical ■phe- 
 nomenon, but was also intensely interested in the statements 
 which the medium made to President Lincoln while in a trance 
 condition." 
 
 Mrs. Elvira M. Depuy, of Washington, stated to the writer : 
 " My husband was a visitor to stances where Mr. Lincoln was 
 present, and he has told me of many interesting occurrences 
 
 which happened thereat In the winter of 1862-3 
 
 I attended a stance at Mrs. Laurie's, at Georgetown, where 
 Mrs. Lincoln was present. She was accompanied by Mr. New- 
 ton, Commissioner of Agriculture. At this stance remarkable 
 statements were made by Miss Colburn (Maynard) which sur- 
 
PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. xvii 
 
 prised Mrs. Lincoln to such a degree that she asked that a 
 stance might be given to Mr. Lincoln. . . . . . 1 have 
 
 always known from my husband and others that Mr. Lincoln 
 attended circles and stances, and was greatly interested m 
 Spiritualism." . ,. 
 
 Mrs. Parthenia Colburn, whose name finds place in this 
 volume, now resides at White Plains ; she was with Mrs. May- 
 nard (Miss Colburn) during 1862-3-4-5, and frequently visited 
 the White House with Miss Colburn (Maynard) when Hon 
 Daniel E. Somes and others were present, and she has filed 
 with the publisher an affidavit made before the county clerk of 
 the county of West Chester, N. Y., wherein she solemnly avers 
 that the statements regarding her, found in this book ,are true 
 and fact in each and every particular. A similar affidavit is 
 on file with the publisher made by Mrs. Nettie Colburn May- 
 nard, the writer of this book, taken by the county clerk of the 
 county of West Chester, at her bedside, and attested by him in 
 regular legal form. 
 
 In addition to the persons above named, the publisher wishes 
 to tender thanks for courtesies and aid extended him, while 
 seeking information regarding this subject, to F. C. Somes, 
 Esq., George A. Bacon, Esq , Alfred Horton, Esq., all of Wash- 
 ingtou, U. C C. ; Gen'l Daniel E. Sickles, Henry J. Newton, 
 Esq., and Charles J. Quinby, Esq., of New York; Frank L. 
 Burr, Esq., of the ' Hartford Times,' and B. B. Hill, Esq., of 
 Philadelphia; each of whom has rendered him service and in- 
 formation regarding this volume of reminiscences. The pub- 
 lisher wishes it distinctly understood that the statements con- 
 tained in this book are free from all bias or interest from any 
 cause or purpose other than as an historical picture of the con- 
 ditions and influences which were connected with, and had 
 bearincr upon, those turbulent times, which are known as "the 
 War Years of the Rebellion." He trusts that nothing in these 
 
xviii PUBLISHER'S PREFACE. 
 
 prefatory remarks will be construed in any way to indicate an 
 opinion, either for or against Spiritualism, and a decision 
 whether Abraham Lincoln was, or was not a Spiritualist, must 
 be reached as a conclusion, through and by the judgment of the 
 individual reader, who will find this work of special and con- 
 tinuous interest, and, therefore, as the title is suggestive, and 
 the information which the book conveys is extraordinary, it is 
 perhaps pertinent to ask the question, as given in the title — 
 
 "Was Abraham Lincoln a Spiritualist?" 
 
 THE PUBLISHER. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PAGB 
 
 Early Memories. Peculiar stair-way noises— The clock strikes 
 —Grandmother dies— The clock again warns us— Grandmother 
 calls from the Spirit world— My father hears strokes on the 
 house side— Grandfather dies 
 
 CHAPTER IT. 
 The Mystery Deepens. Strange phenomena— Spirit rapping 
 —My gift of mediumship discovered— My father's discovery- 
 Asa Rogers— Buchanan's election- Written communications 
 come through my mediumship 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Further Developments. I meet Ex-Gov. Seymour of Conn. 
 —Am kindly welcomed everywhere— Speak at Pequannock, 
 Conn.— My friend Flavia Howe— Go to Windsor and Ware- 
 house Point— My public career is inaugurated 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A Strange Adventure. Receive a call to speak in Albany- 
 Mr. M. wants my friend to be the " Princess" of his city of a 
 thousand wives— We have an adventure in which the spirits 
 aid us— Wc leave hurriedly ^ 
 
 (xix) 
 
 21 
 
xx TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Spiritualism and War. The first call for 75,000 men — The 
 advice from the spirit world and my disobedience — I go to 
 Washington to get a furlough for my brother — Success and 
 loss — Meet prominent people — Go to the camp — Dr. Curtis, 
 Secretary Tucker, and other prominent men are met — Have 
 important work to do — Hold stances — Per order of Secretary 
 of War — DeKalb's desire to thwart my efforts — Meet Mr. 
 Betts, of Albany— Success and failure— Appended letters, 
 etc 34 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Gladness and Sadness. Mrs. Belle Miller as a medium — 
 Captain DeKalb temporarily succeeds — I go to General 
 Townsend's office — Issued by "special order of the War 
 Department" — I fail to get brother's back pay — Brother 
 and I drive " to camp" — We meet father at camp — We 
 hold the first "sitting" on Virginia soil — Brother loses his 
 pass — Our friends sympathize with us 54 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 First Meeting with Lincoln. Secretary Foster takes us to 
 Mr. Laurie's house in Mrs. Lincoln's carriage — Mrs. Lincoln 
 promises to obtain another furlough for my brother — I go 
 into a trance — "This young lady must not leave Washington ; 
 Mr. Lincoln must hear her" — Am promised a place under 
 Mr. Newton — Am promised another furlough — A thirty-day 
 furlough is granted — A present of a hundred dollars — I ar- 
 range to stay in Washington — We are invited to the White 
 House, where we hold a stance that is of historical importance 
 — " So this is our little Nettie" — President Lincoln is advised 
 upon the Emancipation Proclamation that it is to be the 
 crowning effort of his administration and his life — The Presi- 
 dent states that pressure was being brought to bear upon 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. xxi 
 
 PAGE 
 
 him to suppress the enforcement of the proclamation— " My 
 child, you possess a wonderful gift, but that it is of God I 
 have no doubt"— Notes 6 ^ 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Ve Make History. We enter the Interior Department— Form 
 the acquaintance of Mrs. Anna M. Cosby— Meet Geo. D. Pren- 
 tice and many prominent people — Frequently visit the White 
 House— We hold a stance at Laurie's, the President attending 
 
 "Bonnie Doon" — Mrs. Miller causes the piano to dance — 
 
 The scene at the front depicted— The President advised by 
 " Dr. Bamford" to go to the Army of the Potomac and talk 
 with the soldiery— " The simplest remedies the best"— The 
 President grants a furlough to A. L. Gurney— The President 
 speaks his views upon spiritualistic communications— Ad- 
 vised not to make the stances public information— Mrs. Miller 
 moves the piano while the President site upon it— Notes . 79 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Perilous Times. I make a strange error— The President visits 
 the Army of the Potomac at the instigation of the spirits- 
 Mrs. Lincoln is distracted and we comfort her — A sitting 
 while the battle of Chancellorsville goes on and the result 
 foretold— We depart with an armful of flowers— Visit to the 
 Mount Pleasant Hospital, where father greets us . . .95 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 The Wounded and Dying. After the battles of Chancellors- 
 ville and Fredericksburg— We go to the hospital and aid the 
 wounded— Scenes of horror among the " brave boys in blue" 
 
 While riding home we see the President lift his hat to a 
 
 crippled soldier boy— Lincoln always ready to serve the 
 humble 103 
 
xxii TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Continued Services. The " Thirtieth New York" passes 
 through Washington — The poem of reception — I am called 
 home — Colonel Chrysler requests us to return to Washington 
 to do him a service — We meet Joshua Speed at Cosby's — The 
 story of Mr. Cosby's dismissal — A visit to the President and 
 unpleasant remembrances — "We are Coming, Father Abra- 
 ham, Three Hundred Strong" — Mr. Lincoln explains the 
 dilemmas of war — Our point is gained and we call on Sec- 
 retary Stanton — A politic reply, and its result — Colonel 
 Chrysler's Brigade made happy Ill 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Making Progress. A crazy lecturer — Mr. Somes inaugurates 
 the first Washington lecture — Spiritualism a comforting be- 
 lief 124 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Spiritual Advice. We pay a visit to the White House — 
 
 • General Sickels attends the seance — The terrible condition 
 
 of the freedmen around Washington — Establishing the 
 
 "Freedmen's Bureau" suggested by the spirits — Recalling 
 
 the pleasant scene 128 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 A Strange Incident. I return home — A commission ap- 
 pointed to investigate the freedmen's condition — I return to 
 Washington — Our friend General William Norris — "Why, 
 Daniel, what is the matter?" — The telegram and "Who 
 killed Cock Robin?" — Mr. Somes has a strange meeting — A. 
 matter of life or death — The President reprieves the sentinel 
 — Janvier's poem of the " Sleeping Sentinel" . . . 134 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. xxiii 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 New Acquaintances. We spend an evening with Col. Forney 
 —Mrs. Cosby takes us to " Prospect Cottage," the home of 
 Mrs. Southworth— We fall in love with her daughter—" What 
 impressions do you receive ?"— Mrs. Southworth recites a 
 strange experience— " You shall have my picture," she said 
 —Stances with Mrs. Lincoln by appointment . . . • 144 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 We Lose a Friend. Mr. Lincoln and "Abraham Laudamus" 
 —Rev. Byron Sunderland's desire to witness a stance— He 
 sends Mrs. Cosby a letter— I lecture in the Columbia Com- 
 pany's Hall—" Thy coming, 'tis as steals the morn"— Mrs. 
 Cosby's death, and notices of same— I write a presentation 
 address 
 
 154 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 A Test Seance. We are requested to attend a private seance 
 at the White House— The President asks me to demonstrate 
 my " rare gift," as he called it— The two soldiers present in 
 citizen's dress—" Perfectly satisfactory," said Mr. Lincoln ; 
 " Miss Nettie does not require eyes to do anything"— Tracing 
 lines upon the map— I do not hear the import of the stance— 
 Those were not days for trifling— An account of a witty ap- 
 plication of a part of Knox's poem, " Why Should the Spirit 
 of Mortal be Proud ?"— The complete poem . . . -163 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Until My Work is Done. I go home for a time— The meet- 
 ings at Great Barriugton and some old campaign recollec- 
 tions— I address the audience— We return again to Wash- 
 ington—Major Chorpenning and their home— I meet many 
 well-known people there— I receive dispatch from home— 
 
xx iv TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 We go to the White House—" I didn't catch her, did I?"— 
 " I don't think the knife is made or the bullet run that will 
 reach me" — Never again did we meet his welcome smile . 173 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 The Man Lincoln. A Personal Description of President 
 Abraham Lincoln and his Peculiarities .... 183 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 A Comical S£ance. A visit from two sable contemporaries — 
 The lost money and its return— Who can say that Spiritualism 
 is not of Divine origin ? 198 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Peculiar History. We go to Washington to attend the great 
 Inauguration ball— Meet at Chorpenning's— General Banks 
 calls— General Longstreet has his fortune told— " Twice did 
 I tender my sword, and twice was it refused"— A remarkable 
 statement — You have my blessing 201 
 
 CONCLUSION • 206 
 
 SPIRIT POEMS 213 
 
 APPENDIX 233 
 
AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 
 
 THE reminiscences contained in this volume are 
 given to the public from no desire to proselyte 
 in the cause of spiritualism. 
 
 School privileges were denied me through protracted 
 illness in childhood, and home training did not prepare 
 for authorship; therefore, I beg the indulgence of my 
 
 readers. 
 
 The earnest solicitations of friends that I should 
 place on record the important events in my experience 
 as a spiritual medium, led me to complete these papers, 
 in which, if they have no other merit, are related facts 
 that can be verified by living witnesses. There may 
 be some inaccuracy in dates, as the more prominent 
 events occurred many years ago ; but the circumstances 
 as stated are correctly recorded. 
 
 Let it be distinctly understood that no claim is made 
 that all persons named in connection with my medium- 
 istic experiences in the White House at Washington , 
 or elsewhere in the several circles of that city, were 
 spiritualists. I never asked, nor was I told their views 
 on the subject of spiritualism. We met with consider- 
 
 (1) 
 
2 AUTHOR'S PRE FA CE. 
 
 ation and kindness wherever invited, and were offered 
 the same welcome and courteous attention extended to 
 the other guests. 
 
 Comparatively few of the seances with the President 
 are given, as a number took place with Mrs. Lincoln 
 alone as witness. I was not told of the revelations 
 then made, for when in a trance state, I am unconscious 
 and have no knowledge of what transpires or what I 
 have said. But those recorded, demonstrate that this 
 great and good man did not hesitate to receive and 
 weigh any suggestions for guidance, when given in- 
 telligently, however humble their apparent origin. 
 
 " Through that long clay of bitter grief, 
 
 When horror rested on the Ark, 
 His was the calm unshaken belief 
 
 That felt God's Presence in the dark. 
 Full well he knew each wandering star, 
 
 That once had decked the azure dome, 
 Would trembling through the clouds of war, 
 
 Like a lost prodigal son, ceme home." 
 
 Appended to this volume will be found a few poems, 
 interesting only, as showing one phase of mediumship. 
 Ordinarily, I cannot write poetry, still there were two 
 methods by which it was possible. 
 
 In the first, having certain ideas to express, I close 
 my eyes. Presently there appear illuminated letters 
 on a back ground. When distinct so as to be read, 
 1 open my eyes and copy the lines. Again closing 
 the lids, I wait until another stanza appears before 
 my mental vision, which is transcribed as before. 
 
AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 3 
 
 In this manner I continue until the poem is com- 
 plete. This illuminated vision I have learned to call 
 my tablet. The poem to commemorate my mother's 
 eightieth birthday was thus composed. I have also 
 received poems through my sense of hearing, when 
 no one was by. 
 
 The words would be repeated so heard, as if through 
 the ear, as fast as I could copy them, all by a method 
 I am unable to explain. My readers will consider 
 that these productions, of which I am apparently the 
 author, are not mine, except as I gave the subject and 
 copied what*was revealed either to my mental vision 
 or hearing. 
 
 By far the greater number of these poems were 
 composed by the second method, while in a trance 
 state. At these times the subject was given by some 
 one present, and the lines repeated were copied by 
 another. Whenever a spirit was given as the author, 
 I have signed the name. 
 
 Being insensible while in a trance, these clairvoyant 
 poems are unfamiliar, and are read by me with as 
 much interest as if composed by another. 
 
 Some years ago, at the request of that scholarly 
 writer, the late Prof. S. B. Brittan, I prepared a 
 manuscript, which he offered to edit for publication, 
 but his death following shortly, the MS. was lost and 
 never recovered. The present one has been prepared 
 
4 AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 
 
 at intervals during the past three years by the aid of 
 an amanuensis. 
 
 Confined to bed by rheumatism and given up to die 
 by my physician, there have been comparatively few 
 days in which I could dictate these pages, therefore, 
 under such disadvantages, this work must necessarily 
 be imperfect. 
 
 From the time that the gift of mediumship was 
 developed and I became conscious of spirit life, the 
 messengers have never failed in guiding and guarding 
 me under all circumstances. They have advised and 
 directed me in worldly as well as spiritual matters, 
 and in heeding their counsel it has always been well 
 with me. 
 
 Of the power, beauty, and intelligence of these un- 
 seen guides, who led me, an unlettered girl, from the 
 quite home circle to the jubilee platform as a religious 
 teacher, and thence through strange and varied expe- 
 riences, to become the honored guest of the Ruler of 
 our Great Nation, during the most memorable events 
 in its history, I have given no adequate evidence in 
 these pages. 
 
 My lectures have never been reported, although the 
 press notices have been commendable, and whenever 
 a lecture has been repeated, the audience has been 
 appreciative. 
 
 The teachings of the spirits through my medium- 
 ship have been in full accord with those of the Great 
 
AUTHORS PREFACE. 5 
 
 Master Medium, who laid the foundation of a Practical 
 Religion many centuries ago among the Judean Hills, 
 and Who lit the altar fires of Divine Inspiration along 
 the shores of Galilee with this " New Commandment" 
 of the " Comforter" in this late Pentecost. 
 
 Looking back over my life, it is a source of undying 
 joy to recall the scenes where I have been the instru- 
 ment in the hands of the Spirit World to carry health 
 to the sick and peace to the sorrowing, and to kindle 
 the light of hope where reigned the darkness of de- 
 spair. It brings me that peace that passeth under- 
 standing, to remember that by the aid of this precious 
 gift I have brought comfort to the bedside of the dying, 
 and more than once have staid the suicidal hand ; while 
 many souls wandering in the paths of sinfulness have 
 been reclaimed and brought back to a life of virtue 
 and honor. It is also gratifying that the ties of 
 friendship formed in many households, twenty-five or 
 thirty years ago, are still unbroken. That the memory 
 of my work as a spirit medium is tenderly cherished, is 
 proven by the letters of kind sympathy that I so fre- 
 quently receive ; but sweeter far than all these memo- 
 ries is the ministry of angels unto me in my helplessness 
 and suffering as I now lie upon a bed from which I 
 may not hope to rise in this life. The spirit of my 
 dear mother comes and goes before my spiritual vision 
 as plainly as she appeared to my mortal eyes when 
 living. And I find strength and comfort from the 
 
6 AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 
 
 dear ones who wait unseen by my side until I can in 
 truth say, " Death" has lost its " sting" and " grave" 
 its " victory." 
 
 I thank God that this spirit knowledge is spreading 
 broadcast through all lands ; that mediums with more 
 perfect gifts than mine are developing each day, to 
 carry to all who will receive the glad tidings of a 
 demonstrated immortality. 
 
 NETTIE COLBURN MAYNARD. 
 
 White Plains, New York, 
 September, 1891. 
 
WAS ABRAHAM LINCOLN A 
 SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 EARLY MEMORIES. 
 
 Peculiar stair- way noises — The clock strikes — Grandmother dies 
 — The clock again warns us — Grandmother calls from the 
 Spirit world — My father hears strokes on the house side — 
 Grandfather dies. 
 
 OMITTING the preliminary description of the 
 surroundings of my early childhood and the 
 conditions of birth and similar matters, it will interest 
 the reader to enter without delay upon the story which 
 leads up to the events to which all interest in this 
 volume must attach. One evening in the winter of 
 1845, in the town of Bolton, Conn., where my father's 
 family resided, we were sitting about the large old- 
 fashioned kitchen-table, which was lighted by means 
 of oil lamps, in common use by all country people of 
 those days. The room was a large square one, having 
 
 (7) 
 
8 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 in one corner a door, which led to the rooms above, its 
 only fastening an iron latch, which held it in place. 
 While the murmur of conversation was going on, we 
 were suddenly startled by a sound which resembled 
 the noise produced by hurling a heavy log down the 
 stair-way against the door here mentioned. There 
 was no mistaking the locality, as the sound was suf- 
 ficiently loud to shatter the door, which it would have 
 done had it been caused by means which the noise indi- 
 cated, and by any object capable of making so crashing 
 a sound. 
 
 Not one of the half-dozen persons seated at the 
 table moved for some few seconds following ; their 
 startled, white faces testifying to their consternation. 
 Before any one had spoken the sound was repeated 
 with equal force, and seemed to jar the entire room. 
 This time, my mother, who was a fearless woman under 
 ordinary circumstances, pale and trembling, took up a 
 lamp to investigate the matter. She had scarcely risen, 
 with face toward the door, when the noise was repeated 
 for the third time. Not hesitating, but with blanched 
 face, holding the light aloft, she threw open the stair- 
 door ; not a sound, not an object answered her look 
 and voice. Utter silence reigned in the chambers 
 above. Father was absent at the time, and our nearest 
 neighbor was more than a quarter of a mile away. 
 However, my sisters, who were grown to womanhood, 
 followed by myself, went with my mother throughout 
 
EARLY MEMORIES. 9 
 
 the entire building, to find no intruder of any sort, 
 nor could we find any evidence of the cause of the 
 peculiar noises. As we returned to the kitchen the 
 large clock on the high mantel-piece struck eight. . . . 
 Three days later, while the matter was the subject 
 of constant conversation, we received news of the 
 death of my father's mother, who had died at Stafford 
 Springs, at eight o'clock on the evening of the day 
 of our strange experiences. The time elapsing between 
 the stair-way noises and the striking of the hour, we 
 afterwards ascertained, was the exact difference be- 
 tween grandfather's watch and our clock ; we, there- 
 fore, knew that at the time of the stair-way noises 
 grandmother had passed to the Gf-reat beyond, and that 
 the period of departure was precisely ten minutes 
 before eight o'clock. My grandfather, from this time 
 forward to that of his death, was a member of our 
 household. 
 
 In the early fall of 1849, while residing near the 
 Coventry line, I was lying ill with typhus fever, close 
 unto death. On this evening, which I am about to 
 mention, my condition was better. Father and an 
 older sisterwere seated in the room playing a game of 
 checkers, while near them looking on sat mother. 
 They were very quiet lest I might be disturbed. 
 Directly fronting me on the mantel stood the clock, 
 which was of the old Bristol pattern, with iron weights. 
 It had not been wound for more than a year, and the 
 
10 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 cord which upheld the "strike-weight" was broken. 
 At once, amid the stillness, the clock struck one. The 
 effect was electrical. Father, more astonished than 
 frightened, sprang to his feet, and opened the clock 
 door to find the wire still vibrating. In the face of the 
 presence of the long broken cord, there was no method 
 to account for the striking. The game of checkers 
 was never finished, and I was wearied with questions 
 as to my welfare — my family believing that this was 
 but a strange herald of my departure. Three weeks 
 later, and after I had recovered, my grandfather re- 
 ceived a slight paralytic attack while descending the 
 stairs ; mother helped him to bed, administering some 
 medicine, which quieted him for a time. She soon after 
 was called to his bedside, when he told her that " Millie 
 [his deceased wife] has just been here ;" to which 
 mother replied, " You have been dreaming." " No," 
 he said, " she bent over me, called me by name, and 
 put her cold hand upon my side ; I felt it." Finding 
 that he could not be dissuaded from this thought she 
 changed the subject. A few days after this incident, 
 my father arose very early for the purpose of cleaning 
 an elevated oven belonging to an old stove, and while 
 in the yard vigorously shaking it, was startled by the 
 noise of three severe strokes upon the corner of the 
 house below the eaves — so distinct that the sound 
 could be exactly located. He at once went into the 
 house to the room where grandfather lay, directly 
 
EARLY MEMORIES. 11 
 
 within the spot where the noise occurred, only to 
 find grandfather peacefully sleeping. Finding no one 
 about, it occurred to him that the noises were surpris- 
 ing. On going to mother's room he informed her, but 
 she induced him to believe he was mistaken and to 
 return to his work, which he did. Whereupon, taking 
 up the oven, he heard an exact repetition of the noises 
 in the same place. He sought in vain for a solution 
 of the mystery ; when again, for the third time, the 
 noise was repeated. He afterwards confessed that he 
 was unnerved for the day. For a week or more fol- 
 lowing this occurrence, grandfather appeared unusu- 
 ally well. On the ninth day he did not join the 
 family at breakfast, saying he did not feel well and 
 wished mother to serve him a cup of tea. I went 
 with mother to his room, and found him sitting up in 
 bed breathing heavily; he desired me to send for 
 Amasa (my father, who had left him an hour previous), 
 saying, "I am going to die, for Millie has called me 
 again." Mother sent for father and comforted grand- 
 father. Within half an hour, and before father re- 
 turned, grandfather had joined the voice that called 
 him, and was with her in the Great Beyond, without 
 the shadow of death. 
 
 As will be seen by the date (1845), 'I was a mere 
 child, and Spiritualism was comparatively unknown to 
 the world and entirely unknown, I am quite sure, in 
 
12 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 our little old-fashioned village ; but in after years, 
 when we heard of Spirit manifestations, we came to 
 know that these results were the attempts at com- 
 munication on the part of our Spirit friends. 
 
THE MYSTERY DEEPENS. 13 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE MYSTERY DEEPENS. 
 
 Strange phenomena— Spirit-rapping— My gift of mediumship 
 discovered — My father's discovery — Asa Rogers — Bu- 
 chanan's election — Written communications come through 
 my mediumship. 
 
 IN the year 1855 we resided with my parents in 
 the city of Hartford, Conn. One day, during the 
 summer of that year, my father related at the dinner 
 table certain strange phenomena that he had witnessed 
 at the warerooms of the firm of Elton & Deming, fur- 
 niture-dealers of that city, and stated that a young 
 man, hardly 30 years of age, of slight build, possessed 
 a wonderful gift whereby he could move the heaviest 
 pieces of furniture about the building, by simply lay- 
 ing his fingers upon them and requesting them to fol- 
 low him ; that he had done this repeatedly during the 
 forenoon ; and that a heavy secretary, to move which 
 required the strength of four or five men, would move 
 across the floor with perfect ease if he but placed the 
 tips of his fingers thereon, requesting it to follow him. 
 He said the young man could do this at any time and 
 place, and he wished to arrange with him to pass an 
 evening at our house, that my mother and the family 
 
14 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 might witness these curious phenomena. Two even- 
 ings later he came and proceeded to demonstrate his 
 ability, making no explanation whatever of the strange 
 power he seemed to possess. We were all soon seated 
 about the dining-table, following his directions by 
 placing our hands flatly upon the surface. In a few 
 moments the table began rocking to and fro, and the 
 united force of all present was unable to prevent its 
 motions. Instructing my father what to say, he began 
 questioning the table as if it possessed intelligence ; 
 the motion ceased, and a loud, distinct rap was heard 
 whose source we sought in vain ; but to all questions it 
 responded quickly and with a decided intelligence that 
 denoted that it understood all that was spoken. At 
 last the young man spoke and said the raps were so 
 clear and distinct, and the power apparently so great, 
 that there must be others present possessing this gift 
 (as he termed it) ; and upon asking the question of 
 this unseen Intelligence of this fact a quick response 
 in the affirmative was given. On further inquiry it 
 stated that I possessed the gift in a marked degree ; 
 it also declared that my mother and eldest brother 
 possessed the same gift, but not to the same extent. 
 Many strange things were rapped out in response to 
 questions, and the Intelligence claimed to be my 
 grandfather, and many names were spelled of deceased 
 friends and relatives of whom the young man could 
 have had no possible knowledge. This curious mani- 
 
THE MYSTERY DEEPENS. 15 
 
 festation ended by his requesting the power to display 
 its force by turning the table bottom upwards ; which 
 was done, it being carefully raised clear from the sup- 
 port and laid flat upon the floor with the legs upwards 
 without any hand thereon save his own. The name of 
 this young man was Thomas Cook. I have never met 
 him, nor heard of him since that time.* The matter 
 afforded material for conversation for a few days and 
 was forgotten. 
 
 A year later a young acquaintance came into our 
 house and excitedly asked me if I knew anything 
 about spirit-rapping. In surprise, I said "No," when 
 she related the astonishing fact that some friends were 
 visiting at her house, and that their little fifteen 
 months' old baby was what they called a " spirit 
 medium." When the little thing was seated at a 
 table, in its high chair, curious manifestations would 
 occur, such as dishes moving without visible contact, 
 the table rising and falling, and loud raps being heard 
 in different parts of the room. She further stated 
 that every morning since their arrival they would find 
 that during the night the furniture of the house had 
 been displaced, pictures removed from the walls, and t 
 many other peculiar occurrences took place for i 
 
 * There is now residing at Chicago, 111., a writer named 
 Thomas Cook. Whether he may be the acquaintance of my 
 youth I am not informed. 
 
16 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 which no one could account, save that this invisible 
 agency had been at work while all in the house were 
 sleeping. She concluded her strange story by saying, 
 "And the spirits say that I am a medium." As she 
 uttered the words, I recollected the curious seance of 
 the year before, when the same statement had been 
 made about myself ; and instantly I said, " Oh 
 yes, I know all about it, for I witnessed something 
 of this myself, and they told me also that I am a 
 medium." We were both mere children, and compre- 
 hended nothing of the magnitude of the subject of 
 which we were speaking, but with the egotism of in- 
 experience and the love of novelty peculiar to the 
 young, were anxious to know more concerning this 
 power we were said to possess. My friend Eunice 
 instantly proposed that we sit down and see if we could 
 make a hall " lamp-stand" move. Retiring to my own 
 room, we sat down by a stand, placed our hands upon 
 it, as I remembered we had done on the only occasion in 
 which I had witnessed the manifestations of this strange 
 phenomenon, and sat patiently listening and waiting 
 for something to happen. During this time, my mother 
 entered the room and we told her what we were doing ; 
 she stood by us and listened, but no sound or move- 
 ment rewarded our patience. At the end of half an 
 hour, wearied with sitting in silence, we abandoned 
 the effort. 
 
THE MYSTERY DEEPENS. 17 
 
 The next day she came to see me, full of excited 
 interest, repeating the marvels of the day before, and 
 saying that spirits had directed that we should sit 
 again. Thi3 we did, and for another half hour sat pa- 
 tiently silent and listening, placing our hands upon the 
 stand, but nothing rewarded our efforts. This was 
 repeated day after day for a week, as every day Eunice 
 would return, directed so to do, as she affirmed, by the 
 spirits, as they manifested themselves through the 
 infant, the little child at her house. Being but chil- 
 dren ourselves, we became weary of these repeated 
 failures, and on this last occasion I asserted, " If no- 
 thing comes this time, I will not sit again, and they 
 need not ask me to." We had scarcely seated our- 
 selves and placed our hands upon the table, when 
 three loud distinct raps sounded beneath our fingers. 
 We sprung up in affright, upsetting the chairs in our 
 excitement, and rushed from the room. My mother, 
 hearing the confusion, met us, and we explained ; she 
 thereupon persuaded us to go back and try again, she 
 going with us. At this moment my father entered 
 the house, and feeling encouraged by his presence, we 
 sat down, when the raps came readily, responding to 
 any and all questions, stating distinctly that I was the 
 medium for this peculiar form of manifestation, and 
 desiring that I sit at regular intervals, as they desired 
 to use me to make revelations to the world to demon- 
 2 
 
18 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 strate the truth of immortality.* From this time for- 
 ward, on all occasions when it seemed proper and 
 right so to do, this power would manifest itself, and I 
 could readily obtain responses to questions. 
 
 The development of this curious gift naturally drew 
 attention and brought many visitors to our house. 
 Prominent among them was Asa Rogers,! of the firm 
 of Rogers Bro3., who I believe introduced silver-plat- 
 ing into this country. I spent a number of weeks at 
 his house, and he wished at that time to adopt me as 
 
 * My father tested the matter in a systematic manner, hav- 
 ing me stand away from the stand, after first examining it upon 
 all sides, and then repeating the question in many forms for an 
 hour or more. When he became fully convinced and satisfied 
 that the answers were from an intelligent unseen power, who 
 could give him messages from his dead friends, and names and 
 dates which I did not know, he seemed completely overcome, 
 and, bowing his head upon his hands, wept like a child. We 
 were all alarmed at this, and mother placed her hand upon his 
 head, saying, " Father, what is the matter?" For a moment 
 he could not reply, but, mastering his emotions, said feelingly : 
 " You do not realize what this is to me; for years you know 
 that I have doubted the immortality of man, for I could not 
 accept the common teachings, as they were not based on evi- 
 dent proofs that satisfied my mind ; but if this is true, and from 
 the evidences before my eyes I cannot doubt that it is, ' then 
 we are immortal beings, and life has some object beyond the 
 mere object of living ;' and this child has brought me more than 
 ell the ivealth of the ivorld can give." 
 f See appended letters at end of volume. 
 
THE MYSTERY DEEPENS. 19 
 
 his own child, offering every inducement to that end ; 
 and, notwithstanding his was a home of affluence, and 
 my own that of the laboring man, the ties of affection 
 were not easily broken. He never, however, ceased to 
 show his kindly interest in me to the day of his death, 
 as some of his letters appended hereto will indicate. 
 
 For nearly a year after this curious development, I 
 was engaged almost every evening, either at my own 
 home or at the homes of those who sought me out, 
 exercising this new gift ; and people came from near 
 and far to have me sit at the table for them, as they 
 claimed to receive surprising revelations from deceased 
 relatives of whom I could have no possible previous 
 knowledge. 
 
 Just at this time the exciting campaign between 
 James Buchanan and John C. Fremont was at its 
 height. My father was a staunch Fremont man, and, 
 as a matter of course, what interest I could have in 
 such a matter would manifest itself in sympathy with 
 his ideas, although I was too young and inexperienced 
 to understand clearly either side of the questions at 
 
 issue. 
 
 The day before the election excitement and feeling 
 ran high. A number of guests were at dinner, and 
 my father was affirming his confidence in the election 
 of his candidate, when my hand was seized by a power 
 I could not control and was violently shaken. I was 
 frightened, and knew not what to do, trying to hold my 
 
20 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 right hand still with my left. My father watched me 
 for an instant ; then, quickly taking his pencil from his 
 pocket, he placed a piece of paper hastily before me 
 and the pencil in my right hand. Instantly the name 
 " Buchanan" was scrawled upon the paper ; as it was 
 written, loud raps came upon the table. With a startled 
 look, he questioned : " Do you mean us to understand 
 that Buchanan will be elected to-morrow ?" The 
 response came quickly in the affirmative, distinct and 
 loud. The result of the morrow's election verified the 
 prediction. This was the first time my hand was ever 
 used for mechanical writing ; but from that day for- 
 ward, by sitting quietly with pencil in my hand resting 
 upon paper, it would be mechanically moved ; and 
 many pages were thus written without any volition on 
 my part. I could converse while this writing was 
 going on, evidencing that I had no control whatever 
 over it. This phase of my gift, continued at various 
 times and occasions, excited much interest, and our 
 quiet home was constantly besieged by eager inquirers, 
 who wished to witness these peculiar manifestations. 
 
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. 21 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. 
 
 I meet Ex-Gov. Seymour of Conn. — Am kindly welcomed 
 everywhere — Speak at Pequanock, Conn. — My friend 
 Flavia Howe — Go to Windsor and Warehouse Point — My 
 public career is inaugurated. 
 
 SOME TIME after this I was invited, with a number 
 of others, to attend a seance at the home of my 
 sister, Mrs. Walker (now Mrs. Henry Standfast, who 
 resides at Tople Bampo, Mexico, and who can verify 
 this statement). Among the guests present was 
 Thomas H. Seymour, who had been governor of the 
 State, and who also held many other offices under our 
 government. I was seated at the table with my sister 
 and a number of others, when the rappings were heard, 
 and my hand was moved to write a message to some one 
 in the room. As the pencil dropped from my fingers, 
 Governor Seymour, who was standing behind me, laid 
 his hand upon my head, and in a moment a quiet, 
 dreamy feeling stole over me, and a prickly sensation 
 passed through my fingers and along my arms. This 
 is the last I remember until an hour later when I 
 awoke in a different part of the room, finding myself 
 seated on the sofa with the company gathered about 
 
22 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 me. It appeared that I had been completely entranced, 
 had personated different individuals who were known 
 to be in the spirit world, and had spoken to a number 
 present, giving messages that were recognized as from 
 deceased friends ; the parties thus addressed being 
 entire strangers to me. Of these messages, or their 
 import or significance to those to whom given, I had no 
 recollection whatever. The time had been a blank, and 
 my awakening impressed me as simply being aroused 
 from a natural sleep, with the exception of a return 
 of the prickly sensation in my hands and arms which 
 gradually left me, and I was conscious of no ill effects 
 from this new and strange experience. 
 
 From this time forward, whenever I sat down for 
 the purpose of writing, or getting the raps, I would, 
 when it seemed desirable, be entranced, and com- 
 munications be given, and on occasions when large 
 companies were present, some influence would take 
 possession of me and deliver what seemed to be an 
 address upon matters pertaining to the welfare of the 
 human family, so full of instruction as to satisfy the 
 most sceptical, and so complete that it could not have 
 originated with myself. 
 
 It was in this way that I became invested with my 
 strange gift of mediumship. It came to me in a sense 
 unsought, and took me, an untaught child, from my 
 humble home in the ranks of the laboring people, and 
 led me forth, a teacher of the sublime truth of im- 
 
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. 23 
 
 mortality, opening to me the doors of the wealthy 
 and the prominent, as well as leading among the poor 
 and lowly, speaking through my unconscious lips 
 words of strength and consolation, suited to all con- 
 ditions, until everywhere, from the farmer's quiet fire- 
 side to the palatial city mansion, I found only words 
 of welcome and kindly care. 
 
 Late in the fall of 1856 a large company were 
 gathered at my father's house, and among them a 
 gentleman by the name of Welch. On this occasion I 
 had been controlled to deliver a lecture upon some 
 religious subject, and when the seance was over, Mr. 
 Welch asked my father to permit me to deliver a lecture 
 in a public hall, saying I ought to be upon the rostrum 
 teaching, and that if he would consent he would make 
 every arrangement and provision for the same. My 
 father half reluctantly consented. For myself I re- 
 fused to do this unless a friend, whose acquaintance 
 I had made some time previously, would accompany 
 me and share in the exercises. This young girl was 
 Miss Flavia Howe, of Windsor, Conn., herself a fine 
 medium, giving much of her time to clairvoyant ex- 
 aminations of the sick. Mr. Welch visited her home ; 
 she consented to join me ; and he then engaged a 
 hall in Pequanock, Conn., and freely advertised the 
 lecture which took place on Christmas eve. 
 
 In those days spiritualism was an unpopular theme ; 
 yet, notwithstanding the public prejudices, the pleasant 
 
24 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 hall was filled with a curious company anxious to hear 
 a trance-speaker expound the new doctrine. On the 
 rostrum were seated Mr. Welch, the presiding elder of 
 the occasion ; a Dr. Norton, of Hartford, a clairvoyant 
 physician ; Miss Flavia, and myself. I shall never for- 
 get the sinking sensation I experienced, and how my 
 heart palpitated in facing the sea of faces on this my first 
 public appearance. I felt I should never become passive 
 enough, or still the violent throbbings of my heart 
 sufficiently to enable the unseen intelligence to obtain 
 control. I felt the color come and go in my cheeks, 
 and experienced all the trepidation of " stage fright" 
 that could characterize a novice for the first time 
 facing a critical multitude. My young companion 
 Flavia was not so troubled, as she knew many of those 
 present, there being large numbers from her own 
 village, Pequanock, which is a part of the town of 
 Windsor, where she was likewise well acquainted. 
 
 Dr. Norton, being a man past middle age and having 
 been long before the public in the capacity of clair- 
 voyant physician, had full possession of his nervous 
 system. Mr. Welch stepped forward to the front of 
 the stage and requested those that could to join in 
 singing some familiar hymn. He said it would assist 
 conditions. Very soon a thin quavering voice started 
 the familiar line — 
 
 " When I can read my title clear," 
 
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. 25 
 
 which was soon joined from another side of the hall 
 by a strong voice with a decided nasal tone, one after 
 another joining in. The chorus was full and strong by 
 the time the first verse was ended. Some of the 
 comical features of this attempt at creating "con- 
 ditions" occurring to my mind, diverted me for the 
 moment from the part I was expected to play in the 
 evening's entertainment. This moment was evidently 
 improved by my unseen friends, as I immediately lost 
 consciousness of what was passing around me and 
 knew nothing further until an hour and a half later, 
 when the exercises were over. It seemed that my 
 friend Flavia had been used to open the meeting with 
 a beautiful invocation, after which our spirit friends 
 had taken me to the front of the rostrum and delivered 
 an address from the text — 
 
 "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth ?" 
 
 The text had been suggested by the fact that many 
 unkind remarks had been made throughout the town 
 regarding the forthcoming meeting, saying there could 
 be no good in it, as it had all been originated among 
 people no one knew anything about, etc. At the con- 
 clusion of the address, which I learned was frequently 
 applauded as it progressed, Dr. Norton was controlled 
 to pronounce a benediction, and the meeting was dis- 
 missed. Many crowded around me with congratula- 
 tions, asking me questions regarding my strange gift. 
 
26 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 My father and mother, both being present, were ques- 
 tioned regarding me and the advantages I must have 
 had to be able to speak with such fluency and readiness 
 on matters supposed to be only discussed by learned 
 divines or those who had made such subjects a life 
 study. My youth forbade the belief that I had 
 studied for any length of time upon any subject, 
 and when my father assured them that my fragile 
 health from childhood had prevented me receiving 
 even the ordinary instruction that girls of my years 
 were supposed to enjoy, the wonder increased. For 
 myself, I was simply pleased with the novelty of the 
 position and the pleasant life that seemed to open 
 before me. 
 
 On this same day a gentleman partially engaged 
 me to speak in a church in Windsor the next evening. 
 After consulting my friend Flavia and getting her to 
 promise to join me therein, I agreed to accept. The 
 scenes of this occasion were a repetition of those of 
 the last evening, and at its close a gentleman from 
 Warehouse Point, who was present in the audience, 
 engaged me to speak in that village one evening the 
 following week. This engagement I also kept, accom- 
 panied by my young friend Flavia. At this gathering 
 a gentleman was present, whose home was Winsted, 
 Conn., and who on this occasion arranged with me to 
 lecture every two Sundays, for three months there- 
 after, in the town of Winsted. Still feeling timid 
 
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS. 27 
 
 about going alone so far from home, I persuaded the 
 parents of my friend to let her remain my companion. 
 This she became, and my career as a public lecturer 
 was fully inaugurated. 
 
 " How bright and sunny look those far-off days ; 
 how clearly rises before me the tall, graceful, slender 
 figure of my young friend ; her long curls flowing over 
 her shoulders, her bright, clear gray eyes full of 
 laughter, looking into mine. To-day she is a staid 
 wife and mother ; her name a household word through- 
 out New England; while the sick and suffering every- 
 where rise up and call her blessed. Oh, Flavia ! 
 Flavia ! wherever you are, surrounded by household 
 cares, the love of husband and children, do your 
 thoughts ever turn backward to the dear old times 
 as girls together we kept our diary and planned our 
 innocent frolics in the ' Old lang syne ?' " 
 
28 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A STRANGE ADVENTURE. 
 
 Receive a call to speak in Albany — Mr. M. wants my friend to 
 be the " Princess" of his city of a thousand wives — We 
 have an adventure in which the spirits aid us — We leave 
 hurriedly. 
 
 FOR three years that followed I lectured in many 
 New England towns and villages ; but, owing to 
 the fact of being retained for months at a time in 
 filling these several engagements, I did not become 
 widely known to the public as a " Spiritual Lecturer" — 
 home duties requiring my friend Flavia to return after 
 the first year of our association. I found another 
 congenial companion in a Miss Parnie R. Hannum, of 
 South Adams, Mass., who, in after years, married my 
 father's youngest brother, and is now known as Mrs. 
 E. R. Colburn. During one of my visits to Lee, Mass., 
 in the year 1858, I received a call to speak in the city 
 of Albany, N. Y. There were but few confessed 
 Spiritualists in the city at this time ; and accepting 
 the call, we proceeded thence, where we arrived one 
 bleak winter's day, to be met by a Mr. Fellows, who was 
 the presiding officer of the little handful of the faith- 
 ful, who were striving to hold meetings in a tiny hall 
 
MRS. I'AKTHKXIA OM.HUKX. 
 From photograph from life, 1S60. 
 
A STRANGE ADVENTURE. 29 
 
 up two flights of stairs. We were escorted by him to 
 the home of Mr. M. (I designedly omit the name, as 
 he has now passed beyond the realm of mortality, and 
 his amiable and lovable wife is, I am told, blessing 
 the world with her Spiritualistic gifts), and left there 
 with utter strangers. We endeavored to make our- 
 selves comfortable, but soon saw that there was some- 
 thing strange in the house, as was indicated by the 
 anxious face of Mrs. M. Her nervous unrest and the 
 sudden opening and shutting of doors in the other 
 parts of the house, the sound of which reached our 
 ears, began to have its effect upon us and cause 
 no little nervous anxiety. As dusk approached 
 Mr. M. entered the room. He was a fine appearing, 
 portly gentleman, and to all outward manner greeted 
 us with cordiality, and a clear understanding of our 
 position in the house ; yet we could not but notice 
 that his wife watched him with anxiety ; and when all 
 were ushered into the dining-room, we saw no decrease 
 in her anxious manner and watchfulness. The meal 
 passed in silence, and we returned again to the parlor ; 
 when Mr. M., suddenly springing to his feet, began to 
 speak in an excited manner, declaring that he was 
 about to found a city that " would rival the city of 
 Utah ;" that it had been decreed that he was to have 
 one thousand wives ; and he at once declared that my 
 friend Parnie was elected the chief thereof. In fear 
 and trembling we looked at Mrs. M., and taking our 
 
30 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 cue from her hasty words, we talked pleasantly with 
 him of his projected kingdom. At the time, it was 
 dark and dreary, and snowing fiercely, and we felt 
 ourselves entrapped and in the presence of a madman. 
 A most uncomfortable evening followed. We besought 
 Mrs. M. to permit us to go out into the street and find 
 some hotel where we could lodge in safety until the 
 morning ; but she assured us it would not do for us to 
 make any change, as there was no one to go with us to 
 lead the way ; and at the same time giving every as- 
 surance that there was no danger in remaining. At 
 nine o'clock, when Mr. M. had momentarily left the 
 room, we insisted upon retiring. Mrs. M. guided us 
 from the rear stair-way into what proved an open attic 
 or garret, each end of which was partitioned, and 
 neatly furnished. To one of these rooms she led us. 
 A frail board partition and a shaky door on leather 
 hinges were the only barrier between us and the " rum 
 maniac" who was left to her control. 
 
 One thought on entering the room was to look to 
 the fastening of the door. It possessed a staple and 
 iron hook, but so worn and loose in their sockets that 
 it would require little effort to make them of no avail. 
 
 The only other exit from the room was the small 
 window at the back, and looking out we saw, about 
 six feet beneath, a sloping shed deeply covered with 
 snow, from which a descent to the ground would be 
 easy. We made up our minds to escape by the win- 
 
A STRANGE ADVENTURE. 31 
 
 dow, should it become necessary. It is needless to 
 say we did not remove our clothing, but, on the 
 contrary, put on our outer garments, and kept our 
 travelling bag in readiness to be cast from the window, 
 to be followed by ourselves if necessary. We removed 
 the fastening, raised the window an inch, disregarding 
 the cold and storm, and patiently sat awaiting events. 
 Our preparations had been scarcely completed when a 
 shower of clear distinct raps was ' heard upon our 
 headboard. We instantly put ourselves in communica- 
 tion with our invisible protectors, and were quickly 
 assured that a power was with us that would protect 
 from all harm, and that we should have no occasion to 
 use the window. They told us that Mrs. M. was a 
 powerful medium, and that through the combined forces 
 of her mediumship and our own they should bar the 
 way to our presence against this madman. 
 
 For an hour all was quiet, when suddenly we heard 
 heavy steps approaching our door. Notwithstanding 
 the assurance we had received from our friends, I con- 
 fess we were quickly at the window, with it upraised, 
 ready for a spring, when his hand came heavily upon 
 the leather strap outside. He endeavored to pull the 
 door open, saying that he wished to see the " princess," 
 as he denominated my friend. His wife was instantly 
 beside him, expostulating and begging him to let the 
 "princess" rest until morning. A parley ensued. 
 Again he tried the door, and, with a wrench that 
 
32 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 seemed to us must take it from its poor hinges, made 
 the partition shake ; yet, strange to say, it did not 
 give way. Our hearts were beating wildly, and my 
 friend was already on the window-sill, ready for a 
 spring, and I on the chair beside her to follow. 
 Again he wrenched at the door, determined to enter. 
 It resisted all his efforts, and after repeated trials he 
 abandoned the attempt and retreated. 
 
 We then examined the door, and, without trouble, 
 pulled out the staple with our fingers. What had held 
 it in its place I cannot answer. I only know the fact, 
 and realized that we felt the mantle of invisible pro- 
 tection around us from that moment, and fearlessly 
 lay down without undressing and went to sleep. Just 
 at day-dawn we heard him again approaching ; no better 
 security was afforded to the door than at his previous 
 visitation. He tried the door again and again, and it 
 resisted all efforts. We stood on the floor trembling, 
 and awaited results. We soon heard the voice of his 
 wife calling him to come with her down-stairs, which 
 he heeded. This was the last attempt. At seven 
 o'clock we presented ourselves below stairs, dressed 
 and equipped for the street. Mrs. M. met us, pale 
 and weary, and then explained to us that the reason 
 we had been brought to her house was because she 
 was alone at the time she offered to have us be her 
 guests during our stay. Her husband was absent and 
 she had no idea of his return for a number of weeks. 
 
A STRANGE ADVENTURE. 33 
 
 He arrived unexpectedly the day of our arrival, and 
 in the half maniacal condition in which we found him. 
 She did not see Mr. Fellows when he left us at the door, 
 consequently there was no opportunity for her to explain 
 or give us an opportunity to seek other quarters. We 
 assured her of our full appreciation of her kind intent 
 and generous hospitality ; but without waiting for our 
 breakfast, we started out into the street and soon found 
 our way to the hall. 
 
 To the officers of our little Society we related our 
 unpleasant experience and met with the ready sympathy 
 circumstances seemed to demand, and were provided, 
 during the remainder of the engagement, with a con- 
 genial home in the pleasant family of a Mr. Ward, in 
 Greenbush, just across the river. 
 
 The meetings grew in interest, and so enlarged in 
 numbers that a larger and better hall was secured, 
 and it resulted in ray becoming a permanent speaker 
 for the Society. 
 
34 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 SPIRITUALISM AND WAR. 
 
 The first call for 75,000 men — The advice from the spirit world 
 and my disobedience — I go to Washington to get a fur- 
 lough for my brother — Success and loss — Meet prominent 
 people — Go to the camp — Dr. Curtis, Secretary Tucker, 
 and other prominent men are met — Have important -work 
 to do — Hold stances — " Per order of Secretary of War" — 
 DeKalb's desire to thwart my efforts — Meet Mr. Betts, of 
 Albany — Success and failure — Appended letters, etc. 
 
 I WAS lecturing in Albany, in April, 1861, when 
 the war of the Rebellion broke out. It is well 
 known that the Northern people expected that the 
 President's first call for troops to the number of 75,000 
 men would quickly end the " little fuss" down South, 
 and that, taken all in all, the war would soon be over. 
 The first battle of Bull Run made the Northern people 
 acquainted with the fact that no easy victory awaited 
 them. At the close of my evening lecture, the Sun- 
 day following this disastrous battle to the North, a 
 gentleman asked the question : " How long will this 
 conflict continue ?" Our spirit frieiids made the re- 
 j»ly, " That it would continue four years, and that it 
 ivould require five practically to end it." This was a 
 
SPIRITUALISM AND WAR. 35 
 
 distinctly prophetic statement which after events fully 
 verified.* 
 
 At the time no one believed or supposed it possible 
 that a war could be maintained in this country for that 
 length of time, particularly an internal war ; and the 
 statement of the spirits on that occasion created much 
 discussion. 
 
 More than a year had passed away. I was still 
 speaking for the Society when I was summoned home 
 to bid a brief farewell to my father and brothers, all 
 four of whom had enlisted and were about to start for 
 " the front." After much consideration it was de- 
 cided best for my mother to break up her home and 
 return with me to Albany to remain until my father's 
 return, if he should be so fortunate as to escape the 
 ill fortunes of war. The last evening, before the com- 
 pany in Avhich my father and brothers were enlisted 
 started for the front, we passed together at the house 
 of a friend, and a parting circle was held. Our spirit 
 friends gave us every encouragement, assuring us that 
 they foresaw that all four would return in safety to 
 their homes. A spirit purporting to be a Dr. Bam- 
 ford, whom my father had known in earlier years, 
 
 * This was a war prophecy of importance, and as far as I 
 know there are living witnesses who can testify to the circum- 
 stance : Jane McClure, of Albany, J. J. Perkins, M.D., who 
 has moved from Albany to Syracuse, and Mrs. H. M. Dibbells, 
 of Washington, N. Y. 
 
36 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 controlled me, and in his quaint " down East" dialect 
 assured my father that the next time he had the 
 pleasure of talking with him it would be on Virginia 
 soil. This astounding statement surprised all present, 
 and none more so than myself, when informed of his 
 words ; for I had no possible way of visiting the army, 
 no desire to do so, and had no thought of any conditions 
 that could by any chance bring about a meeting with 
 my father in that distant State. However, time 
 passed on.* It was in the following November, the 
 
 * In August, 1862, while my friend, Miss Hannum, and my- 
 self were sitting in our room in Albany a powerful influence 
 came over me, and I was "controlled" to speak to her for 
 nearly an hour, the purport of which was that there was a 
 " Congress of spirits" in the spirit life, composed of the lead- 
 ing public men who had passed away from earth, who were still 
 interested in and guiding with care the affairs of the nation as 
 perfectly as in their power ; that it was imperatively necessary 
 that they should communicate with President Lincoln ; and 
 they desired me to make arrangements to go to Washington and 
 seek an immediate interview with him, assuring us that we 
 would be well received and kindly treated ; and that we should 
 tell the President how we came to visit him, assuring us that 
 we would have no cause to regret immediate obedience. When 
 I awoke and learned the purport of the message we talked 
 over the matter earnestly, but could not bring ourselves to fol- 
 low the suggestion ; and although the matter was repeatedly 
 referred to by our spirit friends thereafter, we refused to com- 
 ply with their wishes then, which fact was due to a knowledge 
 of unpleasant experiences which had been the reward of other 
 
SPIRITUALISM AND WAR. 37 
 
 first week of the month, that I received two letters in 
 the same mail, one from Washington A. Danskin, Balti- 
 more, Md., asking me to speak for his Society during 
 the following month, December ; the other from my 
 youngest brother, who informed me that he was sick in 
 the hospital at Alexandria, and that unless he could 
 obtain a furlough and reach home and receive the care 
 needed he would certainly die ; that it was impossible 
 to obtain a furlough save through the action of friends. 
 The letter from my brother decided me to accept the 
 proffered engagement in Baltimore. I laid the case 
 before the officers of our Society, and they willingly 
 released me from my duties ; and leaving my mother 
 and Miss Hannum together, housekeeping, as we had 
 been since my father's enlistment, I started for Balti- 
 more. 
 
 During the first week of my stay in Baltimore I 
 made inquiries regarding the presence of any spiritual- 
 ists in Washington through whose aid I would be able 
 to undertake my difficult mission regarding my brother. 
 I was informed that Thos. Gales Foster, a well-known 
 and most eminent speaker in our ranks, had recently 
 taken a position as clerk in the War Department, and 
 
 spiritualists who hud followed similar directions, and who en- 
 countered woful disappointments ; and we therefore concluded 
 that two bedraggled young damsels upon a spiritual mission 
 would find but poor reception in the presence of the first Ruler 
 of the Land. 
 
38 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 that he resided with his family in that city. Obtain- 
 ing a letter of introduction to him, I made my way to 
 Washington and presented myself at Mr. Foster's 
 house. I was given a most cordial welcome and a 
 place in the household, to remain until the result of 
 my proposed efforts could be known. The following 
 day, Mr. Foster presented me to the then Assistant 
 Secretary, Mr. Tucker. I told him what my brother 
 had written, and expressed a desire to go to him at 
 Alexandria. He heard me kindly, gave me an order 
 for a pass, and directed where to obtain it. Every- 
 body knows that all official business in the city of 
 Washington is transacted between the hours of nine in 
 the morning and three in the afternoon. By the time 
 this had been accomplished it was too late to think of 
 going to Alexandria that day. The next morning 
 Mr. Foster accompanied me to the office where I was 
 given a permit, and going on board the Alexandria 
 boat 1 was soon at my destination. A number of 
 rickety-looking vehicles standing on the wharf bore 
 the legend 
 
 "TO THE CAMP."* 
 
 Entering one of them I was driven to the broad 
 gates leading to the encampment. A sea of tents 
 
 * The reader may pronounce this chapter wearisome on ac- 
 count of the exact detailed statement. It is valuable as an 
 unusually correct description of the "red-tape system." 
 
SPIRITUALISM AND WAR. 39 
 
 arose on every side ; it looked like a vast city of white 
 canvas. I confess to a feeling of timidity and dread ; 
 but, approaching a sentry, inquired for the Connecti- 
 cut Division ; as I had been advised at Washington. 
 Every kindness and politeness were shown me, and 1 
 was passed from hand to hand until I reached the tent 
 of the commanding officer of the Connecticut troops 
 quartered there in hospital. I stated my errand, and 
 desired to see my brother. The officer in charge 
 treated me with consideration, and told me he would 
 give me the use of his tent for our- meeting, as the 
 quarters of the men were hardly suitable for a lady to 
 enter. In a few moments he returned with ray brother, 
 who was leaning heavily upon his cane, and whose ap- 
 pearance fully proclaimed his debilitated condition. I 
 leave the reader to judge of the meeting that followed ; 
 nor did it at the time seem strange to me that I, a 
 mere girl in years, was there amid that vast array of 
 tents filled with sick and weary soldiers, alone and 
 unguarded save by that same Power that had thus far 
 tenderly guided my life. 
 
 My brother informed me that the routine requisite 
 for the examination before the board of surgeons that 
 daily met on the hill was the issuing of a certain 
 number of tickets, and as the numbers were called, 
 the holders were brought before the board, examined, 
 and either remanded back to their quarters or recom- 
 mended to a furlough. He stated that he had many 
 
40 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 times received a ticket, but his number was never 
 reached before the board adjourned. 
 
 Leaving with him the fruit I had brought, and 
 bidding him to be of good cheer, I walked up the hill 
 to the modern brick house on its summit where the 
 surgeons' headquarters were established. I inquired 
 for Dr. Curtis, and was informed very curtly "that 
 he could not be seen." Feeling timid in the presence 
 of so many pert young officers, who seemed to be 
 doing nothing, I stated the case of my brother. His 
 name was taken down, and I was informed that he should 
 have a ticket next morning, which would bring him 
 before the board of examination. Feeling that I had 
 achieved all that was necessary I returned to brother, 
 and informed him of the result. He said, " It will do 
 no good, Nettie ; it is only a repetition of what has 
 happened every day for weeks past." I replied, u 1 
 will be down to-morrow and see." Returning to Wash- 
 ington by the last boat, my friends were informed of my 
 work and its results. They felt confident of my suc- 
 cess, feeling I was being led u by those who would 
 insure success." 
 
 That evening quite a number of people gathered at 
 Mr. Foster's, and we held a spiritual stance. I was 
 introduced to a number of prominent people, among 
 them the Hon. D. E. Somes,* ex-member of Congress 
 
 * Daniel E. Somes was member of Congress from Biddeford, 
 Maine, for many years; his term expired in 1861, when 
 
SPIRITUALISM AND WAR. 41 
 
 from Biddeford, Maine, Mr. Cranston Laurie, for many 
 years statistician of the Post-office Department, and 
 a Judge Hoar of the Interior Department. 
 
 President Lincoln took his seat. He afterwards followed the 
 profession of a patent lawyer with conspicuous success, and 
 enjoyed the patronage of many of the leading people of 
 Washington, holding in trust large and valued interests. 
 
 In appearance, he was tall, commanding, and noble-looking, 
 being over six feet in height, broad-shouldered, muscular, and 
 as well-proportioned as any athlete ; his hair was dark chestnut- 
 brown in color; closely cropped auburn side-whiskers, ex- 
 pressive brown eyes, which indicated a kind and generous 
 nature. He was very reserved in manner, of few words, 
 dignified bearing, deliberate of purpose, and never to be mis- 
 understood ; patly put, his words were " always to the point," 
 for he full well knew the value of time and never trespassed 
 upon that of others, and as a result was always welcome in 
 the White House, and could always get and hold the ear of the 
 President, who recognized in him a warm personal friend. At 
 this time Mr. Somes was not a spiritualist, only a quiet, earnest 
 investigator. In after years I wrote to Mr. Somes, asking his 
 permission to refer to him as a witness to certain interviews at 
 which he was present. His reply, and also a copy of my note to 
 him, are herewith appended. 
 
 That Mr. Somes was a man of undoubted respectability, 
 integrity, and honor, is not questioned ; his references will 
 amply vouchsafe his standing and character. Such men as 
 James G. Blaine and Schuyler Colfax are certainly not to be 
 
 questioned. 
 
 July 15, 1887. 
 Dear Mr. Somes : Being about to publish my life, and an 
 account of the various experiences thereof, I wish to know 
 
42 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 Mr. Foster became entranced and gave one of his 
 grandly eloquent discourses, and at its close he turned 
 
 whether you will object to my using your name as a reference 
 thereto, as to such important events and stances to which you 
 were a witness, and at which you were present, for you well 
 know that on account of circumstances in which you and I 
 with others took part, would prove, not only interesting, but in 
 a degree startling, and that the public is always credulous in 
 spiritualistic matters unless thoroughly well sustained, etc. 
 
 With many regards to your dear wife and awaiting 
 
 your early reply, and with many kind wishes, I am, sincerely, 
 
 N. C. M. 
 
 This was in substance the contents of my letter, to which came 
 a reply as follows : — 
 
 July 20, 1887. 
 Law Offices F. C. Somes, Washington, D. C, 
 514 F St. N. W. 
 
 Dear Mrs. Maynard : Your letter to father and mother 
 was received on the eve of father's departure for Boston, and 
 mother being sick, I am commissioned to acknowledge the 
 letter. 
 
 Father wishes me to say to you that he is willing his name 
 shall be used as a witness to anything that transpired at the time 
 of which you write. He would be pleased to see the matter 
 before it is published, as you suggest. 
 
 The note* to which you refer has not been preserved. 
 
 * The note referred to above was one written by Mrs. Lincoln to 
 Mis. Somes, requesting the pleasure of herself and young lady 
 friends (N. CM. and P. H.), " trusting that they would favor her 
 with a stance" as she desired to see whether " Pinkie" (my spirit 
 control, an Indian girl) would recognize a friend who would be 
 present, etc. 
 
HON. DANIEL K. SOMES. 
 From photograph by Brady, 1S63. Copied by Bell, 1891. 
 
SPIRITUALISM AND WAR. 43 
 
 to me and assured me that success awaited my efforts 
 in regard to my brother, but that " I had other and 
 
 GREATER WORK TO DO IN THAT CITY." I thought Very 
 
 little, at the time, of the latter part of his prediction, 
 my mind being wholly centered on the purpose of 
 getting brother home. The next day I returned to 
 Alexandria and found that the board of examining sur- 
 geons had met and again adjourned after examining a 
 number of patients. Brother had received his ticket, 
 but his name had not been called. He was disap- 
 pointed and disheartened. I again visited the head- 
 quarters of Surgeon- General Curtis, and explained 
 that my brother's case had not received attention. I 
 was treated politely, but in a manner that showed me 
 that no interest was taken in the affair. Amid the 
 thousands around them one case was of no more 
 importance than another. Feeling for the first time 
 somewhat apprehensive, I returned to Washington. 
 This being Friday, I was compelled to return to Balti- 
 more on Saturday, to be in readiness for Sunday's 
 labor in that city. 
 
 On Monday morning, by an early train, I returned 
 
 Father intends to write to you in regard to these matters as 
 soon as possible. 
 
 We are all very glad to hear from you, but sorry that you 
 seem to be suffering so much, etc. Father, mother, and all 
 join me in kind regards to you. Yours truly, 
 
 F. C. Somes. 
 
44 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 to Washington. On reaching the home of my friends, 
 the Fosters, I found that Mr. Foster had already gone 
 to his office in the War Department. I therefore 
 awaited his coming home to dinner before taking any 
 further steps. He counselled that I should see 
 Assistant Secretary Tucker, and state the case to him. 
 As it was then too late in the day to do so, I was 
 obliged to defer my call on the secretary until the 
 next day.* 
 
 * During the evening we had a quiet, pleasant circle whereat 
 Mr. Foster informed me that during my entrancement I was 
 controlled by a powerful spirit, who, in Mr. Foster's language, 
 appeared to know exactly what he was about, and that this 
 influence declared that my efforts in regard to my brother would 
 be successful and that he could be on his way home in twenty- 
 four hours, depending upon my following the spirit's direction, 
 which was to go to Abraham Lincoln and say to him that I had 
 been directed to come, as a crisis in affairs was approaching and 
 that he had important revelations to make, which would aid him 
 materially in an adjustment. The spirit gave assurance that I 
 should be well received, and that Mr. Lincoln would simplify 
 the matter of brother's requirements and relieve me of further 
 anxiety, and that if I did not follow the spirit's directions I 
 would meet with many disappointments and annoyances, as it 
 was then decided that I should not leave Washington until the 
 spirit had obtained the desired interview with Mr. Lincoln be- 
 fore the dawn of the new year, and unth or icithout my consent 
 that he would bring about such a meeting in his own way. 
 
 Mr. Foster talked with me long and earnestly on the sub- 
 ject, and I told him that I had once before been directed in 
 a similar manner to seek the President — of mv sensitiveness in 
 
SPIRITUALISM AND WAR. 45 
 
 Reaching the office at ten o'clock, my disappoint- 
 ment was great to find he was not at his office. I 
 waited an hour, but still he did not come, and leaving, 
 returned at two o'clock, when he received me with the 
 same kindly manner that had characterized him from 
 the first ; and, having heard my story, he took up a 
 white envelope lying upon his desk, and rapidly wrote 
 the following words : " The surgeon commanding will 
 give his immediate attention to the case of A. S. 
 Colburn, 16th Conn. Regt. Per order Secretary of 
 War." Folding this envelope, he handed it to 
 me, saying : " I think this will be all you will re- 
 quire." The following morning I started for Alexan- 
 dria. I found no change in the situation, save that 
 my brother was more feeble, and I went at once to 
 headquarters and inquired for Dr. Curtis. I was told 
 he had returned to the city ; that it was impossible to 
 see him or any of his staff. Not knowing the all-potent 
 weapon I carried in my pocket, in the shape of that 
 
 the matter, giving the reasons for not obeying. I added that I 
 felt that Mr. Lincoln would be justified in handing me over to 
 the police, as an escaped lunatic, should I go to him upon so 
 strange an errand. 
 
 At that time Mr. Foster did not know President Lincoln, 
 but had seen him many times ; he nevertheless assured me that 
 I should not hesitate, and offered to go with me if I would obey 
 the Spirit's direction. I again flatly refused, which I afterwards 
 had good cause to regret. 
 
46 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 simple envelope, I retreated before the forbidding ap- 
 pearance of the clerks, who had come to remember me 
 and my frequent application. Going to my brother, 
 I comforted him as well as I could, promising him I 
 would come by an earlier boat on the next clay. 
 
 Thursday saw me again at Alexandria, and on this 
 occasion I was told that no more sessions were to be 
 held at this camp ; that the camp was about to be 
 moved to new quarters, several miles distant ; and 
 that the board would not meet again at this point. 
 Feeling sick and discouraged, it required all my 
 powers of mind and body to enable me to encourage 
 my brother and bid him hope for some more favorable 
 turn in affairs. Leaving with him the delicacies I had 
 brought, hoping to tempt his appetite, I returned to 
 Washington, dispirited and disheartened. Mr. Foster 
 advised me to see Mr. Tucker in the morning. On 
 Friday morning I presented myself before him, and 
 the sight of my rueful face caused him to ask with some 
 concern if my brother was released. I stated to him 
 the discouragement I had met with. He then quietly 
 asked me, " Did you show any of the officials the 
 paper which I gave you ?" I looked up in surprise 
 and said, " No, sir ! I have it in my pocket now." 
 A quiet smile broke over his face, and he said : " I 
 can do nothing more than that for you. You go back 
 to-day," and, looking at his watch, he said : " You 
 will have time to catch the boat. Go to Gen. Curtis's 
 
SPIRITUALISM AND WAR. 47 
 
 headquarters, and present that paper ; I think it is all 
 you will need to do." 
 
 A little more hopeful, I was soon on my way down 
 the river. Entering the familiar gates of the camp- 
 ground, I was startled to find a scene of desolation 
 and desertion that is nowhere equalled, save, it may 
 be, on a deserted battle-field. Where, the day before, 
 had been a sea of tents, extending as far as the eye 
 could reach over the rolling hillside, only a cluster 
 here and there remained ; but the ground was strewn 
 with the evidences of the late encampment. Little 
 chimneys of blackened brick rising on every side of 
 the trampled earth, the worn-out canteen, and the 
 general d'tbris of the deserted camp met the eye in 
 every direction. Going to my brother's quarters, I 
 found that he, with a number of others, had been left 
 behind, there not being room in the ambulances to 
 carry all, or he would have been removed that day to 
 the new hospital grounds in the interior. Without 
 shelter, they must wait until the following day before 
 they could follow in the wake of their late companions. 
 Frightened at the situation and his shelterless state, 
 with every evidence of a threatening storm, I hurried 
 to the house on the hill-top, where there were still 
 signs of life and activity. On this occasion, as the 
 clerk was about uncivilly to pass me by, I presented 
 the paper Secretary Tucker had given me. He took 
 it from my hand, read it, and his face turned scarlet. 
 
48 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 His cap was off in a moment, and, bowing most po- 
 litely, he said : " Please take a seat, madam ; we will 
 see what can be done." In an instant all was changed. 
 Three or four surgeons were immediately at my com- 
 mand. They informed me that while it was a little 
 irregular, yet they, being regular army surgeons, had 
 power to examine and decide upon his case. My bro- 
 ther was immediately sent for. An impromptu board 
 was formed, and he was thoroughly examined, and I 
 received at the hands of these polite officers a strong 
 recommendation to a furlough for my brother. They 
 asked me if they should forward it by mail to Wash- 
 ington. I asked if it would do any harm for me to 
 carry it and present it in person. They said, " No 
 harm whatever ; it might expedite matters somewhat." 
 As this was what I desired, I took the document, en- 
 cased in a white official envelope, and retreated from 
 their presence in triumph. 
 
 I was beginning to learn the power of those magical 
 words, " Per order of the Secretary of War." 
 The colonel of an Indiana regiment, stationed just 
 under the hill, offered shelter and care for my brother 
 until the result of the application for the furlough 
 should be known. Leaving him for the first time 
 hopeful, and full of visions of home, I returned to the 
 city with my precious paper. 
 
 The next day, at nine o'clock, I was obliged to 
 return to Baltimore, to meet my Sunday's engage- 
 
SPIRITUALISM AND WAR. 49 
 
 raent. The following Monday I returned to Washing- 
 ton, and going at once to Secretary Tucker's room, 
 showed him my paper, and explained how quickly the 
 paper he had given me had changed the face of affairs. 
 He quietly smiled, and taking another envelope wrote 
 upon it these words : " Gen. Heintzelman will please 
 give this case his immediate attention. Per order 
 Secretary of War." Handing me this envelope, which 
 I placed in my pocket, he handed me back the recom- 
 mendation, and told me to go to Gen. Heintzelman' 8 
 office, which was in a building on the opposite side of 
 Pennsylvania Avenue, saying he hoped all would be 
 well — cordially shaking hands with me, expecting, no 
 doubt, he had seen the last of his troublesome little 
 visitor. 
 
 On going in at the front door I was bewildered 
 by the number of clerks moving in every direction, 
 and I knew not whom to accost. At last I stepped 
 toward a clerk, who had paused a moment in the centre 
 of the room, and asked if I could see General Heint- 
 zelman. He said, " He is too busy, madam, and 
 cannot be seen." I was about to draw the magical 
 envelope forth from my pocket, when a small, dapper 
 little man with blonde moustache, who evidently felt 
 the full measure of the shoulder straps, stepped up to 
 me, and said, " Did you wish to see him about a fur- 
 lough ?" I responded in the affirmative. He replied, 
 " That matter comes under my department. Please 
 4 
 
50 WA S LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 step around to my office." Going as directed, he re- 
 ceived me in his office, and, taking the paper I had, 
 turned it carefully over, and turning to me with a 
 frown, said, " Why did this paper not come through 
 the mail in the regular form ?" I replied I had hoped 
 to expedite the matter by bringing it in person. Pie 
 said, " Very well ; we will see." I timidly asked 
 when he could have his furlough ; feeling there could 
 be no possible reason for refusing it. He replied, 
 " I cannot tell ; it has first to go to the recorder's 
 office." Completely overpowered by his bombastic 
 manner, I ventured to ask when I could call to get an 
 answer. "Come around -to-morrow," he responded 
 curtly. In the pauses of this interesting conversation 
 I had heard him addressed, if memory serves cor- 
 rectly, as Captain De Kalb. Feeling greatly worried, 
 I left the office and took the afternoon boat to Alex- 
 andria to inform my brother of the progress made 
 and to see that all was well with him. Under the care 
 he had received in the Indiana regiment, he was 
 feeling somewhat better, but growing anxious. Save 
 for this remnant, there were no soldiers left on all 
 that wide camp ground. The house on the hill was 
 deserted. I had just time to reassure my brother and 
 catch the last boat back to the city. 
 
 The following morning at eleven o'clock I pre- 
 sented myself at Capt. De K.'s office. He said the 
 paper had not been returned to him, and he could not 
 
SPIRITUALISM AND WAR. 51 
 
 tell when it would be. I tried to explain the situation 
 of my brother, when he interrupted me in a very im- 
 pertinent manner, saying, " Your interference in the 
 regular routine of business may probably defeat the 
 furlough any way." Startled at this unceremonious 
 announcement, I had just voice enough to ask if I 
 should return the next day. He replied, " You can 
 do so, but I cannot promise anything." I left the 
 office for the first time with tears blinding my way, 
 and I stumbled against a gentleman who was passing 
 in the street. We glanced, recognized each other, 
 and were shaking hands, each pleased to meet a fami- 
 liar face in a strange city. The gentleman proved to 
 be a Mr. Betts, of Albany, a wealthy gentleman of 
 that city and a prominent member of our Society. 
 Mr. Betts walked with me down to the green-house 
 opposite the Treasury building, and I related as briefly 
 as I could my long efforts and the result. He said, 
 quickly, " My advice is that you go at once to Secretary 
 Tucker and state the case to him." As it was now too 
 late to visit the secretary's office, it being past three 
 o'clock, I went to Mr. Foster's. Not wishing to trouble 
 Mr. Foster again, if it was avoidable, at eleven o'clock 
 I again sought Capt. De K.'s office. He met me with 
 the curt statement that the paper was lost and could 
 not be found ; that he had sent to the recorder's 
 office for it, but that they had no knowledge of it. 
 Going from his office, I went directly to Mr. Tucker's 
 
52 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 presence. I told him my story, and again the quiet 
 smile stole over his face as he asked me, "Where is the 
 envelope I gave you to Gen. Heintzelman?" I quickly 
 put my hand in my pocket and drew it forth. He 
 said, " Why did you not present it ?" I replied, 
 " Because I was told he could not be seen." The 
 reply caused him to smile again, and he said, " You 
 take that and hand it to any one of the clerks, telling 
 them it is for Gen. Heintzelman." As I left the office 
 I met Mr. Betts, who offered to be my escort, which 
 favor was gladly accepted. Entering again the front 
 door, the same busy scene presented itself to my eyes 
 as on the former occasion. A clerk stepped forward 
 and asked me what I wanted. I desired him to hand 
 the paper to Gen. Heintzelman. As it was open, he 
 read it without trouble, and doffing his cap, which he 
 had not chosen to do up to that moment, he quickly 
 placed chairs for myself and companion, and in another 
 moment the fine soldierly presence of Gen. Heintzelman 
 was beside me. His hands were full of papers, and 
 he looked the hurry that his tones conveyed. " What 
 can I do for you, madam ?" he kindly inquired. I 
 briefly stated my brother's case ; my application 
 there ; Capt. D. K.'s taking possession of the paper ; 
 also his statement of the morning that the paper was 
 lost. He arose with an angry frown on his face, say- 
 ing, " Excuse me a moment," and left me. High 
 words from the near office reached my ears, and I felt 
 
SPIRITUALISM AND WAR. 53 
 
 that the dapper little captain was getting a rebuke 
 from his superior officer. The general returned in a 
 few moments, and, politely bowing, said, " Return at 
 one o'clock, and I think the paper will be found." It 
 wanted an hour of the time. Mr. Betts went with me 
 to the post-office, where we made a call upon Mr. 
 Laurie, to while away the time. 
 
54 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 GLADNESS AND SADNESS. 
 
 Mrs. Belle Miller as a medium — Captain DeKalb temporarily 
 suceeeds — I go to General Townsend's office — Issued by 
 "special order of the War Department" — I fail to get 
 brother's back pay — Brother and I drive " to camp" — We 
 meet father at camp — We hold the first " sitting" on Vir- 
 ginia soil — Brother loses his pass — Our friends sympathize 
 with us. 
 
 I SHOULD have mentioned that many of the even- 
 ings that I had spent in Washington had been 
 most agreeably filled with seances at Mr. Foster's or 
 at Mr. Laurie's in Georgetown.* Mrs. Belle Miller, 
 
 * Post Office Department, 
 Washington, D. C, May 30, 1878. 
 
 Many thanks, my dear little sister, for your prompt and kind 
 compliance with my request to send the poem. I called at the 
 major's the evening that your letter was received to show it to 
 Carrie, but she was in Philadelphia. The major said, however, 
 that he was certain she had written to you but a short time 
 since. 
 
 My health has been poor for some months past, and I am 
 about to try what effect a trip by sea to Boston will have. I 
 expect to leave on Monday next, and will take the Sound boat 
 to New York, and if you will drop me a line at New York tell- 
 ing me how to find you, as Major C. says he thinks you reside 
 
GLADNESS AND SADNESS. 55 
 
 Mr. Laurie's daughter, was one of the most powerful 
 physical mediums I ever met. While she played the 
 piano it would rise with apparent ease, and keep per- 
 fect time, rising and falling with the music. By 
 placing her hand on the top of the piano it would rise 
 clear from the floor, though I have seen as many as 
 five men seated on it at the time. Mr. and Mrs. Laurie 
 were both fine mediums ; and I had met many promi- 
 nent people during my visits there, who, though not 
 professing to be spiritualists, made no secret of their 
 desire to investigate the subject. 
 
 The object of my stay in Washington was well 
 known to them all, and the liveliest interest was shown 
 in the progress I made. 
 
 One o'clock came. Mr. Betts and myself, leaving 
 Mr. Laurie's office, went to General Heintzelman's head 
 
 some distance from White Plains, I will come and once more 
 look into those kind eyes, and the old shake of friendship re- 
 new, when we can talk over your proposed book, and I can give 
 you such aid as lies in my power. My good little wife desires 
 me to give her kindest love, and say that she intends paying 
 you a visit early in the fall if nothing happens to prevent. 
 
 With much love to you and your good husband, I remain 
 most truly and affectionately your friend, 
 
 Cranstoun Laurie. 
 
 Mrs. Nettie C. Matnard, 
 
 White Plains, Westchester Co., N. Y. 
 
 Direct, Cranstoun Laurie, Statistician P. 0. Dept., New 
 York City. 
 
56 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 quarters. Captain DeKalb, with a red spot burning on 
 either cheek, and eyes whose light was better suited 
 to a battle-field than his quiet office, met us, and 
 handed me the missing paper, and in a tone that did 
 not conceal his exultation, remarked, " There is your 
 paper, madam ; it has been rejected." I felt for a 
 moment as though I had been struck a blow, and could 
 not.speak. At last I faltered, " Why has the applica- 
 tion been rejected ?" Bowing in a half mocking way, 
 he said, " Because it did not come through ia the 
 regular form." I felt this was a paltry excuse ; that 
 in some way he had defeated my labors, because I 
 had unwittingly been the cause of a reprimand from 
 his chief. Mr. Bctts attempted to ask some particulars, 
 when De Kalb spoke to him in a most ungracious way, 
 and turned and left us alone in the office. With the 
 rejected paper in my hand I found my way to the 
 street, and but for the kindly support of my old friend 
 I think I should have fallen. The labor of three 
 weeks was lost — my brother in the hands of the 
 kindly colonel who could no longer keep him. I was 
 dizzy, benumbed, and momentarily could not think. 
 My old friend said to me, " Let us go to the Secre- 
 tary." " No," I said, " it is useless. What can he 
 do ?" In my ignorance I did not know, even yet, the 
 all-potent influence of the War Office. 
 
 At this moment, standing in the street, blinded by 
 my tears and kindly protected by my old friend, I 
 
GLADNESS AND SADNESS. 57 
 
 heard a voice distinctly say, " Go directly to the Assist- 
 ant Secretary." Above the noise of the street these 
 words were as plain as if they had been spoken by 
 Mr. Betts himself. I looked up and told him what I 
 bad heard. He said, " It confirms my own views ; let 
 us go at once." We did so, and Mr. Tucker was fortu- 
 nately alone. He. came forward to meet me and his 
 quick eye detected the traces of tears upon my face. 
 He kindly placed a chair for me and then listened 
 while Mr. Betts told him the story. He asked me for 
 the paper and I gave it to him. Going to his desk he 
 took up a blank sheet lying there, and wrote some- 
 thing upon it, folded it and placed it with the paper, 
 brought the two to me and put them in my hands, say- 
 ing kindly, " Take these down-stairs to Adjutant-Gene- 
 ral Townsend's office and hand them to him." I could 
 only bow my head in acknowledgment ; I was too full 
 to speak, not knowing what to hope or fear. Mr. 
 Betts accompanied me, and we soon found the Adju- 
 tant-General's office. I entered with anything but a 
 steady step, I fear, and going to the railing behind 
 which sat a fine-looking man busily engaged in writ- 
 ing, I timidly waited until he should look up. I shall 
 always remember the fine clear cut face of this man, 
 as all my hopes were centered in him, though I did 
 not know the nature of the paper I held in my hand. 
 At last he laid down his pen and turning towards me 
 courteously inquired my business. I presented the 
 
58 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 papers, and Mr. Betts informed him that Assistant- 
 Secretary Tucker had sent me to him. He, without a 
 word, read what the Secretary had written, opened 
 the other paper, took another from his desk, wrote 
 busily for a few moments, kept the papers I had 
 handed him, and placing the one he had written in 
 my hands, smiled pleasantly, and said, " I hope your 
 brother will soon recover his health," and bade me a 
 pleasant " good afternoon." 
 
 I did not realize until I was on the walk outside and 
 was eagerly reading what I held in my hand that my 
 victory was won. The paper was a furlough granting 
 brother twenty days' leave of absence. Issued by 
 
 SPECIAL ORDER OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT. I COuld 
 
 scarcely stand from excitement. Mr. Betts told me 
 to go at once to Mr. Foster's and rest, and he would 
 go to Alexandria and bring brother to Washington. 
 I gladly accepted his proffered aid, bidding him offer 
 my earnest thanks to the kind officer who had sheltered 
 brother during this ordeal. 
 
 In a few hours brother presented himself, but com- 
 ing from that fearful camp he was in no condition to 
 eater the house. I gave Mr. Betts the last money I 
 had, and bade him see that brother was given into the 
 hands of the barber, and after a thorough bath to 
 obtain for him a complete change of clothing. The 
 result was that " a clean brother presented himself an 
 hour later at Mr. Foster's, and great were the rejoic- 
 
GLADNESS AND SADNESS. 59 
 
 ing and congratulations paid us from all quarters." 
 The next step was to undertake to get him a pass, as 
 I had exhausted thus far all I had received for my 
 labors in Baltimore. Applying at the Connecticut 
 Committee rooms for a pass, they refused to grant it 
 on the score that his furlough was a special order of 
 the War Department. I next tried to obtain his back 
 pay, long overdue ; but in this I also failed. We then 
 thought he would have to remain a week of the 
 precious twenty days in Washington until I could fill 
 my last Sunday's engagement in Baltimore. I did 
 not reveal to the many friends I had made during the 
 month the financial situation in which I found myself 
 placed, or no doubt they would have quickly come to 
 my relief. The next day was pleasant, though raw 
 and cold. Mrs. Laurie called and told my brother to 
 wait a day or two, and she felt she could obtain the 
 needed pass. 
 
 Knowing my father and eldest brother were en- 
 camped at° Upton's Hill, Virginia, but a few miles 
 from Washington, I proposed to brother that we en- 
 gage a livery team and drive over and see them. We 
 were soon on our way, crossing by what was called 
 the "Dry Bridge," not realizing the difficulty of the 
 task we had undertaken until we struck the deserted 
 fields that stretched before us, covered with wheel 
 tracks and no guide to tell in which direction to turn ; 
 but fortunately the frequent passing of army wagons 
 
60 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 and sutlers gave us opportunity to make inquiries, and 
 by three o'clock in the afternoon we drove into the 
 little settlement of log cabins where the Twenty-second 
 Connecticut Regiment was encamped. The welcome 
 folds of its regimental flag were flying from the flag- 
 staff as we drew up in the midst, and I scarcely had 
 time to think of inquiring, when my father came to- 
 ward the carriage, attracted by the 'curiosity of the 
 moment, never dreaming who was awaiting him. I 
 had not permitted mother to communicate to him my 
 presence in Washington nor the work I was doing. 
 Had I dropped from the skies at his feet he could not 
 have been more astounded when he recognized us 
 both. My eldest brother soon joined us, and it would 
 be impossible to convey an idea of the scene of rejoic- 
 ing that followed. My father took us into his neat 
 log cabin, where we realized what it was to be a 
 soldier. The cabin occupied by my father and 
 brother had two other occupants, who readily gave 
 place to my brother and myself, and our family party 
 were soon seated together on the stout blocks of wood 
 that formed the seats in this primitive dwelling. I 
 hastily told the story of my work in Washington, and 
 my father's pride and pleasure in my work were my 
 crowning reward. I told him of the people I had 
 met, the kindness shown me, and the circles that had 
 been held, and he at once asked if I felt able to have 
 a little sitting there in the cabin. Of course, I was 
 
GLADNESS AND SADNESS. 61 
 
 only too glad to afford him this pleasure. The first 
 spirit friend who presented himself to greet my father 
 was his old friend " Dr. Bamford," reminding him of 
 his prediction months before, when he informed him 
 that the next time he would have the pleasure of 
 speaking with him through his daughter " it would be 
 upon Virginia soil." 
 
 As a medium I have had many strange experiences, 
 been in many novel situations, and gathered up many 
 pleasant memories that now brighten my later days ; 
 but there are none that stand out more startlingly 
 clear nor furnish greater pleasure than to recollect 
 thiit scene in the rude cabin in the heart of a camp of 
 soldiers ; my father and two brothers seated with me 
 — hand joined in hand — as we waited to receive the 
 blessing of the angels and the encouraging words from 
 loved ones gone before. I shall always remember the 
 look on father's face when I awoke from my trance on 
 that occasion. Tears that were no shame to his man- 
 hood were on his cheeks ; and while the sound of the 
 drum and the fife was in our ears he blessed me for 
 the comfort I had brought to him "as a messenger of 
 the unseen life." 
 
 Another half hour and words of parting were 
 spoken, and my brother and myself were on our way 
 to Washington, where we arrived in safety. Here we 
 found that Mrs. Laurie had obtained a pass from the 
 Connecticut Committee through the influence of some 
 
62 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 friends in the office ; and all was in readiness for my 
 brother's departure for home. A friend was at Mr. 
 Laurie's, awaiting us, and he desired brother to ac- 
 company him that evening to the theatre, hoping it 
 might brighten his depressed spirits, as he was not to 
 leave for Albany until the following evening. The 
 next day I was busy making preparations to return to 
 Baltimore, intending to go that far with brother as I 
 still had one Sunday to speak in that city. At noon 
 it chanced that Mr. Foster inquired by what route my 
 brother would go to Albany from the city of New 
 York. I said I did not know and asked him to get 
 his pass and see what it might reveal. He went to 
 his overcoat and thrusting his hand into his pocket 
 found it empty. A hurried search, a still more excited 
 one, and the truth was apparent — the precious furlough 
 and transportation paper were lost. He had not seen 
 it since he handed it to the officer at the theatre who 
 passed through the crowd calling upon all soldiers 
 present to show their passes. It was returned to him, 
 and he had placed it in his breast pocket and had not 
 thought of it again. It was lost, lost beyond recall! 
 Words are powerless to describe the condition of mind 
 I was in when I fully realized this fact. I knew not 
 which way to turn. Without his precious papers he 
 was liable at any moment to be taken as a deserter. 
 It seemed to me that I could not try again ; and, pros- 
 trate in body and mind, the day was spent in tears and 
 
GLADNESS AND SADNESS. 63 
 
 vain regrets. My brother was completely prostrated 
 by this blow. He had no idea how the paper had 
 been taken from him ; though he remembered being 
 wedged in the crowd, and some one putting his arms 
 about him as if to move him on one side to allow a 
 croup of ladies to pass. It must have been at this 
 Time that his pocket was picked. Mr. Foster informed 
 the proper authorities at once, but it availed nothing. 
 When we fully realized that these precious papers 
 were lost, and my heart had sunk like lead in ray 
 breast, I was controlled by a little messenger of my 
 spirit circle, named » Pinkie," who assured us in her 
 own unique manner that it was all right, and that this 
 delay was most important, as we would realize, and 
 that " the brave lad should have another furlough." 
 I could derive but little comfort, however, from these 
 assurances ; for I was face to face with the fact that I 
 had exhausted nearly all my resources, and I knew not 
 how to seek again the kind secretary who had assisted 
 me so well. At six o'clock that evening we would 
 have been at the depot, and by seven on our way 
 northward; but of course we could now do nothing. 
 Our friends could only sympathize with us and wait 
 for some suggestions. 
 
64 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 FIRST MEETING WITH LINCOLN. 
 
 Secretary Foster takes us to Mr. Laurie's house in Mrs. Lin- 
 coln's carriage — Mrs. Lincoln promises to obtain another 
 furlough for my brother — I go into a trance — " This young 
 lady must not leave Washington ; Mr. Lincoln must hear 
 her" — Am promised a place under Mr. Newton — Am 
 promised another furlough — A thirty day furlough is 
 granted — A present of a hundred dollars — I arrange to 
 stay in Washington — We are invited to the White House, 
 where we hold a stance that is of historical importance — 
 " So this is our little Nettie" — President Lincoln is ad- 
 vised upon the Emancipation Proclamation, that it is to be 
 the crowning effort of his administration and his life — 
 The President states that pressure was being brought to 
 bear upon him to suppress the enforcement of the procla- 
 mation — "My child, you possess a wonderful gift, but 
 that it is of God I have no doubt." — Notes. 
 
 ABOUT half past eight o'clock of the evening of 
 this day I was lying exhausted on the sofa, 
 when a carriage halted at the door. Mr. Laurie en- 
 tered hurriedly, asking if the " children'' had gone 
 (Parnie and myself). Mr. Foster explained that we 
 were still there, and the reason therefor. Mr. Laurie 
 seemed delighted that we had been delayed ; and came 
 at once to my side, and kindly said, " Get ready at 
 once and go to my house with me, and I think we can 
 
MRS. MARY IJXCol.X. 
 From photograph from life, presented l>y her to Mrs x C. Maynard. 
 
FIRST MEETING WITH LINCOLN. 65 
 
 remedy the loss of this furlough." It was a ray of 
 light in dense darkness. Without saying a word, I 
 hastily prepared myself and was surprised to find a 
 most elegant carriage at the door to receive us. Its 
 crimson satin cushions should have told me whose car- 
 riage it was ; but my mind was so fraught with my 
 trouble that I barely noticed the fact that a footman 
 in plain livery opened the door for us, and we were 
 soon on our way to Georgetown. On my arrival I 
 was astonished to be presented first to Mrs. Lincoln,* 
 
 * At this time Mrs. Lincoln* was a prepossessing-looking 
 woman, apparently about thirty years of age, possibly older, 
 with an abundance of rich dark-brown hair, large and impres- 
 sive eyes, so shifting that their color was almost undecided, 
 their brightness giving a peculiar animation to her countenance. 
 Her face was oval, the features excellent, complexion white 
 and fair, teeth regular, and her smile winning and kindly. 
 She was somewhat over medium height, with full, rounded 
 form, and under any circumstances would be pronounced a 
 handsome woman. In manner she was occasionally quick and 
 excitable, and would, while under excitement or adverse cir- 
 cumstances, completely give way to her feelings. In short, she 
 was lacking in the general control, demeanor, and suavity of 
 manner which we naturally expect from one in high and 
 exalted position. She was ever kind and gracious to me ; yet I 
 could never feel for her that perfect respect and reverence that 
 I desired to entertain regarding the chief lady of the land. 
 
 * Tt is generally known that Mrs. Lincoln was a Kentuckian, and 
 of Southern proclivities, although always loyal to the cause espoused 
 by the President. 
 
 5 
 
66 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 the wife of President Lineoln, then to Mr. Newton, 
 Secretary of the Interior Department, and the Rev. 
 John Pierpont,* at that time one of the chief clerks in 
 the Treasury building. The Hon. D. E. Somes was 
 also present. Mrs. Lincoln informed me that she had 
 heard of the wonderful powers of Mrs. Miller, Mr. Lau- 
 rie's daughter, and had called to witness the physical 
 manifestations through her mediumship. He had ex- 
 pressed a desire to see a trance medium, when they 
 had told her of myself, fearing that I was already on 
 my way to Baltimore with my brother, as I expected to 
 leawe that evening. She had said at once, " Perhaps 
 they have not gone ; suppose you take the carriage 
 and ascertain." Mr. Laurie went, and found me, as I 
 
 * Rev. John Pierpont was a tall, slender man, straight and 
 commanding in appearance, and over eighty years of age, with 
 the quick step and alert manner of a boy. He -was an uncom- 
 promising temperance advocate, and attributed his great age, 
 excellent sight and hearing, and general good health to this 
 virtue. He had been a Unitarian (?) minister for many years, 
 from which denomination he resigned his pastorate to embrace 
 the truths of Spiritualism. He was a poet and writer of recog- 
 nized ability, a scholarly, refined gentleman, respected by all 
 who knew him, and at the time mentioned was in possession of 
 a valuable post in the Treasury Department. He had the 
 absolute confidence of Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln, and 1 often met 
 him in the company of Mrs. Lincoln. In brief, he was just 
 the sort of man to cement a lasting friendship with the Presi- 
 dent. 
 
FIRST MEETING WITH LINCOLN. 67 
 
 have stated, prostrated from my long anxiety and 
 trouble. But for the loss of that furlough this meet- 
 ing would not have taken place. Mrs. Lincoln noticed 
 my swollen eyes and inflamed cheeks, and inquired 
 kindly the cause. Mr. Laurie briefly explained. She 
 quickly reassured me, saying, " Don't worry any more 
 about it. Your brother shall have another furlough, 
 if Mr. Lincoln has to give it himself." Feeling once 
 more happy and strong, I was in a condition to quiet 
 my nerves long enough to enable my spirit friends to 
 control me. Some new and powerful influence ob- 
 tained possession of my organism and addressed 
 Mrs. Lincoln, it seemed, with great clearness and 
 force, upon matters of State. For one hour I was 
 under this control. When I awoke there was a most 
 earnest and excited group around me discussing what 
 had been said ; and Mrs. Lincoln exclaimed, with 
 great earnestness, u This young lady must not leave 
 Washington. I feel she must stay here, and Mr. Lin- 
 coln must hear what we have heard. It is all-import- 
 ant, and he must hear it." This seemed to be the 
 general impression. Turning to me she said, " Don't 
 think of leaving Washington, I beg of you. Can you 
 not remain with us ?" I briefly explained that my 
 livelihood depended on my efforts as a speaker, and that 
 there was no opening in Washington of that kind for 
 me. But, said she, " There are other things you can 
 do. Surely young ladies get excellent pay in the dif- 
 
68 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 ferent departments, and you can have a position in one 
 of them, I am sure." Turning to Mr. Newton, who 
 sat at her right, she said, " You employ ladies, do 
 you not, Mr. Newton ?* and you can give this young 
 lady a place in your department?" He bowed, all 
 smiles, saying, " I have only very old ladies and 
 young children in my department ; but I can give 
 this young lady a position if it pleases you." She 
 turned to me then in her sprightly manner, as if the 
 whole thing was settled, and exclaimed, " You will 
 stay then ; will you not ?" I said I would consult my 
 friends, and see what was best. But she said, " You 
 surely will not go until. Mr. Lincoln has had a chance 
 to see you?" I replied I would not, if he desired to see 
 me. She then turned to Mrs. Laurie, and said, " Now, 
 to-morrow, you go with this young lady to Mr. Tucker ; 
 tell him you go by my direction, and just how the case 
 stands. Tell him he must arrange it to have her 
 brother secure another furlough." Soon after, she 
 
 * The Hon. Isaac Newton, Chief of the Agricultural De- 
 partment, was about sixty or sixty-five years of age, about five 
 feet six or seven inches, thin gray hair, smooth, round, full 
 face, fleshy, and rather corpulent of figure; of kindly heart, 
 easy, pleasant manners, and possessed of considerable ability in 
 the management of people, but not what one could call bril- 
 liant or master-minded. It is needless to state that this criticism 
 is the result of later and maturer judgment, which comes from 
 years of contact and friendship. 
 
FIRST MEETING WITH LINCOLN. 69 
 
 left, and Mr. Somes kindly escorted me back to 
 Mr. Foster's. 
 
 The next morning Mrs. Laurie came for me, and we 
 went to the office of the Assistant-Secretary of War. 
 I hid as closely as possible behind the stately person 
 of Mrs. Laurie ; but my old friend saw me and came 
 forward to inquire how I was and if all was well with 
 my brother. I could only shake my head and sink 
 into a chair, leaving Mrs. Laurie to explain matters. 
 He listened patiently, and came to me and said in the 
 kindest manner : " You seem to have been delayed for 
 some important purpose, my young friend, so 1 would 
 not be overtroubled about it. You get any commis- 
 sioned or United States surgeon to examine your 
 brother again, and if he affirms he is still unfit for 
 service in the field or camp, I will issue a new fur- 
 lough, if you bring me the paper." With a light 
 heart I could only thank him ; and that afternoon my 
 brother and myself went to Mr. Laurie's, and in a few 
 hours a United States surgeon from the Georgetown 
 Hospital made the requisite examination and recom- 
 mended him a furlough. The next morning I carried 
 it to Mr. Tucker, and a furlough was re-issued by the 
 War Department — this time for thirty days' leave of 
 absence. With a light heart I went to my brother 
 with the paper ; and that night Mr. Laurie, on his 
 return from the Post-Office Department, placed in my 
 hand an envelope' which, I was surprised to find, con- 
 
70 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 tained one hundred dollars in greenbacks, and a slip 
 of paper on which was written " From a few friends 
 who appreciate a sister's devotion." No name any- 
 where to tell who were the generous donors ; and I 
 know not to this day whence came this most welcome 
 tribute. 
 
 The friends I had made in Washington were deter- 
 mined I should not leave that city, and it was decided 
 that my brother should take my mother back to Hart- 
 ford with him, with all her household effects ; that I 
 should resign my position in Albany ; and that my 
 friend Miss Hannum should join me in Washington. 
 This programme was carried out. 
 
 The day following my brother's departure for home, 
 a note was received by Mrs. Laurie, asking her to 
 come to the White House in the evening with her 
 family, and to bring Miss Nettie with her. I felt all 
 the natural trepidation of a young girl about to enter 
 the presence of the highest magistrate in our land ; 
 being fully impressed with the dignity of his office, and 
 feeling that I was about to meet some superior being ; 
 and it was almost with trembling that I entered with 
 my friends the Red Parlor of the White House, at eight 
 o'clock that evening (December, 1862). 
 
 Mrs. Lincoln received us graciously, and introduced 
 us to a gentleman and lady present whose names I 
 have forgotten. Mr. Lincoln was not then present. 
 While all were conversing pleasantly on general sub- 
 
FIRST MEETING WITH LINCOLN. 71 
 
 jects, Mrs. Miller (Mr. Laurie's daughter) seated ker- 
 self, under control, at the double grand piano at one 
 side of the room, seemingly awaiting some one. Mrs. 
 Lincoln was talking with us in a pleasant strain when 
 suddenly Mrs. Miller's hands fell upon the keys 
 with a force that betokened a master hand, and the 
 strains of a grand march filled the room. As the 
 measured notes rose and fell we became silent. The 
 heavy end of the piano began rising and falling in 
 perfect time to the music. All at once it ceased, and 
 Mr. Lincoln stood upon the threshold of the room. 
 (He afterwards informed us that the first notes of the 
 music fell upon his ears as he reached the head of the 
 grand staircase to descend, and that he kept step to 
 the music until he reached the doorway). Mr. and 
 Mrs. Laurie and Mrs. Miller were duly presented. 
 Then I was led forward and presented. He stood 
 before me, tall and kindly, with a smile on his face. 
 Dropping his hand upon my head, he said, in a humor- 
 ous tone, " So this is our ' little Nettie' is it, that we 
 have heard so much about?" I could only smile and 
 say, " Yes, sir," like any school-girl ; when he kindly 
 led me to an ottoman. Sitting down in a chair, the 
 ottoman at his feet, he began asking me questions in 
 a kindly way about my mediumship ; and I think he 
 must have thought me stupid, as my answers were 
 little beyond a " Yes" and " No." His manner, how- 
 ever, was genial and kind, and it was then suggested 
 
72 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 we form in a circle. He said, " Well, how do you do 
 it?" looking at me. Mr. Laurie came to the rescue, 
 and said we had been accustomed to sit in a circle 
 and to join hands ; but he did not think it would be 
 necessary in this instance. While he was yet speak- 
 ing, I lost all consciousness of my surroundings and 
 passed under control. For more than an hour I was 
 made to talk to him, and I learned from my friends 
 afterward that it was upon matters that he seemed fully to 
 understand, while they comprehended very little until 
 that portion was reached that related to the forthcoming 
 Emancipation Proclamation. He was charged with 
 the utmost solemnity and force of manner not to abate 
 the terras of its issue, and not to delay its enforcement 
 as a law beyond the opening of the year ; and he was 
 assured that it was to be the croivning event of Ms 
 administration and his life; and that while he was 
 being counseled by strong parties to defer the enforce- 
 ment of it, hoping to supplant it by other measures and 
 to delay action, he must in no wise lieed such counsel, 
 but stand firm to his convictions ayid fearlessly per- 
 form the work and fulfil the mission for which he had 
 been raised up by an overruling Providence. Those 
 present declared that they lost sight of the timid girl 
 in the majesty of the utterance, the strength and force 
 of the language, and the importance of that which was 
 conveyed, and seemed to realize that some strong 
 
FIRST MEETING WITH LINCOLN. 73 
 
 masculine spirit force was giving speech to almost 
 divine commands. 
 
 I shall never forget the scene around me when I 
 regained consciousness. I was standing in front of 
 Mr. Lincoln, and he was sitting back in his chair, 
 with his arms folded upon his breast, looking intently 
 at me. I stepped back, naturally confused at the 
 situation — not remembering at once where I was ; and 
 glancing around the group, where perfect silence 
 reigned. It took me a moment to remember my where- 
 abouts. 
 
 A gentleman present then said in a low tone, " Mr. 
 President, did you notice anything peculiar in the 
 method of address ?" Mr. Lincoln raised himself, as 
 if shaking off his spell. He glanced quickly at the full- 
 length portrait of Daniel Webster, that hung above 
 the piano, and replied, " Yes, and it is very singular, 
 very !" with a marked emphasis. 
 
 Mr. Somes said : " Mr. President, would it be im- 
 proper for me to inquire whether there has been any 
 pressure brought to bear upon you to defer the enforce- 
 ment of the Proclamation ?" To which the President 
 replied : " Under these circumstances that question is 
 perfectly proper, as we are all friends [smiling upon 
 the company]. It is taking all my nerve and strength 
 to withstand such a pressure." At this point the 
 gentlemen drew around him, and spoke together in 
 low tones, Mr. Lincoln saying least of all. At last 
 
74 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 he turned to me, and laying his hand upon my head, 
 uttered these words in a manner that I shall never 
 forget : " My child, you possess a very singular gift ; 
 but that it is of God, I have no doubt. I thank you 
 for coming here to-night. It is more important 
 than perhaps any one present can understand. I 
 must leave you all now ; but I hope I shall see you 
 again." He shook me kindly by the hand, bowed to 
 the rest of the company, and was gone. We remained 
 an hour longer, talking with Mrs. Lincoln and her 
 friends, and then returned to Georgetown. Such was 
 my first interview with Abraham Lincoln, and the 
 memory of it is as clear and vivid as the evening on 
 which it occurred.* 
 
 * I looked up, and did not need to know 
 
 by any one telling me who he was. Lincoln stood at the open 
 window. 
 
 He was looking down, yet seeing nothing. His eyes were 
 turned inward. He was thinking of the great work and duty 
 that lay upon his soul. I think I never saw so sad a face in my 
 life, and I have looked into many a mourner's face. I have 
 been among bereaved families, orphan children, widows and 
 strong men whose hearts have been broken by the taking away 
 of their own ; but I never saw the depth of sorrow that seemed 
 to rest upon that gaunt, but expressive countenance. Yet there 
 was a light in those deep-sunk eyes that showed the man who 
 was before me as perhaps the best Christian the world ever saw, 
 for he bore the world upon his heart. That man was bearing the 
 country of his birth and love upon his naked soul. It was just 
 
|\\\'r e _ 
 
 " Mr. Lincoln turned to me. and laying his hand upon my head, uttered 
 these words in a manner that I shall never forget : 'My child, you possess a 
 very singular gift ; but that it is of God, I have no doubt. I thank you for 
 coming here to-night. It is more important than perhaps any one present can 
 understand.' " — Page 74. 
 
FIRST MEETING WITH LINCOLN. 75 
 
 one look ; but I never have forgotten it, and through the dim- 
 ness of all these years that great and patient man looks down 
 upon me to teach me how to bear, and how to do, how to hope, 
 and how to give myself for my fellow-men. 
 
 Lincoln was a noble representative of free institutions. He 
 stood as the representative of that liberty which had been won 
 by the swords of the Revolution, which had been organized by 
 the earlier settlers of the Republic, and which has been adorned 
 by many years of growth until the present day. The Revolu- 
 tion had passed before Lincoln's day ; but he was a typical 
 representative of the freedom of heart, and soul, and life which 
 ought to be the most priceless inheritance of every American 
 citizen. I think this was evinced in his whole course and con- 
 duct. He was surrounded by able men. 
 
 The sword and the pen both had their heroes ; but before this 
 man every one chose to pause, and his choice was always the 
 wisest of all. I do not know what Lincoln would have done 
 without support ; but, through all troubles, the individuality of 
 that one man, his unflinching courage, his broad sympathy and 
 charity, his homely common sense, his indomitable rectitude and 
 unshaken faith ran like a pulse of fire, a thread of gold. 
 
 You may speak of the arch of honor that spans those years 
 of struggle. You may write the names of great generals, ad- 
 mirals, statesmen, senators, and governors upon separate 
 stones. But on that one stone which bound them together, with- 
 out which the arch would have fallen into ruin and confusion, 
 you must write Lincoln's name. 
 
 I mention a third thing for which Lincoln was great. 
 We have had great men who were as cold as the marble in 
 which their statues have been cast. We have had men who 
 had no more warm blood in their hearts than the bronze tablets 
 upon their tombs. We have had great statesmen, great war- 
 riors, great philosophers, great men of letters, all of them cold 
 
76 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 as icebergs, with no popular sympathies, no real tenderness, no 
 heart beneath their garments. 
 
 We have had men placed as Lincoln was who had calmly- 
 written out his same gigantic campaign and could accept death, 
 peril, or disgrace, as well as honor, with the same calm impassi- 
 bility with which you might move the knight or the bishop from 
 one square on the chessboard to another. We have had men who 
 left behind them mighty names ; and no one child sobbed when 
 they were gone. But not a dry eye appeared amid thousands 
 of children when the splendid, heroic Lincoln, with his wis- 
 dom, sagacity, and patriotism, was taken away. He carried a 
 tender heart, the heart of a little child, the heart of a woman 
 when she has given her promise to the man she loves. 
 
 Back of that rough, angular form and seemingly uncouth 
 demeanor there lay a heart as white as snow, and so dropping 
 with the love of humanity that, if I were to take out of one of 
 those Christian centuries the heart of the one whom I believed to 
 be the most loving, the most tender, I would take it from the 
 breast of Abraham Lincoln. What soldier in his standing 
 army, bleeding and with dusty feet, could enter the chamber of 
 any other ruler in this world and plead his cause as to a friend ? 
 What woman, tearful because her son was in peril, when a 
 stroke of the President's hand would set him free, could any- 
 where else force her way to him through lines of senators, and 
 then receive consolation? What man, within the memory of 
 men, has ruled without jealousy and fanaticism, and to whom 
 every man in the land could turn in thought, in hope, in 
 prayer, as to a patient or never-failing friend ? Was there ever 
 a leader of the American people who got so near the heart of 
 his generation as did Abraham Lincoln ? And perhaps, with 
 all his greatness, this is one of his greatest claims to immortal 
 memory. The warrior dies ; the honored philosopher fades 
 away with the changes of time ; the scientific man is blotted 
 
FIRST MEETING WITH LINCOLN. 77 
 
 out by the record of successive thought ; the poet's sweetest lays 
 may be folded away like a garment, to put some newer and 
 better one in its place ; but the love of the human heart is the 
 one enduring thing in this world of ours ; and where all these 
 things will pass away, the man who is a lover of his country, 
 who is a lover of his native laud, is the man whose immortality 
 is best secured, and that man was Abraham Lincoln. 
 
 I can say nothing, in this brief review of his great work, of the 
 emancipation of the slave, except to say that that patience, wis- 
 dom, and infallible instinct as to the right time of doing anything 
 is illustrated in this, perhaps, as in no other single incident of 
 his career. And when I come to one effort it seems to me I 
 wanted to lay my fingers on my lips and never speak another 
 word. When he climbed that height at Gettysburg, and stood 
 on the scene of the terrible conflict, on that ground made 
 sacred with the bodies of our patriot soldiers, the eloquence of 
 his lips, the impressiveness of his mien, and the words uttered 
 by his heart through his tongue, made that oration which, in 
 the history of American eloquence, puts culture into the shade, 
 for it was the eloquence of the noblest American upon the 
 noblest occasion in the history of mankind. 
 
 In the old days every cathedral had its chime of bells. 
 A new bell had to be cast, and it was to be strung up far into 
 the tower to exercise the demons and call the people to morn- 
 ing worship. The bell was in process of casting in the mould, 
 and there were joy and gladness. Priests brought the crucibles 
 and bronze articles to the mould, and the molten metal began 
 to make its way toward the great hole in which the cast was 
 being prepared. Suddenly the great gathering was swayed 
 with some sudden emotion. There was a danger of the failure 
 of the cast through insufficient metal. The cry was, What shall 
 be done? It was soon decided. Every one gave something, 
 some article of value to cast into the seething pot. Women 
 
78 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 tore off their bracelets. Others ran and brought silver vessels ; 
 priests brought the appurtenances of the sanctuary and flung 
 them into the seething, boiling furnace ; and at last there was 
 sufficient. It cooled, and was swung into the tower, and there 
 never was a sweeter-toned bell in all the world, and the sacri- 
 fices that had been made in flinging the treasure into the bell 
 made its notes those of silver and gold as they rang out on the 
 sweet morning air. The old bell that proclaimed liberty at 
 Philadelphia is a useless bell to-day. We have done the cast- 
 ing all these years of that bell of liberty which is to be rung in 
 the ages to come, high up above the people and the sound of 
 the nations and the war and the peace of the world. 
 
 We hope and pause when the golden bell is rung, and we 
 seem to hear its silver chiming as it calls to prayer. We hear 
 its deeper notes when it warns us with its significant alarm ami 
 joyous clang that it is positively above us. How sweet is that 
 bell of liberty ! Let us not forget what makes it sweet is be- 
 cause men have cast sacrifices for the golden hope of manhood 
 and life. Let us not forget that if it rings so sweetly and is to 
 ring forever in the name of liberty, some of that sweetness 
 comes from Abraham Lincoln ; for, when that bell was in the 
 molten furnace of war and the crucible of trial, there was cast 
 into it the pure gold of his manly life. 
 
 Rev. E. C. Bolles, at Lafayette Camp. 
 
WE MAKE HISTORY. 79 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 AVE MAKE HISTORY. 
 
 We enter the Interior Department — Form the acquaintance of 
 Mrs. Anna M. Cosby — Meet Geo. D. Prentiss and many- 
 prominent people — Frequently visit the White House — 
 We hold a stance at Laurie's, the President attending — 
 " Bonnie Doon" — Mrs. Miller causes the piano to dance — 
 The scene at the front depicted— The President advised 
 by "Dr. Bamford" to go to the Army of the Potomac 
 and talk with the soldiery — "The simplest remedies the 
 best" — The President grants a furlough to A. L. Gurney 
 — The President speaks his views upon spiritualistic com- 
 munications—Advised not to make the stances public in- 
 formation — Mrs. Miller moves the piano while the Presi- 
 dent sits upon it — Notes. 
 
 ON the Monday following I found employment 
 (through the kindness of Mrs. Lincoln) in the 
 seed-room, a division of the " Department of the In- 
 terior," which was under the control of Mr. Newton. 
 This room was part of a building on F Street near 
 Seventh, where fifty to sixty occupants, the majority 
 old ladies, and the balance children between the ages 
 of ten and twelve, found employment. My duties 
 consisted of sewing together the ends of curious little 
 sacks — each sack containing a gill of seed corn, beans, 
 
80 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 etc., as the case might be ; which work was little more 
 than mere pastime. We entered the room at nine in 
 the morning, leaving it at twelve ; returning at one, 
 and leaving again at three in the afternoon. For this 
 work I received one dollar per day. A few days 
 later my friend Parnie joined me, also entering this 
 room, doing the same work, and receiving the same 
 compensation. 
 
 In the meantime my evenings were well filled with 
 circles, which were attended by many of the most 
 prominent people in Washington. Among those I 
 met and learned to love, and who in turn became 
 warmly attached to myself and friend, was Mrs. Anna 
 M. Cosby,* whose father, Mr. Robt. Mills,f was the 
 architect of the public buildings of Washington ; and 
 whose husband was at this time consul at Geneva (?). 
 
 * Mrs. Anna Mills Cosby, wife of Fortunatus Cosby, and 
 daughter of the late Robert Mills, was a Southerner by birth, 
 and a most worthy advocate of Spiritualism. She was a true 
 Christian and a lovable friend. She died May 31, 18G4, her 
 funeral services being conducted by the Rev. Byron Sunder- 
 land, who is still in charge of a pastorate in Washington. 
 See Appended Notes. 
 
 ■f- Robert Mills was the first educated American architect. He 
 was the designer of the Bunker Hill Monument, and the archi- 
 tect of the Washington Monument in Baltimore He also de- 
 signed and built the Capitol at Washington. He was a high 
 Mason, and one of the most prominent men of his time. See 
 Appended Notes. ^ < 
 
 J to 
 
 - 
 
MRS. ANNA M. COSBY. 
 From photograph from life, presented by her to Mrs. X. C. Maynard, 1863 
 

WE MAKE HISTORY. 81 
 
 Her home was a solid brick mansion on Capitol Hill — 
 historical in its associations ; having been known in 
 Washington's day as the " Old Bell Tavern ;" after- 
 wards used as a bank until Mr. Mills changed it to 
 a family residence. The old vaults still remained 
 beneath the building ; and its quaint arrangement and 
 winding stairway were a novelty to my Northern eyes. 
 The first floor of her house was occupied by John W. 
 Forney ; and a beautiful chamber on the second floor 
 was usually occupied by General Simon Cameron 
 when in Washington. 
 
 This lady was the patroness, as her father had been 
 patron before her, of the Columbia Fire Company ; 
 which was located very near her residence. It was to 
 her and her family that this company was indebted for 
 the many privileges it enjoyed — her father being ac- 
 tive in establishing it, and furnishing it with the motto, 
 
 "The performance of duty insures the protection of God." 
 
 This lady, after a time, insisted upon our " making her 
 house our home ;" and in its refining and elevating 
 atmosphere, surrounded by all that wealth could give, 
 we passed many happy weeks and formed many pleas- w J 
 ant associations. At her house I met with Mr. Joshua N. y 
 Speed, Mr. Lincoln's former law partner. At one of 
 her circles, held in her beautiful parlors, I also met 
 Geo. D. Prentiss, the well-known editor of the " Louis- 
 ville Journal." Here I gave many private sittings to 
 6 
 
82 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 distinguished people, whose names I never knew ; but 
 who were apparently earnest investigators, and seemed 
 satisfied with the truths they obtained. In short, 
 every moment was filled to the uttermost, and the time 
 so occupied passed quickly and pleasantly. 
 
 Prior to leaving Mr. Laurie's to become the guest 
 of Mrs. Cosby I had another important interview with 
 President Lincoln. One morning, early in February, 
 we received a note from Mrs. Lincoln, saying she de- 
 sired us to come over to Georgetown and bring some 
 friends for a stance that evening, and wished the 
 " young ladies" to be present. In the early part of 
 the evening, before her arrival, my little messenger, 
 or " familiar" spirit, controlled me, and declared that 
 (the " long brave," as she denominated him) Mr. Lin- 
 coln would also be there. As Mrs. Lincoln had made 
 no mention of his coming in her letter, we were sur- 
 prised at the statement. Mr. Laurie rather ques- 
 tioned its accuracy ; as he said it would be hardly 
 advisable for President Lincoln to leave the White 
 House to attend a spiritual seance anywhere ; and 
 that he did not consider it " good policy" to do so. 
 However, when the bell rang, Mr. Laurie, in honor of 
 his expected guests, went to the door to receive them 
 in person. His astonishment was great to find 
 Mr. Lincoln standing on the threshold, wrapped in 
 his long cloak ; and to hear his cordial " Good even- 
 ing," as he put out his hand and entered. Mr. Laurie 
 
WE MAKE HISTORY. 83 
 
 promptly exclaimed, " Welcome, Mr. Lincoln, to my 
 humble roof; you were expected" (Mr. Laurie was one 
 of the " old-school gentlemen"). Mr. Lincoln stopped 
 in the act of removing his cloak, and said, " Ex- 
 pected ! Why, it is only five minutes since I knew 
 that I ivas coming ." He came down from a cabinet 
 meeting as Mrs. Lincoln and her friends were about 
 to enter the carriage, and asked them where they 
 were going. She replied, " To Georgetown ; to a 
 circle." He answered immediately, "Hold on a mo- 
 ment; I will go with you." "Yes," said Mrs. Lin- 
 coln, " and I was never so surprised in my life." He 
 seemed pleased when Mr. Laurie explained the source 
 of our information ; and I think it had a tendency to 
 prepare his mind to receive what followed, and to 
 obey the instructions given. 
 
 On this occasion, as he entered the parlor, I made 
 bold to say to him, " I would like to speak a word 
 with you, Mr. Lincoln, before you go, after the circle." 
 " Certainly," he said ; " remind me, should I forget it." 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Laurie, with their daughter, Mrs. Mil- 
 ler, at his request, sang several fine old Scotch airs — 
 among them, one that he declared a favorite, called 
 " Bonnie Doon." I can see him now, as he sat in the 
 old high-backed rocking-chair ; one leg thrown over 
 the arm ; leaning back in utter weariness, with his 
 eyes closed, listening to the low, strong, and clear yet 
 plaintive notes, rendered as only the Scotch can sing 
 
84 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 their native melodies. I looked at his face, and it 
 appeared tired and haggard. He seemed older by 
 years than when I had seen him a few weeks pre- 
 viously.* The whole party seemed anxious and trou- 
 
 * My friend, Francis B. Carpenter, has given a correct 
 picture of Lincoln: "In repose, it was the saddest face 
 I ever knew. There were days when I could scarcely look 
 into it without crying. During the first week of the battles 
 of the Wilderness he scarcely slept at all. Passing through 
 the main hall of the domestic apartment on one of these days, 
 I met him, clad in a long morning- wrapper, pacing back and 
 forth a narrow passage leading to one of the windows, his hands 
 behind him, great black rings under his eyes, his head bent 
 forward upon his breast — altogether such a picture of the effects 
 of sorrow, care, and anxiety as would have melted the hearts 
 of the worst of his adversaries, who so mistakenly applied to 
 him the epithets of tyrant and usurper. With a sorrow almost 
 divine, he, too, could ha?e said of the rebellious States, 'How 
 often would I have gathered you together, even as a hen gath- 
 ereth her chickens under her wings, and ye ivould not !' Like 
 another Jeremiah, he wept over the desolations of the nation ; 
 ' he mourned the slain of the daughter of his people.' 
 
 " Surely, ruler never manifested so much sympathy, and ten- 
 derness, and charity. How, like the last words of the Divine 
 one himself, ' Father, forgive them, for they know not what 
 they do,' will the closing sentences of his last inaugural address 
 resound in solemn cadence through the coming centuries. 
 Truly and well, says the London • Spectator' of that address : 
 ' We cannot read it without a renewed conviction that it is the 
 noblest political document known to history, and should have 
 for the nation and the statesmen he left behind him something 
 of a sacred and almost prophetic character. Surely, none was 
 
WE MAKE HISTORY. g5 
 
 bled; but all interest centered in the chief, and all 
 eyes and thoughts were turned on him. At the end 
 of the song he turned to me and said, " Well, Miss 
 Nettie ; do you think you have anything to say to me 
 to-night?" At first I thought he referred to the re- 
 quest I had made when he entered the room. Recol- 
 lecting myself, however, I said, " If /have not, there 
 may be others who have." He nodded his head in a 
 pleasant manner, saying, " Suppose we see what they 
 will have to tell us." 
 
 Among the spirit friends that have ever controlled 
 me since my first development was one I have before 
 mentioned— known as " old Dr. Bamford." He was 
 quite a favorite with Mr. Lincoln. His quaint dialect, 
 old-fashioned methods of expression, straightforward- 
 ness in arriving at his subject, together with fearless- 
 ness of utterance, recommended him as no finished 
 style could have done. This spirit took possession of 
 me at once. As I learned from those in the circle, 
 the substance of his remarks was as follows : " That a 
 very precarious state of things existed at the front, 
 where General Hooker had just taken command. The 
 army was totally demoralized; regiments stacking 
 
 ever written under a stronger sense of the reality of God's 
 government. And certainly none written in a period of pas- 
 sionate conflict ever so completely excluded the partiality of 
 victorious faction, and breathed so pure a strain of minted 
 justice and mercy.' " 
 
86 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 arms, refusing to obey orders or to do duty ; threaten- 
 ing a general retreat ; declaring their purpose to re- 
 turn to Washington. A vivid picture was drawn of 
 the terrible state of affairs, greatly to the surprise of 
 all present, save the chief to whom the words were 
 addressed. When the picture had been painted in 
 vivid colors, Mr. Lincoln quietly remarked : " You 
 seem to understand the situation. Can you point out 
 the remedy ?" Dr. Bamford immediately replied : 
 " Yes; if you have the courage to use it." "He 
 smiled," they said, and answered, " Try me." The 
 old doctor then said to him, " It is one of the sim- 
 plest, and being so simple it may not appeal to you as 
 being sufficient to cope with what threatens to prove a 
 serious difficulty. The remedy lies with yourself. 
 Cro in person to the front ; taking with you your wife 
 and children; leaving behind your official dignity, 
 and all manner of display. Resist the importunities 
 of officials to accompany you, and take only such at- 
 tendants as may be absolutely necessary ; avoid the 
 high grade officers, and seek the tents of the private 
 soldiers. Inquire into their grievances ; show your- 
 self to be what you are, ' The Father of your People.'' 
 Make them feel that you are interested in their 
 sufferings, and that you are not unmindful of the 
 many trials which beset them in their march through 
 the dismal swamps, whereby both their courage and 
 7iumbers have been depleted." He quietly remarked, 
 
WE MAKE HISTORY. 87 
 
 " If that will do any good, it is easily done." The 
 doctor instantly replied, " It will do all that is re- 
 quired. It will unite the soldiers as one man. It 
 will unite them to you in bands of steel. And now, 
 if you would prevent a serious, if not fatal, disaster 
 to your cause, let the news be promulgated at once, 
 and disseminated throughout the camp of the Army 
 of the Potomac. Have it scattered broadcast that you 
 are on the eve of visiting the front ; that you are not 
 talking of it, but that it is settled that you are going, 
 and are now getting into readiness. This will stop 
 insubordination and hold the soldiers in check ; being 
 something to divert their minds, and they will wait to 
 see what your coming portends." He at once said, " It 
 shall be doner A long conversation then followed 
 between the doctor and Mr. Lincoln regarding the 
 state of affairs, and the war generally. The old doctor 
 told him " that he would be renominated and re-elected 
 to the presidency." They said that he sadly smiled 
 when this was told him, saying, " It is hardly an 
 honor to be coveted, save one could find it his duty to 
 accept it." 
 
 After the circle was over, Mr. Laurie said, " Mr. 
 Lincoln, is it possible that affairs are as bad as has 
 been depicted ?" He said, " They can hardly be ex- 
 aggerated ; but I ask it as a favor of all present that 
 they do not speak of these things. The Major there," 
 pointing to an officer of that rank who was in their 
 
88 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 party, " bas just brought despatches from the ' front' 
 depicting the state of affairs pretty much as our old 
 friend has shown it ; and we were just having a Cabi- 
 net meeting regarding the matter, when something, I 
 know not what, induced me to leave the room and 
 come down stairs, when I found Mrs. Lincoln in the 
 act of coming here. I felt it might be of service for 
 me to come ; I did not know wherefore." He dropped 
 his head as he said this — leaning forward in his chair 
 as if he were thinking aloud. Then, looking up sud- 
 denly, he remarked, "Matters are pretty serious down 
 there, and perhaps the simplest remedy is the best. 1 
 have often noticed in life that little things have some- 
 times greater weight than larger ones" As they 
 rose to depart, he turned to me and said, " Now I will 
 hear what you wish to say to me." Going to one 
 side of the parlor, we sat down, and I laid before him 
 the case of a friend who had been nearly two years 
 in the service in the Army of the Potomac, and who 
 was a lieutenant in the Thirtieth N. Y. Regiment. He 
 had seen hard service in camp and field, and had 
 never asked for a furlough during that period. At 
 this time, as his colonel was ordered to Washington on 
 duty for a few weeks, he sent in a petition to the War 
 Department for a furlough, signed by all the superior 
 officers of his regiment and brigade. Not doubting 
 the granting of the furlough, nor waiting for its arrival, 
 feeling sure of its coming and being forwarded, he 
 
WE MAKE HISTORY. 89 
 
 went with his colonel to Washington. Unfortunately, 
 the day before, he had received the announcement 
 that the application had been rejected, and that an 
 order was then at the department for his arrest for 
 " absence without leave." I stated these facts in full 
 to Mr. Lincoln, and said to him, " This young man is 
 a true soldier, and was one of the first to respond to 
 the call for troops. He has no desire or disposition to 
 avoid or shirk his duty, and is intending to return and 
 give himself up as soon as his colonel's business is 
 completed. It occurred to me that you would be kind 
 enough to interpose your hand between him and the 
 consequences of his rashness in leaving the camp 
 before the arrival of his furlough." He pleasantly 
 smiled, and said, " I have so much to think of now, I 
 shall forget all about this. You write it all out to me, 
 giving me his name and regiment, and bring it to me 
 to-morrow." Feeling sure of my cause, I was de- 
 lighted, and thought of the pleasant surprise I had in 
 store for my friend. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln bade us all a pleasant " good-night " 
 and departed, leaving us to talk over the curious cir- 
 cumstances of his coming and of its results. 
 
 It was at this sexnce that Mrs. Belle Miller gave an 
 example of her power as a " moving medium," and 
 highly amused and interested us by causing the piano to 
 " waltz around the room," as was facetiously remarked 
 in several recent newspaper articles. The true state- 
 
90 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 ment is as follows : Mrs. Miller played upon the 
 piano (a three-corner grand), and under her influence 
 it "rose and fell," keeping time to her touch in a 
 perfectly regular manner. Mr. Laurie suggested that, 
 as an added " test" of the invisible power that moved 
 the piano, Mrs. Miller (his daughter) should place 
 her hand on the instrument, standing at arm's length 
 from it, to show that she was in no wise connected 
 with its movement other than as agent. Mr. Lincoln 
 then placed his hand underneath the piano, at the end 
 nearest Mrs. Miller, who placed her left hand upon 
 his to demonstrate that neither strength nor pressure 
 was used. In this position the piano rose and fell a 
 number of times at her bidding. At Mr. Laurie's 
 desire the President changed his position to another 
 side, meeting with the same result. 
 
 The President, with a quaint smile, said, " I think 
 we can hold down that instrument." Whereupon he 
 climbed upon it, sitting with his legs dangling over the 
 side, as also did Mr. Somes, S. P. Kase, and a soldier 
 in the uniform of a major (who, if living, will recall the 
 strange scene) from the Army of the Potomac. The 
 piano, notwithstanding this enormous added weight, 
 continued to wabble about until the sitters were glad 
 " to vacate the premises." We were convinced that 
 there were no mechanical contrivances to produce the 
 strange result, and Mr. Lincoln expressed himself 
 perfectly satisfied that the motion was caused by some 
 
WE MAKE HISTORY. 91 
 
 " invisible power ;" and when Mr. Somes remarked, 
 " When I have related to my acquaintances, Mr. 
 President, that which I have experienced to-night, 
 they will say, with a knowing look and wise demeanor, 
 ' You were psychologized, and as a matter of fact 
 (versus fancy) you did not see what you in reality did 
 see.' ' Mr. Lincoln quietly replied, " You should bring 
 such person here, and when the piano seems to rise, 
 have him slip his foot under the leg and be convinced 
 (doubtless) by the weight of evidence resting upon 
 his understanding ." 
 
 When the laughter caused by this rally had sub- 
 sided, the President wearily sank into an arm-chair, 
 " the old tired, anxious look returning to his face." 
 
 This never-to-be-forgotten incident occurred on the 
 fifth day of February, 1863. 
 
 I believe that Mr. Lincoln was satisfied and con- 
 vinced that the communications he received through 
 me were wholly independent of my volition, and in 
 every way superior to any manifestation that could 
 have been given by me as a physical being. This he 
 affirmed in my presence and in my hearing in answer 
 to a question by Mr. Somes as to what he thought of 
 the source of what he had experienced and heard 
 from time to time in the form of spiritualistic manifes- 
 tations. He replied, " I am not prepared to describe 
 the intelligence that controls this young girl's organ- 
 ism. She certainly could have no knowledge of the 
 
92 WAS LIXCOLX A SPIRITUALIST; 
 
 facts communicated to me, nor of what was transpiring 
 in my Cabinet meeting prior to my joining this circle, 
 nor of affairs at the front [the army], nor regarding 
 transpiring events which are known to me only, and 
 which I have not imparted to anyone, and which have 
 not been made public." 
 
 As he spoke, his face was earnest and in repose, 
 and he laid one hand in the other impressively (as was 
 his custom). He likewise comprehended that I was 
 ignorant of the very facts surrounding the information 
 of which I was the agent. 
 
 It has frequently been stated that Mr. Lincoln was 
 a spiritualist. That question is left open for general 
 judgment. I do know that he held communication 
 with numerous mediums, both at the "White House and 
 at other places, and among his mediumistic friends 
 were Charles Foster, Charles Colchester, Mrs. Lucy 
 A. Hamilton, and Charles Redmond, who warned Mr. 
 Lincoln of the danger that faced him before he made 
 that famous trip between Philadelphia and Washing- 
 ton, on which occasion he donned the Scotch cap and 
 cape ; and which warning saved him from assassina- 
 tion. 
 
 If he had not had faith in Spiritualism, he would not 
 have connected himself -with it, and would not have 
 had any connections with it, especially in peculiarly 
 dangerous times, while the fate of the Nation was in 
 peril. Again, had he declared an open belief in the 
 
WE MAKE HISTORY. 93 
 
 subject, he would have been pronounced insane and 
 probably incarcerated. 
 
 A man does not usually follow or obey dictation in 
 which he has no faith, and which does not contain infor- 
 mation of active present value to him. This argument, 
 together with his following of the Spirit dictation 
 which passed through me, goes a great way toward a 
 critical and correct judgment in this matter, especially 
 when verification is at hand. It is also true that Mrs. 
 Lincoln was more enthusiastic regarding the subject 
 than her husband, and openly and avowedly professed 
 herself connected with the new religion. 
 
 Mr. Somes frequently warned me that it would be un- 
 wise to talk with newspaper men, or to answer any of 
 the many inquiries that were constantly made regard- 
 ing the subject of our Presidential stances — saying im- 
 pressively, " Do not make these matters public prop- 
 erty in any such manner at the present time. Reserve 
 your statements of experiences until sufficient time has 
 elapsed to remove any condemnatory criticism, which 
 would naturally be caused by the present excitement 
 of war, and for the time when the people are ready 
 to look upon past and present events with coolness 
 and correctness, at which time a true and dispas- 
 sionate judgment will be reached, for you will then 
 receive an impartial hearing, and at the same time 
 make evident the truths of Spiritualism." He added, 
 " You are at liberty to quote me and to use my name 
 
94 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 in connection with any events herein stated in which 
 I was a participant." The value of his opinion is 
 apparent, and I may add that I followed this advice 
 implicitly. The time has arrived when we can criti- 
 cise freely, judge dispassionately, and reach a true 
 conclusion regarding those events which had to do 
 with the greatest man of his time — the chief actor in 
 the tragedy of modern years, which centered upon us 
 the gaze of the civilized world. 
 
 
PERILOUS TIMES. 95 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 PERILOUS TIMES. 
 
 I make a strange error — The President visits the Army of the 
 Potomac at the instigation of the spirits — Mrs. Lincoln is 
 distracted, and we comfort her — A sitting while the battle 
 of Chancellorsville goes on and the result foretold — We 
 depart with an armful of flowers — Visit to the Mount 
 Pleasant Hospital, where father greets us. 
 
 THE next day was Sunday, and Mr. Lincoln had 
 evidently forgotten that fact when he bade me 
 bring him my request in writing. I therefore used a 
 part of the day to write out a plain statement of the 
 case. I considered it almost a State document, ad- 
 dressed it " To the President of the United States ;" 
 and thoughtlessly, or rather with great deliberation, 
 believing it necessary, signed my full baptismal name 
 to the paper. Since I had responded to a name, I 
 had been called " Nettie" by old and young, and had 
 almost forgotten that my proper name was " Hen- 
 rietta." 
 
 Sunday morning's issue of John W. Forney's 
 " G azette" bore in startling headlines : " The Presi- 
 dent is about to visit the Army of the Potomac." 
 Then followed a statement of what gunboat was in 
 
96 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 preparation to take him and his family to Fortress 
 Monroe ; and other matter showing literal obedience 
 to the directions given the night previous. These 
 papers, I learned, were scattered by the thousand 
 throughout the army, as quickly as they could be 
 conveyed there. 
 
 On Monday morning, with my paper in hand, I 
 visited the White House. Going up to the waiting- 
 room, I sent it in by " Edward," and anxiously 
 awaited the result. Twenty minutes or more must 
 have passed when " Edward" came out, and said, 
 " The President desires that you will call to-morrow." 
 I was thunderstruck ; not knowing what this might 
 indicate. I knew that without the consent and knowl- 
 edge of my friend I had furnished the full facts of his 
 whereabouts and his acts to headquarters ; and knew 
 not how my action might be considered by him and 
 his colonel. Startled and full of doubt, I walked to 
 the broad stairway, and when halfway down met the 
 major (whose name I have forgotten, but who was 
 with the President on the occasion of the sitting the 
 Saturday previous), who instantly recognized me, 
 and raised his cap and bowed pleasantly. I left the 
 White House, going to the Post-Office Department for 
 my mail, then returned to Georgetown to find the 
 major awaiting me. He came to me as I entered and 
 said, " Mr. Lincoln sent me to you with this note. 
 He says he thinks it will answer every purpose. He 
 
PERILOUS TIMES. 97 
 
 told me to tell you he had left it without date, as 
 you could not give him the precise date of your friend 
 leaving the camp, and being without date, it therefore 
 covers all the back time. He would have given it to 
 you in person, but he did not recognize the name at- 
 tached to the foot of the paper containing the state- 
 ment. When I went into the room," he said, " after 
 meeting you on the stairs, the President took up 
 the paper and said, in a perplexed way, ' This lady 
 states that I requested her to write this out. I do 
 not remember the name or the circumstance, and yet 
 there is something familiar about it.' I stepped up 
 to Mr. Lincoln, and glancing at the name, replied, 
 ' It is that little medium we saw in Georgetown.' 
 ' Oh yes,' he exclaimed, ' I fully remember now. 
 Go out and bring her in.' I hurried out," added 
 the major ; " but you having left, I failed to find you. 
 He then said, 'This matter must be attended to at 
 once,' and writing on this card, as you see, he in- 
 closed it in an envelope and bade me bring it to you." 
 I opened it and read the following : " Leave of ab- 
 sence is granted to A. L. Gurney, Comp. G, 30th N. 
 Y. Reg., and he will report to his company Feb. 17th, 
 1863" — thus giving him ten days' additional leave 
 (the time was afterwards extended to the 27th, merely 
 changing the date). I have no doubt this gentleman 
 treasures to this day that souvenir of our martyred 
 President. I thanked the major for his kindness, and 
 7 
 
98 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 bade him extend to Mr. Lincoln my grateful acknowl- 
 edgment, impulsively remarking, " How good of him 
 to do this thing!" To which the major replied, "It 
 is a common thing for him to do these acts. He is all 
 the time doing something of the kind." 
 
 The President's visit to the " front " and the ova- 
 tion tendered him showed the spontaneous uprising 
 of a people to receive a loved ruler. How he was 
 literally borne on the shoulders of soldiers through 
 the camp, and how everywhere the " boys in blue " 
 rallied around him, all grievances being forgotten and 
 restored, and his leaving a united and devoted army 
 behind him when he returned to Washington, — are 
 matters of history too well known to bear repeating. 
 
 He did not achieve the victory of carrying out to the 
 letter, without a struggle, the directions of our unseen 
 friends. Mrs. Laurie and myself visited the White 
 House in the interval of the preparation and the time 
 of departure ; and Mrs. Lincoln informed us that they 
 were being besieged by applications from members of 
 both houses, and Cabinet officers and their wives, for 
 permission to go with them. And she remarked, in 
 her quick impulsive way : " But I tell Mr. Lincoln, if 
 we are going to take the spirits' advice, let us do it 
 fully, and then there can be no responsibility resting 
 with us if it fail." I was controlled at this time, and 
 " They" impressed upon her the importance of carry- 
 ing this out as strictly as was consistent ; as it was all 
 
PERILOUS TIMES. 99 
 
 important that the " man" not the " President" 
 should visit the army. Disunionists had labored to 
 fill the minds of the soldiers with the idea that the 
 government at Washington was rioting in the good 
 things of life and surrounded by pomp and display, 
 while the soldiers were left to die in the swamps, 
 neglected and forgotten; it was therefore necessary 
 " that they should see the man in all his simplicity," 
 and that he should carry with him a personal influence 
 which would be felt throughout the camp. The wis- 
 dom of his action is told in the result. 
 
 I think it was in May of that year that the battle 
 of Chancellorsville was fought. My father was then 
 with my eldest brother in hospital in Washington. 
 Intending to visit him, I went by permission of Mrs. 
 Lincoln to the White House hothouse to obtain a 
 bouquet of flowers for him. Miss Parnie and my- 
 self applied to the private entrance, expecting only to 
 receive the flowers and depart ; Mrs. Cuthbert, Mrs. 
 Lincoln's waiting-woman, eagerly met us at the door. 
 " Oh, my dear young ladies," she exclaimed in her 
 broken French fashion, " the madam is deestracted. 
 Come to her, I beg of you. She wants you very 
 much." Surprised at her earnestness, we went up- 
 stairs and were ushered into her bedroom. Mrs. 
 Lincoln, in a loose wrapper, her long beautiful hair 
 down her back and over her shoulders, was distractedly 
 walking up and down the room. As she saw me she 
 
100 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 came forward and exclaimed, " Oh, Miss Nettie, such 
 dreadful news ; they are fighting at the front ; such 
 terrible slaughter ; and all our generals are killed 
 and our army is in full retreat ; such is the latest 
 news. Oh, I am glad you have come. Will you sit 
 down a few moments and see if we can get anything 
 from ' beyond ?' " 
 
 No hint of the battle had as yet reached the public. 
 I was surprised. I threw my things aside and we at 
 once sat down. " Pinkie" controlled me instantly, 
 and, in her own original way, assured Mrs. Lincoln 
 that her alarm was groundless ; that while a great 
 battle had been fought and was still in progress, our 
 forces were fully holding their own ; and that none of 
 the generals, as she had been informed, were slain 
 or injured. She bade her have no fear whatever ; 
 that they would get better news by nightfall, and the 
 next day would bring still more cheering results. 
 This calmed her somewhat, and after I awoke she 
 talked very earnestly with me to know if I fully 
 trusted and believed in what was said through me. 
 I assured her of my confidence in whatever was 
 communicated, and it seemed to give her courage. 
 It was now approaching one o'clock, and Mr. Lincoln 
 entered the room ; he was bowed as if bent with 
 trouble, his face looking anxious and careworn. He 
 shook my hand in a listless way and kindly inquired 
 how I was, shaking hands with my friend also. He sat 
 
 
PERILOUS TIMES. 101 
 
 down at a little stand on which Mrs. Cuthbert had 
 placed a cup of tea and a plate of crackers. It 
 seemed that it was his custom at this hour to partake 
 of this frugal lunch. Mrs. Lincoln instantly began to 
 tell him what had been said. He looked up with 
 quick interest. My friend Parnie said, " Perhaps 
 Mr. Lincoln would prefer to hear it direct ; would you 
 not like to, Mr. Lincoln ?" He said, " If it would not 
 tire your friend too much, yes." I hastened to assure 
 him that I felt no weariness whatever, and again I was 
 soon under control. This time it was the strong clear 
 utterance of one we had learned to call " Wisdom ;" 
 and Parnie told me that Mr. Lincoln listened intently 
 to every word. For twenty minutes " he" talked to 
 him, stating clearly the condition of affairs at the 
 front ; assuring him of what news he would receive 
 by nightfall, and what the morrow would bring forth ; 
 and that in no wise was the battle disastrous ; and 
 though not decisive particularly in character, was 
 sufficiently so to be a gain, not a loss, to the Union 
 cause. He brightened visibly under the assurances 
 given ; and my friend said she had never seen me more 
 impressive or convincing when under control. Evi- 
 dently " they" felt his need in that hour, and met it. 
 When I awoke his tea stood untasted and cold, and as 
 none seemed to think of it that should have done so, 
 my friend quietly arose, and, taking it from the stand, 
 handed it to Mrs. Cuthbert, and said, " Change this 
 
102 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 for a hot cup of tea, and bring it soon." No one 
 seemed to think she was stepping out of her place in 
 thus thinking of the weary man before us. It was 
 quickly brought, and he drank it with a relish, but 
 left the crackers untasted. Pie shook us warmly by 
 the hand, and with a pleasant smile passed back to his 
 private apartments. 
 
 I need not say that our hands were well filled with 
 flowers when we left the White House. However, it 
 was then too late to go to the camp. The next morn- 
 ing, on our way to the hospital, we called at the White 
 House and received from Mrs. Cuthbert the assurance 
 that the news had been received as predicted, and that 
 " Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln were both feeling much better 
 and full of hope." 
 
 Taking the cars at Fourteenth Street, we made our 
 visit to Mount Pleasant Hospital. Its thousands of 
 clean, white empty tents, full of little cot-beds, sug- 
 gested the possibilities of war, but presented none of 
 its horrors. My brother was somewhat better, al- 
 though still in bed ; and my father was glad to see his 
 visitors. We stayed a few hours, and he showed us 
 over the departments ; taking us to the surgeons' 
 headquarters, where all seemed quiet and peaceful. 
 We returned to the city, little dreaming of the scene 
 that would greet us when we again visited the camp. 
 

 THE WOUNDED AND DYING. 103 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE WOUNDED AND DYING. 
 
 After the battles of Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg — We 
 go to the hospital and aid the wounded — Scenes of horror 
 among the "brave boys in blue" — While riding home 
 we see the President lift his hat to a crippled soldier boy — 
 Lincoln always ready to serve the humble. 
 
 D 
 
 URING the seven or eight days that followed 
 we did not visit my father, being busied with 
 circles and attending to our duties in the seed depart- 
 ment. 
 
 The battles of Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg 
 had been fought and our armies had gained a negative 
 i+t victory — that is, we had lost no ground, and the enemy 
 had been defeated. One morning, bright and early, 
 accompanied by our friend, Miss Anna Betts, of Al- 
 bany, we started for the hospital to see my father. 
 How changed in the brief time since we had looked 
 upon the quiet, peaceful canvas-covered grounds! 
 soldiers everywhere, rushing in all directions. Upon 
 our statement of " having friends in camp" we were 
 freely allowed to pass. Threading our way through 
 what seemed hardly familiar lines of tents, we were 
 shocked to find that nearly every tent was filled with 
 
104 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 mutilated occupants ; every bed having its tenant, and 
 fresh arrivals constantly being added to the number. 
 Reaching the tent where my brother had been an 
 invalid, which was one of many feet in length, con- 
 taining many beds, I met him at the doorway pale 
 and feeble, but active on behalf of those who were 
 far more needy than he. We stood dumb before the 
 scene presented to our eyes, when my father hastily 
 approached and exclaimed, " Girls, have you nerve 
 enough to help us ?" We all responded, " Yes ; any- 
 thing we can do." He quickly furnished us with tin 
 basins, and showing us where to fill them with fresh 
 water from large tanks outside, handed each a sponge 
 and told us to pass from cot to cot, and squeeze the 
 spongeful of cold water upon the foot or hand of the 
 occupant, so repeated until a little relief was afforded, 
 then pass on to the next. We eagerly begun our 
 task. Anna, full of earnest zeal, started on her 
 round, but the first sight that greeted her eyes was 
 one of horror — a poor soldier boy bleeding to death 
 from a wound in the neck. Turning deadly faint, she 
 retreated to the open air. A few moments and she 
 rallied and bravely returned to her work. For the 
 three hours we could remain, we passed from bed to 
 bed and applied the cold water as best we could to 
 the poor boys who lay, each wailing his turn, uncom- 
 plaining, and, strange to say, even cheerful under such 
 terrible conditions. Pleasant words were passed from 
 
THE WOUNDED AND DYING. 105 
 
 bed to bed between them ; and when we would ap- 
 proach with a fresh basin of water, they would call 
 out in a cheery tone, " Me first ; me first," and always 
 with a pleasant laugh, if we took the first that came, 
 without heeding the call, and I know that many tears 
 mingled with the water we squeezed upon their poor 
 mangled limbs. The scene comes back to me vividly 
 as I recall it ; for it was our first real experience of 
 the meaning of that horrible word " war." 
 
 In a tent outside surgeons were busy lopping off 
 legs and arms ; and going outside on one occasion to 
 renew my basin of water that was crimson with the 
 loyal blood of our brave boys in blue, I saw my 
 brother being borne fainting from a tent. I went to 
 him at once, and they told me that he was assisting 
 the surgeon at an amputation when his feelings over- 
 came him. A dose of brandy quickly brought him 
 around, and he returned to his post with a determined 
 spirit. Every hand was needed. The weakest grew 
 strong in the face of that army of sufferers. At one 
 time the water by our tent that was under our charge 
 became exhausted, and my father hastily told me to 
 go to the next tent on the right and there find another 
 tank. In my hurry I turned to the left instead, and 
 throwing aside the flap of the tent was horrified to see 
 a mass of legs and arms that had of necessity been 
 hastily placed there — the fruit of the surgeons' bloody, 
 
106 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 but necessary work. Weak and faint I turned back, 
 retraced my steps, and found the needed water. 
 
 But how shall I speak of the brave boys who every- 
 where met our eyes ? Never one word of complaint 
 or regi'et at the fate that stretched them helpless and 
 wounded on those narrow beds. • Never an unseemly 
 word. Only grateful acknowledgments for the min- 
 istry we could give. Their condition was fearful and 
 past belief, for they had lain on the battle-field until 
 help could come ; and their wounds were full of ver- 
 min, bandaged with such material as could be hastily 
 furnished in such an emergency. While this revolt- 
 ing state of things was apparent on every side, only 
 cheery words from the sufferers, or a low moan here 
 and there told the story of bravery and suffering. 
 When the records of God are made up these brave boys 
 ■will not be forgotten. One beardless youth, mortally 
 wounded, lay quietly watching the work as we passed 
 from bed to bed ; although past all pain, he was still 
 fully conscious of his condition. We stopped every time 
 we came in with a fresh basin of water to sponge off 
 his face and hands ; it seemed to refresh and revive 
 him ; then he would instantly signify that we were 
 not to wait, but to go on with our mission of mercy. 
 
 For three hours we never paused, and at the end of 
 that time desisted, being warned by the approach of 
 nightfall of the distance from our home. It was with 
 regret and tears, we did not care to hide, that we left 
 
THE WOUNDED AND DYING. 107 
 
 our work to return to the city. The next day Parnie 
 and myself started early for the hospital. Anna 
 could not accompany us, and we went without her. 
 Our presence was hailed with delight, and we found 
 that the wounds of all those who had been under our 
 charge the day previous had been attended to, and the 
 application of cold water was now the only thing to be 
 done. The young soldier we had noted the day 
 before was still living, but fast failing. Parnie and 
 myself stood beside him, each holding a cold hand, 
 and in a short time all was over, and he was truly 
 " mustered out," as he had said pleasantly, the day 
 before, when asked by a comrade how he was. My 
 father marked his grave, and we sent the news to his 
 mother in Ohio, and shortly afterwards his remains 
 were forwarded to her. 
 
 We saw several other empty beds that day that told 
 their own silent story ; and the mounds grew in num- 
 ber around the surgeons' headquarters, as one by one 
 the brave boys succumbed to a conqueror they were 
 powerless to resist. 
 
 We found a full list of nurses in attendance that 
 day and our services were hardly needed, although 
 we went to work in the same manner as the day 
 previous ; and some of the nurses, wearied and tired, 
 were glad of the brief respite we could give them. 
 It was a satisfaction to us, on leaving the camp, to 
 
108 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 know that all were as comfortable as care and strict 
 attendance could make them, and the horrors of the pre- 
 vious day had passed from sight. Finding we could be 
 of no further use, we did not visit the hospital again ; 
 but it was many a day before the memory of those pain- 
 marked faces and shattered limbs failed to haunt our 
 dreams by night and challenge our thought by day. 
 Soon after this, while riding up Pennsylvania Avenue 
 to Georgetown in a street car filled with a miscel- 
 laneous crowd composed chiefly of officers and soldiers 
 from the headquarters in Georgetown, an incident 
 came under my notice that I deem worthy of record. 
 It was a dull, rainy morning such as drives all pedes- 
 trians indoors or under shelter, and the avenue above 
 the Treasury building was practically deserted. Seated 
 on the right-hand side of the car, I faced the Treasury 
 building. As we turned the corner, and some distance 
 ahead, I beheld the tall figure of President Lincoln 
 going with hurried strides toward the White House. 
 He wore an old-fashioned dress coat, the sleeves tight 
 to the arm and the right elbow torn so that his white 
 shirt sleeve plainly showed through, and he, seemingly 
 unconscious of this discrepancy in his dress, was pur- 
 suing his way with his head down as if in a profound 
 study. He wore a beaver hat that looked as well 
 worn as his coat, and in his right hand was a bundle 
 of papers as though he had just come from some office. 
 
 * 
 
THE WOUNDED AND DYING. 109 
 
 As he neared the gate of the White House, a soldier 
 boy leaning upon crutches, one leg drawn up, ap- 
 proached, and they nearly collided, so absorbed was 
 Mr. Lincoln in his thoughts. Hastily looking up, see- 
 in<r who was before him, he instantly removed his hat, 
 the soldier boy doing the same. He then commenced 
 talking with him, and from his manner seemed to be 
 inquiring as to the cause of his lameness, while one 
 hand went into his pocket. As he drew it out, and 
 was in the act of handing the soldier what was in his 
 hand, his back was to the street and he did not see the 
 loaded car which was then opposite. The soldier boys 
 in the car, however, saw him ; one impulsively jerked 
 the check-strap and the car stopped, and shouting at 
 the top of his lungs " Three cheers for Father Abra- 
 ham" rent the air. They were given with a will. 
 He looked around, startled at the outburst so near 
 him ; acting like a schoolboy caught in some derelic- 
 tion of duty, thrust what he had in the hand of the 
 soldier, doffed his hat again, and with a smile hurried 
 out of sight into the grounds of the White House, fol- 
 lowed by the cheers of soldiers, who witnessed in this 
 kindness shown, unseen as he supposed, the man they 
 loved in the President that ruled them. 
 
 I have seen President Lincoln under many aspects, 
 and he never failed to evidence the man of kindly 
 heart, tender feelings, and one replete with thought- 
 
HO WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 fulness for others, and one willing to serve the hum- 
 blest where it did not conflict with his sense of duty.* 
 
 * It is to be regretted that an additional private secretary 
 could not have been appointed, whose only duty it would have 
 been to look after and keep a complete record of all cases ap- 
 pealing to executive clemency. There would have been full 
 employment for such secretary, and the volume would now be 
 beyond all price and value. 
 
CONTINUED SERVICES. Ill 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 CONTINUED SERVICES. 
 
 The "Thirtieth New York" passes through Washington — The 
 poem of reception — I am called home — Colonel Chrysler 
 requests us to return to Washington to do him a service — 
 We meet Joshua Speed at Cosby's — The story of Mr. 
 Cosby's dismissal — A visit to the President and unpleasant 
 remembrances — " We are Coming, Father Abraham, Three 
 Hundred Strong" — Mr. Lincoln explains the dilemmas of 
 war — Our point is gained, and we call on Secretary Stan- 
 ton — A politic reply, and its result — Colonel Chrysler's 
 Brigade made happy. 
 
 ABOUT the last of May or the first of June the 
 two years' term of service of the Thirtieth 
 Regiment of New York State Volunteers expiring they 
 were ordered home. In this regiment, it will be re- 
 membered, was my acquaintance for whom I had 
 obtained Mr. Lincoln's grant of furlough. Since that 
 gracious act of kindness the regiment had been through 
 the fire and smoke of battle, and I think it was at the 
 second battle of Bull Run that nearly every line 
 officer was cut down, and whole companies so depleted 
 that at the next roll call there were scarcely enough 
 for a corporal's guard. Their noble leader, Colonel 
 Frisby, was the first to fall in leading his men " to 
 
112 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 the charge ;" and no braver soldier or truer gentleman 
 gave his life for his country during that terrible four 
 years' struggle. The fragment of a regiment that was 
 returning was to arrive in Washington by one o'clock 
 of the afternoon, and we received a despatch to that 
 effect at eleven o'clock from our friends at Fortress 
 Monroe. We were a long distance from the boat 
 landing, and were making our preparations to join 
 those in waiting, when Parnie remarked that, as I 
 had given the regiment an inspirational poem two years 
 previous when it went to the scene of action, I should 
 now have one prepared on its return. I replied, 
 " Perhaps the power that gave me the first will also 
 give a second ;" and in the short space of half an hour 
 I wrote and copied the following lines of welcome : — 
 
 Fling out our starry banner ! Forever may it wave ! 
 
 Rincr, bells, your loudest welcome to the loyal, true and brave ! 
 
 Strike every joyous cymbal ; let every sign be shown 
 
 To tell these war-worn patriots that they are welcome home. 
 
 When first along the Hashing wires came news of Sumter's fall, 
 Ere hope of gain made patriots, they answered duty's call. 
 And now, with laurels laden, they come both true and tried. 
 Let banners wave ! ring loudly, bells ! to tell our joy and pride! 
 
 1 well recall to mind the day, two weary years ago, [foe. 
 
 They turned away from friends and home to meet our Southern 
 Then, while the kiss is given to-night and words of welcome said, 
 We'll not forget the tribute due the brave and honored dead, 
 
 Whose bodies sleep in far-off graves beneath the trodden sod, 
 Whose spirits glorified were led by angels up to God. 
 And yet, O bells ! one moment stay, and toll for him who died 
 While leading this devoted band against vile treason's tide. 
 
CONTINUED SERVICES. 113 
 
 He laid his crown of victory down, the hour in which 'twas won, 
 While angels bore it twined with stars, beyond the setting sun. 
 And while his blood with thousands at the bar of justice pleads, 
 Shall fame and history gather up his name and noble deeds. 
 
 And, should we need a beacon light to lead us on to fame, 
 We'll look aloft where glory crowns our Frisby's honored name. 
 Now, rin^r again, O joyful bells ! Our nation's banner wave ! 
 Unite in giving welcome to the loyal, true, and brave. 
 
 Then pay this tribute to the dead — the noblest ever given : 
 They slept in soldiers' honored graves — their rich reward ia 
 And say to those returning : A Nation bids them come [Heaven. 
 And share its hallowed blessing and earnest welcome home. 
 
 [This poem was published in the "Troy Whig."] 
 We reached the dock as the boat neared her moor- 
 ings. The pleasant anticipation of meeting our friends 
 was saddened by the silent procession that first passed 
 — for the regiment was accompanied by a long array of 
 sleepers who would never again awaken at the sound of 
 the reveille. We had only time for a handshake, and I 
 passed the hastily written poem into the hands of my 
 friends. Another moment, and they were gone. 
 Shortly after their arrival at Albany, I received a 
 paper published in New York, containing this poem, 
 which the editor had considered worthy of publication ; 
 though I do not know what course he would have 
 pursued had he known its spiritual origin. 
 
 Our friends were no sooner mustered out from their 
 two years' service than they re-enlisted. Major 
 Morgan H. Chrysler quickly recruited the discharged 
 
114 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 soldiers, seeking to raise a mounted brigade of 
 veterans to return at once to the field. 
 
 About this time, on account of illness in our family, 
 I was called home to Hartford, and at this period the 
 time of my father and elder brother expired. We 
 were, therefore, once more a united household, with 
 one exception. The missing member was my father's 
 brother Lyman, who had always been a member of 
 our household, who was in the same regiment with my 
 younger brother, and of whom we had not heard for a 
 long time. He was enlisted for three years, and his 
 regiment, at the time of his last letter, was located 
 somewhere near Norfolk, Va. July passed, and with 
 it the memorable battle of Gettysburg. The overflow 
 of the hospitals near Washington was sent North. 
 Everywhere there was work for willing hands and 
 loyal hearts ; and though our victories cheered the 
 heart of the nation, and gave courage to those at home 
 as well as to those in the field, the fearful price had 
 sanctified our country's altar and made us one. We 
 felt that the work in which we were engaged, whether 
 it were preparing the lint and bandages for the ex- 
 pected victim or drawing the sword on the field of 
 carnage, was entirely holy. 
 
 In the early fall of 1863 my friend and myself re- 
 ceived a request from Colonel Chrysler, at Saratoga, 
 that we should go to Washington and see the Presi- 
 dent on behalf of him and his veterans, of whom he 
 
GENERAL MORGAN H. CHRYSLER. 
 From photograph from life, presented by him to Mrs. N. C. Maynard.'] 
 
CONTINUED SERVICES. 115 
 
 had raised three hundred. About this time there was 
 strong call for reinforcements, and as fast as troops 
 were enlisted they were forwarded to Washington and 
 sent " to the Camp of Distribution," so called, and 
 scattered through the different army corps to fill up 
 depleted companies. Colonel Chrysler's fear was that 
 this fate would await his command ; and his ambition 
 was to raise his brigade and so obtain the command 
 thereof. He had confidence in my power to reach the 
 President, and he had also confidence in the unseen 
 powers that controlled me, and he earnestly requested 
 that I should make the effort in his behalf, offering to 
 defray all expenses, which he did. We went at once, 
 going directly to our friend Mrs. Cosby, on Capitol 
 Hill, who received us with joy and surprise, as she 
 had not expected us until later. I told her the pur- 
 pose of our coming and requested her to accompany 
 me to see Mr. Lincoln. As we could not go at once, 
 we decided upon making the venture the following day. 
 Morning came and brought with it an important visitor, 
 who called on our friend. This person was Mr. Joshua 
 Speed.* We were introduced to him; and Anna, 
 
 * Mr. Speed at this time was in Washington regarding his 
 appointment as Attorney-General. The following information 
 is apropos : The position in the Cabinet vacated by the resig- 
 nation of Attorney-General Bates has been very judiciously 
 filled by the appointment of Hon. J. J. Speed, of Kentucky. 
 . . . . Mr. Speed is a gentleman of high order of legal 
 
116 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST* 
 
 in her gentle, but forcible way, informed him of my 
 peculiar gift, and of that of my friend. While we 
 were talking Parnie was controlled by what proved to 
 be the spirit of an old colored man — a former slave 
 who was in the family of Mr. Speed, and who identi- 
 fied himself with his old master by expressing his 
 thanks that he was granted his request " to be buried 
 under the tree where in his old age he used to sit, and 
 where [if memory serves correctly] he had died." 
 Mr. Speed acknowledged that this was very strange 
 and singular, and afterward questioned us both clearly 
 and closely in regard to our peculiar gifts. The fore- 
 noon passed quickly ; and as Mr. Speed was about to 
 leave us, Mrs. Cosby told him of our desire to visit 
 the President. She asked him for a letter of introduc- 
 tion. Smiling, he said, " Surely, you need no letter 
 of- introduction to him." She answered, " It has been 
 some time since I have seen him, and I would be 
 
 talent, and throughout the war has shown himself a sterling 
 
 patriot We hope that Mr. Speed's influence in 
 
 Kentucky will be sufficiently potent to counteract the machina- 
 tions of the Copperheads in that section He is a 
 
 man of thoroughly disciplined mind, and will make an efficient 
 
 Attorney-General, we feel well assured Although 
 
 once a Whig, he is now a Republican. This appointment indi- 
 cates a determination on the part of Mr. Lincoln to persevere in 
 his war policy .... and not be satisfied short of com- 
 plete success — Morton McMichael t in the North 
 
 American, December 3, 1864. 
 
CONTINUED SERVICES. 117 
 
 pleased to have a letter from you." He sat down at 
 her desk, and quickly indited a genial note of intro- 
 duction, including my name also in the letter. I will 
 here state that a few months previously Mr. Cosby 
 had been superseded in his consulship, owing to the 
 fact that he had been reported to our government " as 
 giving entertainments to the representatives of the 
 Southern Confederacy, at the port where he was 
 stationed." I think it was this fact that led Mrs. 
 Cosby to desire a letter of introduction to Mr. Lin- 
 coln, fearing that he might believe that she also held 
 disloyal sentiments. The day was too far spent when 
 Mr. Speed took his departure for us to think of visit- 
 ing the White House. At ten o'clock next morning 
 we stood at the portals of the White House, where the 
 genial " Edward" received our cards and letter, and 
 were led soon after into the presence of Mr. Lincoln. 
 Mr. Lincoln was alone. He greeted Mrs. Cosby 
 with a most serious but kindly deference in his 
 manner, and he gave me his usual kindly greeting of 
 " How do you do, Miss Nettie ? — glad to see you back 
 among us." There was an awkward silence for a 
 moment. He asked us to be seated. Then, turning 
 to Mrs. Cosby, he remarked, " We have not met Mrs. 
 Cosby since it was my unpleasant duty to banish 
 your husband from the country." She replied, "No 
 Mr. Lincoln ; and I trust, when the full truth is known, 
 Mr. Cosby will prove less culpable than the report 
 
118 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 caused him to appear." A slight pause, and then he 
 remarked : " In public life we are compelled to forego 
 all claims save those of duty, and in a critical time 
 like the present, when the nation's life is in our hands, 
 we must often seem to our friends unduly stern and 
 relentless." " Say no more," remarked Mrs. Cosby 
 in her gentle way ; " I fully recognize your position, Mr. 
 Lincoln, and am too loyal a woman to the interests of 
 the Union to question anything which you may deem 
 proper to do. I regret that Mr. Cosby was not so wise 
 as Simon Cameron, who, when in the streets of London, 
 saw approaching him an old schoolmate, and who, 
 when about to extend the hand of welcome, suddenly 
 dropped it and coldly bowed to him. Cameron passed 
 on, remembering that the person before him, although 
 a friend, represented those who had been traitors to 
 his country. If Mr. Cosby had acted with the spirit 
 of Simon Cameron, he would not bear the disgrace 
 which must attach itself to his name while he lives." 
 
 I shall not forget the grace and dignity of manner 
 that governed my friend as she uttered these words, 
 which indelibly impressed themselves upon my mem- 
 ory, and seemed equally to impress Mr. Lincoln, for 
 he remarked, " I thank you for your loyalty," and 
 " I fear that the same does not exist with all our lady 
 residents in Washington." 
 
 During this time, he had held Mr. Speed's letter in 
 his hand, and now turning to it said, " I see you are 
 
CONTINUED SERVICES. 119 
 
 acquainted with my friend Speed." "Yes," she re- 
 plied; " he gave me a pleasant call yesterday." "He 
 is a good fellow," remarked Mr. Lincoln; and, after 
 some few words concerning their early associations, 
 looked up with his genial smile, and said, " I was with 
 him the night he settled it about his marriage with the 
 widow. I was walking along the road when he over- 
 took me with his wagon and asked me to get in. We 
 rode together until we reached her house, and there 
 stopped for the night. I could see that * Josh ' had 
 something on his mind, but I did not know what that 
 something was until I was left to go to bed alone. 
 Toward morning Joshua came to bed, and, awakening 
 me, informed me of the important fact that it was set- 
 tled between him and the widow." 
 
 I now see the President as he then looked, seated 
 in a big arm-chair, one leg thrown over the arm, his 
 hands clasped behind his head, talking to us in this 
 pleasant, familiar strain ; and, as Mrs. Cosby after- 
 wards said, " We felt that he was, under the circum- 
 stances, endeavoring to cover the embarrassment of our 
 meeting, bearing in mind the removal of Mr. Cosby 
 from office." As he concluded, Mrs. Cosby turned to 
 me, and said, "Miss Nettie is a petitioner to-day." 
 He looked at me in all kindness and asked how he 
 could serve me. In as few words as possible I re- 
 lated the dilemma of my acquaintance, and his request 
 that I should lay the matter before the President, feel- 
 
120 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 ing that if he fully understood the determination and 
 purpose he would not permit the troops to be scattered. 
 "By the way," he remarked, "I think I have re- 
 ceived a telegram from your friend," and stepping to 
 his table in the centre of the room he picked up a dis- 
 patch and read aloud : " We are coming, Father Abra- 
 ham, three hundred veterans strong — M. H. Chrysler, 
 commanding." The President quietly chuckled as he 
 read it, and, turning to me, said, " I really have no 
 power in the matter; but think I can somewhat influ- 
 ence the decision of the commanding officers. To tell 
 the truth, it is unwise for me to interfere in any of the 
 regulations connected with the army. You have no 
 idea what a time I had when this war first broke out. 
 When I issued my call for the first 75,000 men I was 
 as ignorant as a child regarding the best course to 
 pursue. Regiments were poured into Washington, and 
 were lying about without shelter and without sufficient 
 provisions. The troops were clamoring at the doors 
 here for orders, and I was harassed and perplexed, 
 not knowing what to do. At last Gov. Morgan, of New 
 York, wrote me that it was impossible for him to fill 
 the quota of his State until I called my recruiting 
 officers from the field. I thought his letter imperti- 
 nent, and took no notice of it. He, with others, then 
 visited me, and explained the situation. Two recruit- 
 ing parties were in the field — one in my name, con- 
 testing for the enlisting soldier ; and one under the 
 
CONTINUED SERVICES. 121 
 
 officers of the State, trying to obtain regiments to fill 
 the demand — I, meanwhile, having made peremptory 
 demand on the Governors of the States to forward 
 their proportion. My mistake was apparent, for I had 
 granted the right to raise troops to every man who had 
 applied, and, therefore, had unwittingly checked or 
 balked my own purpose. Of course I then cancelled 
 all orders, and left the affairs where they should be — 
 in the hands of the Governors of the respective States. 
 As a result, order was soon restored. So, you see, my 
 young friend, the difficulty in this case. But I will 
 tell you what I will do. I will give you a line to the 
 Secretary of War, and request him to send these men 
 to the Camp of Instruction until the brigade is com- 
 pleted — if he finds it possible to do so." He wrote a 
 line to this effect, signing and handing it to me, and, 
 after a few more words of kindness and explanation, 
 shook us cordially by the hand and bade us good-day. 
 Here, again, was the kindly and genial spirit of 
 President Lincoln clearly shown, in that he should 
 take the pains to explain to me his inability to comply 
 with my request, confessing at the same time his defi- 
 ciency in knowledge when war first made its demands 
 upon him ; going into an account of matters he need 
 not have named, when without a word he might have 
 dismissed us, as most likely any other official in Wash- 
 ington would have done. But it was ever the charac- 
 teristic of this man, so great in goodness, that he 
 
122 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 avoided wounding the feelings of the humblest, and 
 ever sought to work in perfect harmony with all of his 
 people. 
 
 Being too late to see the Secretary of War that 
 afternoon, we returned home. The next morning my 
 friend was ill with a sick-headache, and Parnie and 
 myself went to the War Department and asked to see 
 Secretary Stanton. 
 
 We held the paper Mr. Lincoln had given us, on 
 which was written " The Secretary will receive Miss 
 Colburn and hear her statement. — A. Lincoln." 
 
 This paper procured us instant admission to the 
 presence of the Secretary, who received us with a 
 very stern unbending countenance, that boded ill for 
 the request. In trembling tones I stated the case, 
 and remarked that the rigid orders surrounding my 
 soldier friends prevented their getting leave of absence 
 to prefer this request in person. Glancing at the paper 
 which he held in his hand containing Mr. Lincoln's 
 name, he said, " Why did you come to me ? Mr. 
 Lincoln has full power in this matter. Why didn't 
 he attend to it ?" As was often the case in an emer- 
 gency, I felt the hand of an unseen guide on my 
 shoulder, warning me to be careful of my reply ; and 
 I heard the words issue from my lips without any 
 volition of my own : " I supposed, as Secretary of 
 War, you were the proper person to apply to in this 
 case. I knew how hard it was to get to your pres- 
 
CONTINUED SERVICES. 123 
 
 ence, and I asked Mr. Lincoln for this paper." His 
 countenance changed instantly, and in the kindest tones 
 imaginable bade us be seated, took down the name of 
 Col. Chrysler, the number of men under his command, 
 and all the circumstances attending the subject, say- 
 ing kindly, "I will see that this is attended to at 
 once," and politely bowed us out. 
 
 Some time afterwards, in relating this circumstance 
 to a friend in Washington, I was informed that the 
 good Secretary was a little jealous of his prerogatives, 
 and looked with unfriendly eyes upon any interference 
 from the White House. Be this as it may, I know 
 that my politic answer to his irate question, for which 
 I was not responsible, seemed to change the face of 
 matters and favorably shape results for our friends of 
 the camp, who, when visiting us a few days later, in- 
 formed us in high glee that they were ordered to 
 remain at the Camp of Instruction until their brigade 
 was fully completed, and also given full power to en- 
 list veterans for that purpose. 
 
124 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 MAKING PROGRESS. 
 
 A crazy lecturer — Mr. Somes inaugurates the first Washington 
 lecture — Spiritualism a comforting belief. 
 
 DURING the early part of the winter of 1863 and 
 1861, a woman by the name of Smith came to 
 Washington to lecture upon the subject of Spiritualism. 
 She obtained a hall which was quickly filled with a 
 crowd of eager listeners, to whom it soon became ap- 
 parent that she was half deranged. Her wild manner 
 and disjointed sentences so decreased the size of her 
 audience, that she found remaining none but a hoot- 
 ing mass of boys and a number of empty benches. 
 The proprietor closed the hall ; and she then took to 
 the streets, speaking from the Capitol grounds to a 
 noisy, disorderly crowd, until finally compelled to 
 desist by the interference of the police. The Spirit- 
 ualists of Washington were greatly mortified at having 
 their religious belief thus caricatured ; and a gentle- 
 man called on Mr. Somes, at whose house I was then 
 stopping, and making known his errand asked to see 
 and talk with me. Mr. Somes introduced me, saying, 
 that he represented a number of Spiritualists who had 
 
Photographed from steel engraving, loaned by George A. Bacon, Esq. 
 
MAKING PROGRESS. 125 
 
 been exceedingly mortified at the notoriety given to 
 their religious belief by this crazy woman, and that 
 they desired to get up a public lecture and have me 
 speak for them. I asked Mr. Somes's advice, and he 
 said, " If you will leave it in my hands, I will have 
 the affair conducted as it should be, or not at all." 
 I readily consented, and turning to the gentleman, he 
 said, "You are to get a good hall that shall be warm 
 and well lighted, and get the Rev. John Tierpont to 
 preside. I will then see that Miss Colburn is there in 
 time." The conditions were all complied with. On 
 the platform with us was also our able writer and 
 speaker, A. E. Newton, known far and wide as one 
 of the ablest of the exponents of Spiritual Philosophy. 
 The interest the subject had awakened in the public 
 mind was apparent from the crowded audience that 
 had assembled to meet us. The exercises began with 
 a few well-chosen words from Mr. A. E. Newton, in- 
 troducing the Rev. John Pierpont as chairman of the 
 meeting. Mr. Pierpont then made a brief speech, be- 
 ginning his remarks by saying, " I will tell you briefly 
 why I am a Spiritualist." His remarks were earnest, 
 full of the recital of pointed facts, and could not fail 
 to impress the hearer with the truthfulness of the 
 speaker. He was at this time over eighty years of 
 age, as straight as an arrow, his hair snowy white, his 
 eyes keen and piercing. He stood before them with tall, 
 unbowed form, his clear voice ringing out the truths 
 
126 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 he uttered. He seemed like one of the prophets of 
 old again enunciating the law. At the conclusion of 
 his remarks, I was entranced, and, after the invocation, 
 delivered the address of the evening, at the conclusion 
 of which Mr. Pierpont pronounced the benediction. 
 We were heard with every mark of respect and at- 
 tention, and more than one person remarked, " If this 
 is Spiritualism, it is the most comforting and rational 
 religious belief I ever heard. I would like to know 
 more of it. ,} * This was really the first public lecture 
 ever given in Washington. In less than two years a 
 society was formed and lectures were held almost 
 
 * The first twenty-five years of Spiritualism in this country 
 completed a special cycle or period in the movement. During 
 that time the work of Spiritualism was to conduct a stern and 
 unyielding warfare against the world without, yet withal to 
 rather bear with its oppressors than to attempt their overpower- 
 ing ; to uproot old and stereotyped errors, change ancient ideas, 
 and do battle with school-craft, ignorance and bigotry. At the 
 close of this period, and during the twenty years ensuing, there 
 were many changes of a discouraging character which over- 
 shadowed believers ; many proceeding from within as well as 
 without the ranks of the New Belief. Many of the bitterest 
 foes of Spiritualism were those of its own household, and its 
 cruellest stabs were dealt by the hands of many of its professed 
 followers. The succeeding years made permanent the principles 
 of this great science, and the new religion with its beautiful 
 teachings was wrested from the hand of the spoiler, and its 
 future life fully grounded upon the rock of unchangeable Truth. 
 
MAKING PROGRESS. 127 
 
 every Sunday during the winters that followed up to 
 the present day, at which time there is a large and 
 flourishing society, including in its organization some 
 of the finest families of the city. 
 
128 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 SPIRITUAL ADVICE. 
 
 We pay a visit to the White House — General Sickels attends 
 the stance — The terrible condition of the freedmen around 
 Washington — Establishing the " Freedmen' s Bureau " sug- 
 gested by the spirits — Recalling the pleasant scene. 
 
 A FEW days later found us the guests of Mr. and 
 Mrs. Somes. Mrs. Somes seldom went into 
 society, owing to the loss of her eldest son and her 
 preference for home life. She was a lady of remark- 
 able ability, refined and gentle manners, a devoted 
 wife and mother, and a sincere Christian. My friend, 
 Miss Hannum, and I soon called at the White House, 
 to pay our respects to the President and his wife, and 
 were received with the greatest cordiality. We re- 
 mained but a short time, but were both particularly 
 struck by Mr. Lincoln's careworn appearance. His 
 old genial smile was the same, as he expressed the 
 hope that he had come to spend the winter. A few 
 days later Mrs. Somes received a note cordially invit- 
 ing herself and husband to spend an evening at the 
 White House, and requesting her to bring the young 
 ladies, meaning Miss Hannum and myself. At first 
 Mrs. S. was inclined to refuse, but yielding to her 
 
SPIRITUAL ADVICE. 129 
 
 husband's solicitations, and our wishes, she consented. 
 In her note Mrs. Lincoln said she desired her to meet 
 a friend, and wished to see if she (Miss Pinkie) 
 would be able to tell who it was. 
 
 We reached the Executive Mansion at half-past 
 eight, and were ushered into the red parlor, where the 
 madam received us with great kindness, and presented 
 us in turn to a distinguished, soldierly-looking gentle- 
 man, who was wrapped in a long military cloak, com- 
 pletely concealing his person and every evidence of 
 rank. She did not call him by name, apologizing for 
 not doing so, and saying she desired first to see if our 
 friends could tell who he was, adding that she would 
 duly present him afterwards. I saw that Mr. Somes 
 recognized him instantly, but he gave no hint of his 
 identity. My friend and myself removed our wraps, 
 but Mrs. Somes declined, simply loosening hers. A 
 pleasant half hour followed, when Mr. Lincoln joined 
 us. After a cordial greeting all around, he wearily 
 seated himself in an arm-chair and remarked, " I am 
 very busy and must forego the pleasure of conversa- 
 tion and ask our little friend here to see what can be 
 given us to-night as briefly as may be, for my Cabinet 
 is awaiting my return." Silence fell upon the group, 
 and I was shortly entranced. What here follows was 
 related to me on our return home by Mr. and Mrs. 
 Somes and my friend. A strong, powerful presence 
 seemed to have possession of me, directing first its 
 
 9 
 
ISO WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 entire attention to Mr. Lincoln. The substance of the 
 remarks related to the condition of the Freedmen in 
 and around Washington, declaring their condition de- 
 plorable in the extreme, that they were herding to- 
 gether like cattle in the open air, with little or no 
 shelter, half fed and half clothed, while the manner 
 of their existence was a reproach to the country, 
 throwing down, as it did, all safeguards to morality 
 and decency. A terrible picture was presented con- 
 cerning the thousands thus rendered homeless and de- 
 pendent upon the government, through the exigencies 
 of war and the Proclamation of Freedom. While 
 the spirits realized fully the many heavy cares resting 
 upon the President, there was a duty to perform that 
 could not be neglected — a duty that demanded im- 
 mediate attention. They counselled him in the strong- 
 est terms to prove the truth of their statements, ex- 
 travagant as they seemed, by appointing a special 
 committee, whose duty it should be to investigate the 
 condition of these people, and to receive their report 
 in person, and on no account to receive it at second 
 hand. They further advised that for this committee 
 he should select men who were not burdened with 
 other cares, that their minds might be given entirely 
 to their work, for, if they did their duty well, he would 
 see the necessity at once of organizing a separate 
 bureau to control and regulate all the affairs connected 
 with the freedmen. 
 
SPIRITUAL ADVICE. 131 
 
 While I cannot, at this late day, give a more minute 
 account of the instructions thus given, I have pre- 
 sented the main points. The powers controlling me 
 then directed their attention to the gentleman in the 
 military cloak. They at once addressed him as " Gen- 
 eral," saying that his cloak did not disguise from their 
 eyes the evidence of the noble sacrifice he had laid on 
 his country's altar, nor the glittering stars he so mer- 
 ited, for he had royally won them by his patriotic de- 
 votion to his country. They extended my hand to 
 him, which he accepted, rising and bowing with the 
 same courtesy and dignity that characterized him to- 
 ward all ; and whatever may have been his private 
 opinions concerning raediumship and spiritualism, hi3 
 manner was that of a courteous and true gentleman. 
 A few words of greeting were then spoken to all — a 
 final word of encouragement and strength spoken to 
 the President — when the influence changed, and 
 " Pinkie," the little Indian maiden, took possession of 
 my organism, and after greeting the President and Mrs. 
 Lincoln in her usual manner, turned at once to the 
 stranger, addressing him as " Crooked Knife," her 
 Indian name for him, thus giving to Mrs. Lincoln the 
 test she required, as it was thus ascertained that 
 "Pinkie" recognized him as the General of whom 
 she had often spoken in former circles when relating 
 events that were taking place on distant battle-fields. 
 While she was talking in her childish way, Mr. Lin- 
 
132 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 coin excused himself, returning to his cabinet meeting. 
 When I awoke a half hour later, I found myself 
 standing in front of the gentleman whom I had met 
 that evening for the first time, and saw that his clear, 
 piercing eyes were fixed fully upon me. Mrs. Lincoln 
 now hastened to cover my embarrassment by duly pre- 
 senting us to all. This officer was Major-General 
 Sickels (now Sheriff of New York City), who laid 
 aside his cloak, revealing his whole uniform and a 
 crutch, which until that moment had been concealed. 
 This was the first and only time my friend and myself 
 ever met this famous general, although, as I have 
 stated, he and other generals were often mentioned 
 in communications that were made by me to the 
 President and his wife, while giving them tidings of 
 the true state of affairs at the front, which communi- 
 cations were afterwards fully confirmed when reliable 
 particulars were received. Of this I was assured on 
 more than one occasion by Mrs. Lincoln. 
 
 It was after eleven o'clock when our carriage was an- 
 nounced, and as we departed the General stood by the 
 side of Mrs. Lincoln, shaking hands with us in turn as we 
 passed from their presence. I vividly recall the scene ; 
 the bright fire in the open grate, sending a genial 
 warmth through the room ; a large pyramid of flowers 
 and palms in the centre of the apartment, giving a look 
 of richness to the scene ; while a marble bust of Mr. 
 
C.KNF.KAI, DANIEL K. SICKI^S. 
 From photograph from life, 1865. 
 
SPIRITUAL ADVICE. 133 
 
 Lincoln, just received, and to which Mrs. Lincoln had 
 called our attention earlier in the evening, stood in 
 front of the large pier-glass, seeming almost lifelike 
 in the shifting shadows made by the gas-light and wav- 
 ing palms. The scene was one never to be forgotten. 
 
134 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 A STRANGE INCIDENT. 
 
 I return home — A commission appointed to investigate the 
 freedmen's condition — I return to Washington — Our friend 
 General William Norris — "Why, Daniel, what is the 
 matter ?"— The telegram, and " Who killed Cock Robin ? " 
 — Mr. Somes has a strange meeting — A matter of life or 
 death — The President reprieves the sentinel — Janvier's 
 poem of the "Sleeping Sentinel." 
 
 A S the errand that had taken me to Washington 
 -*•■*- was accomplished, and having met all our old 
 friends, we expected to return home, not having pre- 
 pared ourselves for a winter sojourn. Our friends 
 would not hear to this, offering to send for our cloth- 
 ing if we would remain for the winter. The matter 
 was finally arranged by my friend Parnie remaining 
 in Washington, while I was given two weeks to return 
 to Hartford, inform my parents, and get my clothing ; 
 also to go to South Adams, Mass., and inform my 
 friend's parents of our intentions. I spent a few days 
 at home to inform father of the particulars of my 
 recent visit to the White House ; going later to Adams, 
 where I remained a few days, returned again to my 
 home in Hartford, and from there went to Washing- 
 
A STRANGE INCIDENT. 135 
 
 ton. The day before leaving home, father entered ray- 
 presence, holding in his hand (if I remember rightly) 
 a copy of the " Daily Courant," saying to me, "Here 
 is something, Nettie, that will interest you." He 
 pointed to a telegram in a column headed " Washing- 
 ton Items:" "President Lincoln has appointed a 
 special committee to investigate the condition of the 
 freedmen." This item confirmed what I had told my 
 father more than a week before of my recent sitting at 
 the White House. It also proved that Mr. Lincoln 
 considered the counsel he had received through me of 
 sufficient importance to engage his attention, as he had 
 literally followed the directions given him by the 
 spirit world. It is a matter of history that the out- 
 come of this investigation was the formation of the 
 Freedmen's Bureau.* 
 
 I returned to Washington, and was, with my friend, 
 the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Somes during the greater 
 part of the winter of 1863-1864. During the winter 
 previously, I had been introduced to General William 
 Norris, of Philadelphia, of the firm of " Norris & 
 Sons," a most genial and kindly old gentleman, whom 
 I judged to be between sixty and seventy years of age. 
 
 * . . . . The freedmen's movement, conducted as it is 
 by the public-spirited and liberal, is doing a world of good, not 
 only to the colored man, but to the whole country. It is the 
 corner-stone of inevitable reconstruction. — New York Herald. 
 
136 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 He was engaged in getting an important point before 
 the Navy Department, of a steam vessel or gun-boat, 
 so constructed as to be impervious to shot and shell. 
 I had many sittings for this gentleman, and he became 
 warmly attached to myself and friend, called us his 
 granddaughters, and was most kind to us, treating us 
 as if we were indeed his children, as his letters will 
 testify. He visited our parents, and informed them of 
 his desire to adopt us as such, and also a young lady 
 whom I have before mentioned, a Miss Anna Betts, of 
 Albany, New York. It was during the period of 
 which I speak, the winter of 1863-1864, that we had 
 occasion to send Mr. Norris a telegram to the Astor 
 House, New York. Not being accustomed to writing 
 messages of this sort, we sought Mr. Somes, asking 
 his aid in the matter. We were gathered around the 
 table in their pleasant sitting-room. Mrs. Somes was 
 engaged in some needle work, and Mr. Somes reading 
 the evening paper. " It was seven o'clock, and we 
 must get the message in the office by eight." He ex- 
 plained our difficulty to Mr. Somes, who readily laid 
 aside his paper and taking a telegraph blank and 
 pencil, again seated himself and prepared to write 
 what we desired. We told him the idea we wished 
 to convey, and he at once comprehended our wishes. 
 But the minutes flew by and he did not write. A 
 quarter past seven came and went. We looked 
 wonderingly at him, when Mrs. Somes remarked, as 
 
GENERAL WILLIAM NORRIS. 
 From photograph from life, presented by him to Mrs. N. C. Maynard. 1863. 
 
A STRANGE INCIDENT. 137 
 
 she saw a look of suppressed mirth in his face : 
 " Why, Daniel, what is the matter ? I never saw 
 you wanting in words before." Shaking with silent 
 laughter (he never laughed aloud in my hearing), he 
 asked, as soon as he could recover himself, " What 
 do you suppose is running through my mind ? I 
 never had anything puzzle me so in my life." Of 
 course we could not tell him his thoughts, and with 
 his lips twitching with mirth at the absurdity of the 
 situation, he said, " As truly as I sit here, the only 
 words I can form in my mind are the old nursery 
 lines — ' Who killed Cock Robin V " Our amazement 
 may be imagined by those who have met this quiet 
 and dignified gentleman. 
 
 We talked for some moments regarding the matter. 
 He explained that he had vainly tried to put into 
 words what we desired to say in the dispatch ; saying ' 
 that every time he attempted to concentrate his 
 thoughts upon the subject his mind was confused, and 
 he found himself repeating the ridiculous lines quoted 
 above. As he finished his explanation he glanced at 
 the clock. It was ten minutes of eight. Mrs. Somes 
 remarked, " You will have to hurry to get it off 
 to-night." Instantly his pencil flew over the paper as 
 he said, " It is perfectly clear to me now," and the 
 message was ready. The telegraph office was but a 
 few steps away, and putting on a light overcoat he 
 hastened out, leaving us to discuss the curious inci- 
 
138 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 dent that had delayed us nearly an hour, caused by a 
 person always so clear and decisive in mind and 
 manner as Mr. Somes. It was a few minutes past 
 eight when he returned, indicating suppressed excite- 
 ment in his manner, and with his usual grave smile 
 said to his wife, " Please get me my heavy overcoat. 
 I have found out who killed Cock Robin, or who is 
 going to kill him." While he hastily donned his 
 heavy overcoat and overshoes he informed us that as 
 he entered the telegraph office a young man had fol- 
 lowed, who brushed past him hurriedly, and going to 
 the counter, said, excitedly, " I cannot find him, and 
 I have been to his hotel, and to every other place I 
 can think of." The operator took the telegram from 
 the young man's hand, and, looking very anxious, said, 
 " This is very important, and I know not what to do." 
 Mr. Somes at once asked the operator what the trouble 
 was. The man answered, " Here is a dispatch from 
 a man in Maine, whose son is to be shot to-morrow 
 morning, at the front, for sleeping at his post ; and he 
 has telegraphed to the member from his district, beg- 
 ging him to see the President and get a stay of pro- 
 ceedings until he can come on and have one last inter- 
 view with his son. I don't know what to do. We 
 cannot find the member, and it is now eight o'clock." 
 Mr. Somes at once offered to take the dispatch to the 
 White House, and himself see the President on the 
 poor father's behalf. The operator, glad to be relieved 
 
A STRANGE INCIDENT. 139 
 
 of the responsibility, handed the dispatch over to Mr. 
 Somes. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln at this time was ill and confined to his bed 
 with varioloid, and received few, if any, visitors. But 
 Mr. Somes was never refused admittance, for he had 
 the rare tact never to intrude, save when important 
 business called him, or when Mr. Lincoln sent for 
 him. Never presuming upon Mr. Lincoln's well- 
 known friendship for himself, he never bored him 
 nor wasted his valuable time, as too many others did. 
 Therefore, whenever his card was sent to the President, 
 he was always received. Though it was after nine 
 o'clock, when he reached the White House, upon send- 
 ing up his card with the words upon it, " A matter 
 of life and death," he was immediately shown to Mr. 
 Lincoln's bedside. The President listened to his story, 
 and, as he expressed a desire to know all the particu- 
 lars, Mr. Somes related the laughable incident of the 
 evening which had delayed his going to the telegraph 
 office nearly an hour, and how it was the cause of 
 bringing him in direct contact with the messenger who 
 entered the office at the moment of his arrival there. 
 Mr. Lincoln himself noted the incident, and remarked 
 upon its being somewhat singular, to say the least. 
 Sitting up in bed, Mr. Lincoln wrote an order for 
 a reprieve for the young soldier, which Mr. Somes 
 took immediately to the War Department, and had it 
 transmitted at once to headquarters at the front. It 
 
140 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 arrived just as the young man was being led out to 
 execution. Ten minutes more, and it would have 
 been too late. I afterwards learned that Mr. Lin- 
 coln pardoned the young man, who perished nobly 
 in battle. 
 
 In relating this incident to some friends in after 
 years, they presented me with a little book of poems, 
 in which was one entitled " The Sleeping Sentinel," and 
 I have no doubt it referred to this incident. The fol- 
 lowing is the poem : — 
 
 THE SLEEPING SENTINEL. 
 
 'Twas in the sultry summer time, as War's red records show, 
 
 When patriot armies rose to meet a fratricidal foe, 
 
 When, from the North, and East, and West, like the upheaving 
 
 seas, 
 Swept forth Columbia's sons, to make our country free. 
 
 Within a prison's dismal walls, where shadows veiled decay, 
 In fetters, on a heap of straw, a youthful soldier lay ; 
 Heart-broken, hopeless, and forlorn, with short and feverish 
 
 breath, 
 He waited but the appointed hour to die a culprit's death. 
 
 Yes, but a few brief weeks before, untroubled with a care, 
 He roamed at will, and freely drew his native mountain air, 
 Where sparkling streams leap mossy rocks, from many a wood- 
 land font, 
 And waving elms and grassy slopes give beauty to Vermont. 
 
 Where, dwelling in a humble cot, a tiller of the soil, 
 Encircled by a mother's love, he shared a father's toil, 
 Till, borne upon the wailing winds, his suffering country's cry 
 Fired his voung heart with fervent zeal, for her to live or die. 
 
A STRANGE INCIDENT. 141 
 
 Then left he all, a few fond tears, by firmness concealed, 
 A blessing and ajmrting prayer, and he was in the held, 
 The field of strife, whose dews are blood, whose breezes War s 
 
 hot breath, 
 Whose fruits are garnered in the grave, whose husbandman is 
 
 Death. 
 
 Without a murmur he endured a service new and hard ; 
 
 But, wearied with a toilsome march, it chanced one night, on 
 
 guard, . 
 
 He sank, exhausted, at his post, and the gray morning found. 
 His prostrate form— a sentinel, asleep, upon the ground. 
 
 So, in the silence of the night, aweary, on the sod, 
 Sank the. disciples, watching near the suffering Son ot hod ; 
 Yet Jesus, with compassion moved, beheld their heavy eyes, 
 And, though betrayed to worthless foes, forgiving bade them 
 rise. 
 
 But God is love, and finite minds can faintly comprehend 
 How ^entle Mercy in His rule, may with stern Justice blend; 
 And this poor soldier, seized and bound, found none to justify, 
 While War's inexorable law decreed that he must die. 
 
 'Twas night. In a secluded room, with measured tread, and 
 
 slow, 
 A statesman of commanding mien, paced gravely to and fro. 
 Oppressed, he pondered on a land by civil discord rent, 
 On brothers armed in deadly strife, it was the President. 
 
 The woes of thirty millions filled his burdened heart with grief, 
 Embattled hosts, on land and sea, acknowledged him their chief. 
 And yet, amid the din of war, he heard the plaintive cry 
 Of that poor soldier, as he lay in prison, doomed to die. 
 
 'Twas morning. On a tented field, and through the heated 
 
 Flashed back,' from lines of burnished arms, the sun's effulgent 
 
 W r hile, from a'sombre prison house, seen slowly to emerge, 
 A sad procession, o'er the sward, moved to a muffled dirge. 
 
142 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST* 
 
 And in the midst, with faltering step, and pale and anxious 
 
 face, 
 In manacles, between two guards, a soldier hacl his place. 
 A youth, led out to die ; and yet, it was not death, but shame, 
 That smote his gallant heart with dread, and shook his manly 
 
 frame. 
 
 Still on, before the marshaled ranks, the train pursued its way 
 Up to the designated spot, whereon a coffin lay. 
 His coffin! And, with a reeling train, despairing, desolate, 
 He took his station by its side, abandoned to his fate. 
 
 Then came across his wavering sight strange pictures in the air. 
 He saw his distant mountain home ; he saw his parents there. 
 He saw them bowed with hopeless grief, through fast declining 
 
 years. 
 He saw a nameless grave ; and then the vision closed, in tears. 
 
 Yet, once again. In double file, advancing, then he saw 
 
 Twelve comrades, sternly set apart to execute the law, 
 
 But saw no more ; his senses swam, deep darkness settled 
 
 round, 
 And, shuddering, he awaited now the fatal volley's sound. 
 
 Then suddenly was heard the noise of steeds and wheels ap- 
 proach, 
 
 And, rolling through a cloud of dust, appeared a stately coach. 
 
 On, past the guards, and through the field, its rapid course was 
 bent, 
 
 Till, halting, 'mid the lines was seen the Nation's President. 
 
 He came to save that stricken soul, now waking from despair, 
 And from a thousand voices rose a shout which rent the air. 
 The pardoned soldier understood the tones of jubilee, 
 And, bounding from his fetters, blessed the hand that made 
 him free. 
 
 'Twas Spring. Within a verdant vale, where Warwick's crys- 
 tal tide 
 Reflected, o'er its peaceful breast, fair fields on either side, 
 Where birds and flowers combined to cheer a sylvan solitude, 
 Two threatening armies, face to face, in fierce defiance stood. 
 
A STRANGE INCIDENT. 143 
 
 Two threatening armies, one invoked by injured liberty, 
 Which bore above its patriot ranks the symbol of the tree; 
 Ami one, a rebel horde, beneath a Haunting Hag of bars, 
 A fragment, torn by traitorous hands from freedom's Stripes 
 and Stars. 
 
 A sudden shock which shook the earth, 'mid vapor dense and 
 
 dim, 
 Proclaimed, along the echoing hills, the conflict had begun ; 
 While shot and shell, athwart the stream, with fiendish fury 
 
 sped, 
 To strew among the living lines the dying and the dead. 
 
 Then, louder than the roaring storm, pealed forth the stern 
 
 command, 
 "Charge! Forward, charge!" and, at the word, with shouts, 
 
 a fearless band, 
 Two hundred heroes from Vermont, rushed onward through 
 
 the flood, 
 And upward o'er the rising ground they marked their way in 
 
 blood. 
 
 The smitten foe before them fled, in terror, from his post, 
 While, unsustained, two hundred stood, to battle with a host. 
 Then, turning, as the rallying ranks, with murderous fire, re- 
 plied, 
 They bore the fallen o'er the field, and through the purple tide. 
 
 The fallen, and the first who fell in that unequal strife, 
 Was he whom mercy sped to save when justice claimed his life, 
 The pardoned soldier. And, while yet the conflict raged around, 
 While yet his life blood ebbed away through every gaping wound, 
 
 While yet his voice grew tremulous, and death bedimmed his 
 
 eye, 
 He called his comrades to attest, he had not feared to die. 
 And, in his last expiring breath, a prayer to Heaven was sent, 
 That God, with His unfailing grace, would bless our President. 
 
 Francis 1)e Haks Janvier. 
 
144 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 ■NEW ACQUAINTANCES. 
 
 We spend an evening with Col. Forney — Mrs. Cosby takes 
 us to "Prospect Cottage," the home of Mrs. South- 
 worth — We fall in love with her daughter — " What im- 
 pressions do you receive?" — Mrs. Southworth recites a 
 strange exjjerience — " You shall have my picture," she 
 said — Stances with Mrs. Lincoln by appointment. 
 
 TN February we returned to Mrs. Cosby's, 553 Cap- 
 ■*- ital Line, she insisting upon having us with her a 
 portion of the time. One day Colonel Forney's serv- 
 ing man, Thomas, a tall, fine-looking mulatto, of ex- 
 ceedingly dignified manners, presented himself at Mrs. 
 Cosby's, with a note from Colonel Forney, inviting her 
 and her aunt, Mrs. Smith, and ourselves to spend the 
 afternoon in his parlors below. She accepted the in- 
 vitation on behalf of all, and at the appointed hour 
 we were ushered into his presence by the dignified 
 Thomas. We were duly presented by Colonel Forney 
 to a small party of ladies and gentlemen, one of 
 whom, I believe, was his daughter. He informed us 
 and the company that he had a musical treat in store 
 for us, communicating the fact that the daughter of 
 his man, Thomas, had been educated at the North, and 
 
NEW ACQUAINTANCES. 145 
 
 was then on a visit to her father, adding that she was 
 an excellent vocalist. After a pleasant conversation 
 he summoned Thomas, who duly presented his daugh- 
 ter to the company. She was a very pretty mulatto 
 girl, and clearly showed her training in her pleasant 
 manners and easy self-possession. At Colonel For- 
 ney's request she seated herself at the piano and with 
 her father sang several pieces with fine effect, the 
 company applauding their efforts. They then sang a 
 number of plantation melodies, closing with a popu- 
 lar song just published, the final lines of the chorus 
 being, " It must be now that the kingdom am a comin' 
 in the year of jubiloo." In the enthusiasm of the 
 moment the dignity of Thomas vanished, and he showed 
 all the enjoyment and peculiarities of his race, as was 
 manifest by his gestures, the swaying of his body, and 
 the stamping of his feet, in perfect time to the stir- 
 ring strains of the music. 
 
 After the singing we were served with refreshments 
 in the form of cake, light wine, ice-cream, and con- 
 fectionery. Another pleasant half hour of conversa- 
 tion followed, principally upon the subject of spirit- 
 ualism and our curious incident of Mr. Somes and the 
 telegram, ere our little party broke up and we re- 
 turned to our rooms above. A few days after this 
 Mrs. Cosby had to visit the Capitol to intercede in 
 behalf of a bill then before Congress, in which she 
 was interested, and fearing time might hang heavily 
 
 10 
 
146 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 upon our hands she offered to get for me, from the 
 Congressional library, any book I might wish to read. 
 I asked her to procure Mrs. Emma Southworth's novel, 
 entitled " Shannondale." On naming the authoress she 
 asked me if I had ever met her. Replying in the 
 negative, I added that nothing would give me more 
 pleasure than to meet her, but that I never expected 
 to realize my desire. She smilingly answered, " Why 
 not, when she lives in Georgetown?" adding, "If 
 you would so much like to meet with her, I will send 
 her a note this morning, asking her to appoint a time 
 to receive us." To express my pleasure would be im- 
 possible, as I had all a young girl's enthusiasm for 
 pleasant reading, and to me, one who could write 
 books appeared to belong to another world. In due 
 time a reply came to Anna's note, inviting us to attend 
 her reception on the following evening. My friend, 
 Miss Hannum, did not care to go. I well remember 
 the lovely moonlight night, mild and balmy. Taking 
 the horse-cars, we were at our destination in less than 
 an hour. " Bird's Nest Cottage," the fanciful yet 
 fitting name Mrs. Southworth bestowed upon her 
 home, was a pretty, low cottage, overlooking the 
 waters of the Potomac. It was covered with vines, 
 and I could clearly see that in the summer it must be 
 a beautiful and picturesque spot. It had been sur- 
 rounded by flowers, the evidences of whose past ex- 
 istence appeared on the sides approaching the entrance. 
 
MRS. K. D. K. X. SOUTHWORTH. 
 From photograph from life, presented by her to Mrs. N. C. Maynard. 
 
NEW ACQUAINTANCES. 147 
 
 We were received by a colored man, who directed us 
 where to lay our wraps, and were then shown into the 
 drawing-room, a long, low-ceiling apartment, hand- 
 somely furnished, which was already well filled with 
 ladies and gentlemen in brilliant evening dress. Among 
 the gentlemen the uniforms of the army and navy pre- 
 dominated. We took seats in a corner, where we could 
 view the gay scene around us, when my attention was 
 directed to a beautiful girl seated at the piano, playing 
 some low, sweet melody that rippled pleasantly through 
 the flow of conversation without interfering with it. 
 She was not above the medium height, but I think her 
 face the most beautiful I ever saw. Her complexion 
 was dazzling fair, her eyes a deep, dark brown, while 
 her hair was of that rare shade, " brown in the 
 shadow, gold in the sun," and hung in long curls 
 over her neck and shoulders. Expressing to my friend 
 my admiration for this beautiful girl, she informed me 
 it was Mrs. Southworth's daughter, and it was not 
 difficult to trace in her beautiful lineaments a resem- 
 blance to more than one heorine described in the writ- 
 ings of the mother's prolific pen. She held a little 
 court of her own ; but her modest demeanor and gentle 
 reserve commanded the utmost deference and respect 
 from the young officers by whom she was surrounded. 
 It was nearly nine o'clock when Mrs. Southworth en- 
 tered the room. 
 
 The warmth of her reception attested to her popu- 
 
148 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 larity with her guests, and, as she slowly made her 
 way through the throng to where we were sitting, I 
 had a good opportunity to study her face. She was 
 above medium height, with a fine figure, and a face to 
 ittract attention anywhere. I had expected to find 
 Mrs. Southworth an old lady, while she was in the 
 very prime of her womanhood. Her fine, dark hair 
 was combed down smoothly each side of her face, and 
 " coiled under" low at the back of her neck. She 
 was a handsome woman, but had the appearance of one 
 who had seen sorrow, and while her manners were 
 cordial and kindly, her smile was rare but tinged with 
 sadness. She was dressed in a rich, black velvet, with 
 choice old lace at neck and sleeves, the former held 
 by a diamond pin, her only ornament. She greeted 
 Mrs. Cosby with earnest warmth, and I was presented 
 to her as one of her warmest admirers. She gave me 
 her hand with a most pleasing smile, when my friend 
 softly whispered to her, " This is one of the queer 
 people." Mrs. Southworth's hand closed over mine 
 with a firmer pressure, as she said, " Indeed ! But 
 you did not tell me that in your note, or I would have 
 had you visit me more privately. But come with me 
 now to my library." She escorted us, by a side door, 
 through a narrow hall, to the room in question. It 
 was an ideal apartment, three sides of which were 
 lined with books, showing through the glass doors that 
 reached nearly to the floor. The floor was covered 
 
NEW ACQUAINTANCES. 149 
 
 with a dark green carpet, while a table stood in the 
 centre of the room, and easy-chairs occupied the dif- 
 ferent corners. The room was in perfect order. 
 Standing by the table, she asked me to place my hand 
 upon it, and tell her of any impressions I might re- 
 ceive. I obeyed her, and was instantly conscious of 
 the presence of a tall, majestic-looking man, who im- 
 pressed me as being one born to command, and with 
 power to execute any purpose he might desire to 
 achieve. I was particularly impressed with the restful 
 feeling pervading the apartment, and it seemed to be 
 the place of all others in which to rest if one were 
 weary. I expressed all this to her. She smiled, 
 nodding her head as if she fully understood me. 
 She then took me by the hand and led me across a 
 narrow corridor into her bed-chamber. A high-post 
 bedstead stood at my right, over which were carelessly 
 thrown the garments she had discarded a short time 
 before. In front of me, at the back of the room, was 
 a large mirror, beneath which was a pretty dressing- 
 table, over which was scattered, in careless profusion, 
 a glittering mass of jewelry, as if it had been care- 
 lessly tossed over when selecting the brilliant pin she 
 wore. Beyond, in the further corner, was a toilet 
 basin, above which were a number of shelves, inclosed 
 by glass doors from floor to ceiling. The doors, how- 
 ever, were standing open ; and I distinctly remember 
 seeing upon the upper shelf the half of a frosted cake, 
 
150 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 partly covered with a white napkin, and a silver 
 knife lying beside it. On the bottom shelf lay combs 
 and brushes, and other appurtenances of the toilet. 
 Still, holding me by the hand, she led me to the centre 
 of the room, and asked me what impressions I re- 
 ceived. A shadow seemed to fall over me in a mo- 
 ment, and I received the impression as of something the 
 Scotch would call uncanny, and could not repress a 
 shudder of fear. I seemed to sense, in a manner I can- 
 not describe, that where we then stood had been en- 
 acted a scene of violence. As she insisted upon 
 knowing the cause of the emotion I could not conceal 
 I told her my impressions. She said, " I am satis- 
 fied," and returned with us to the library. She then 
 informed us that her apartment was a part of the 
 original structure that was on the place when the 
 property came into her hands, and was very old. 
 
 Tradition said it was once a public house, the re- 
 sort of seamen 
 
 While my impressions 
 
 would seem to confirm this tradition, we, of course, 
 had no way of knowing the truth. The library had 
 been chosen by herself. She then related the follow- 
 ing incident : During the time when the Confederates 
 approached so near Georgetown and Washington that 
 the cannonading of the contending armies was plainh 
 discernible in both cities, she was in her cottage wit 
 
NEW ACQUAINTANCES. 151 
 
 only her daughter and hired man for company. The 
 city was wild with alarm, as it was hourly expected 
 that the enemy would shell the place; and, as a 
 matter of fact, had the Confederates known how 
 poorly both Washington and Georgetown at that time 
 were defended they could easily have taken possession. 
 But this ignorance on that point was all that saved 
 them. Mrs. Southworth, in her almost defenceless 
 condition, did not know whether it was best to desert 
 her home and go to Washington, or to remain where 
 she was. It was already dark, and she was standing 
 in front of a sofa in her drawing-room alone, full of 
 anxiety and dread, fully realizing the isolation of her 
 cottage, and undecided how to act, and as these 
 thoughts passed through her mind she unconsciously 
 murmured half aloud, " There are but three of us 
 here;" when she said, "I distinctly heard a voice 
 say, as if in response, < There are four,' and I imme- 
 diately became aware," she went on, " that standing at 
 the end of the sofa was what I can only describe as a 
 grand majestic presence. I did not see him, but 
 felt he was there. Who it was, I do not know. I 
 can only tell you that my feelings instantly changed, 
 and I became calm and collected, and from that 
 moment all fear left me. I felt a sense of protection 
 scarcely to be described, and from that moment to 
 this, have felt the utmost confidence in a Protective 
 Power, whatever it may be." She added, "I have 
 
152 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 no doubt that the presence you felt so clearly, while 
 standing with your hand upon this table, was the 
 same." After some further talk upon the subject she 
 asked me if I had any objection to being entranced 
 before her guests if they should desire it. 
 
 I replied in the negative, when she left us and re- 
 turned to the drawing-room ; and after an absence of 
 some moments returned, saying the company were 
 eagerly waiting for me. Before going out, she asked 
 me what she should give me as a souvenir of our 
 meeting. I replied, " If I could only have your 
 picture, I should prize it above all else." " You 
 shall have it," she replied, and going to her dressing- 
 case, where were a number of photographs, she 
 selected one of herself, and brought it to me to my 
 great delight, and I still have it among my treasured 
 mementos of that time. We returned to her guests, 
 and while one of the company played some pleasant 
 music, I became entranced, and for more than an hour 
 was kept busy reading the characters of the different 
 persons present, and relating incidents in their lives 
 of which they knew I could have had no knowledge what- 
 ever. The seance closed with a brief address by my 
 spirit guides explaining the law of the spirit return 
 and control, and I awoke amid the applause they 
 readily accorded me. When I was fully restored to 
 myself, the company crowded about me, asking me all 
 manner of questions regarding my peculiar gift, ex- 
 
NEW ACQUAINTANCES. 153 
 
 pressing their warm pleasure at what they had wit- 
 nessed, many soliciting the privilege of calling upon 
 me for a private sitting, as they were fully satisfied, 
 they assured me, that I could give them further infor- 
 mation upon matters I had already spoken about dur- 
 ing the evening. It was nearly midnight when we 
 reached Capitol Hill, and I shall ever remember the 
 pleasure and satisfaction I experienced in meeting with 
 her, whom I had learned to love through her writings, 
 and who to my youthful mind seemed something be- 
 yond the common order of humanity. 
 
 During the latter part of February, and the month 
 of March, I had a number of seances with President 
 Lincoln and his wife ; but, as there were no other wit- 
 nesses, and as they did not inform me of the nature 
 of the communications, I cannot speak as to their 
 nature, but simply allude to the fact. These teances 
 took place by appointment. At the close of one, Mrs. 
 Lincoln would make an appointment, engaging me to 
 come at a certain hour of the day, which usually 
 would be in the vicinity of one o'clock, the time when 
 Mr. Lincoln usually partook of his luncheon, which 
 generally occupied about half to three-quarters of an 
 hour. 
 
154 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 AVE LOSE A FRIEND. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln and " Abraham, Laudainus" — Rev. Byron Sun- 
 derland's desire to witness a stance — He sends Mrs. Cosby 
 a letter — I lecture in the Columbia Company's Hall — " Thy 
 coming, 'tis as steals the morn" — Mrs. Cosby's death, and 
 notices of same — I write a presentation address. 
 
 MANY subjects of interest were discussed at the 
 various meetings I had with Mr. Lincoln. I 
 remember calling his attention to a parody upon the 
 Church Litany, which was published in a prominent 
 newspaper of decided anti-abolition tendency. 
 
 In my childish admiration for him, I felt that the 
 composition and publication were downright crime, and 
 that the writer, especially, should be severely pun- 
 ished. Had it not been for this feeling of indignation 
 and wrong it doubtless would never have reached his 
 notice. When I handed it to him he smiled and said, 
 "We can afford to let our enemies have a fling at us ;" 
 then he added, more seriously, " It is a sorry wit that 
 can find no better employment nor different weapons 
 with which to fight us than to trifle with sacred 
 things." The following is a copy of the parody: — 
 
I 
 
 "When I handed it to him he smiled and said. " We can afford to let our 
 • ?u»™. c fltiTff lit us " then he added more seriously, "It is a sorry wit 
 
 SaTcan find ^o fetter employment nor different weapons with which to 
 
 fight us than to trifle with sacred things. '-Page 154. 
 
WE LOSE A FRIEND. 155 
 
 TE, ABRAHAM, LAUDAMUS. 
 
 We praise thee, O Abe ! We acknowledge thee to be sound 
 on the goose. . 
 
 All Yankee-land doth worship thee, everlasting old joker! 
 To thee all office-seekers cry aloud. 
 " Flunkeydom," and all the powers therein. 
 To thee, Stanton and Wells continually do cry, 
 "Bully, bully, bully boy, with a glass eye." 
 Washington and Illinois are full of the majesty of thy praise. 
 The glorious company of the political generals praise thee. 
 The goodly fellowship of postmasters praise thee. 
 The noble army of contractors praise thee. 
 The mighty republican institutions throughout all Columbia 
 doth acknowledge thee. 
 
 The father of infinite proclamations, thine admirable true, and 
 only policy. 
 
 thy penitent and freed subjects of the Bastiles do bow down 
 in adoration unto thee. 
 
 Also Brevet Lieutenant-General Winfield Scott the comforter. 
 Thou art the king of " Rail Splitters," O Abe ! 
 Thou art the everlasting son of the late Mr. Lincoln. 
 When thou tookest upon thee to run for the Presidency, thou 
 didst humble thyself to stand upon the " Chicago Platform." 
 
 When thou did'st overcome the sharpness of election, thou 
 didst open the White House kitchen to all believers. 
 
 Thou sittest at the right hand of " Uncle Sam," in the glory 
 of the Capitol. 
 
 We believe that thou shalt not come to be re-elected. 
 Nevertheless, we pray thee, help thy servants whom thou hast 
 kept from "Jeff Davis," and " Foreign Intervention." 
 
 Make us to be remembered with thy favorites in office ever- 
 lasting ! 
 
 O Abe ! Save thy people and bless thy parasites ! 
 Govern them and increase their salaries forever. 
 Be profuse with thy people and servants, and abundantly 
 pour into their laps thy greenbacks and Chase them not away. 
 Day by day we puff thee. 
 
 And we exalt thy name ever in the daily papers. 
 Vouchsafe, O Abe ! To keep us this day without a change of 
 generals. 
 
156 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 O Abe ! Have mercy on the Army of the Potomac. 
 
 O Abe ! let thy mercy be upon us, as our trust is not in 
 Stanton. 
 
 O Abe ! For thee have I voted, let me never be drafted ; but 
 if so, do thou provide us a substitute on account of our infirmi- 
 ties. 
 
 At this time our friend, Mrs. Cosby, wishing to aid 
 us financially, enlisted the services of the Columbia 
 Fire Company, whose patroness she was, as heretofore 
 mentioned. 
 
 During our stay with her she presented the com- 
 pany with a beautiful American flag, and had been 
 instrumental in getting Congress to grant them a steam 
 fire engine, I think the first introduced into Washing- 
 ton. Not a man in the company but who would have 
 performed any required task at her request, and when 
 she expressed her desire to have me give a public lec- 
 ture in their hall, the members of the fire company 
 freely voted me the use of it without charge, and 
 themselves prepared and sold the tickets ; the result 
 of which was that I realized nearly one hundred 
 dollars. 
 
 Just before we left Washington for Hartford, 
 Mrs. Cosby made an appointment for a meeting 
 between her pastor, the Rev. Byron Sunderland, and 
 myself, as she had talked with him freely on the sub- 
 ject of Spiritualism, relating what she had witnessed 
 through my mediumship and that of others, and as 
 he had expressed a desire, as she informed me, to 
 
WE LOSE A FRIEND. 157 
 
 witness something of what she had described. When 
 the evening arrived she received a note* from him, 
 which is now in my possession, expressing his regret 
 at not being able to keep his appointment, as he was 
 unexpectedly called out of town. Our arrangements 
 having been made to return home the first of April, 
 time did not permit us to make a second appointment ; 
 but our friend remarked that, as we must certainly 
 return in the fall, a meeting she hoped would then 
 
 * To Mrs. Cosby : 
 
 My Dear Friend : I am called unexpectedly to Baltimore 
 this P.M., and shall not return in time to witness the scene 
 you had kindly prepared for me and others through your oblig- 
 ing friend this evening. Please make the explanation in my 
 behalf, and much oblige, 
 
 Truly yours, B. Sunderland^ 
 
 1 A 
 
 June 26, 1863. . 
 
 y^ | I am not certain how long this gentleman was Mr. Lin- 
 - coin's pastor. It is, however, my recollection that it was for some 
 
 P~* * years I know that Mrs. Cosby attended his church, was his friend, 
 and that the memorial services at her death were under his per- 
 sonal direction. The reverend doctor had, so Mrs. Cosby informed 
 me, talked with Mr. Lincoln upon the subject of Spiritualism, and 
 regarding myself, and knew full well my position in the estimation 
 of"both the President and his wife. Dr. Sunderland can tell of 
 many kindly acts on the part of Mrs. Cosby, for he knew her inti- 
 mately for many years, as did almost every Christian minister in 
 Washington. Dr. Sunderland is still living in Washington, and if I 
 mistake" not, his church was frequented by Mr. Cleveland while in 
 the presidential position. 
 
 ^ 
 
158 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 take place. Alas, we little knew this was our final 
 parting. Two precious letters reached us from her 
 during April, which were the last she ever penned. 
 On the first day of May she was taken ill, and on the 
 31st she had joined the angels, whose loving minister 
 she was, and into whose company she was well worthy 
 to enter. Like the Master she so faithfully served, 
 she went about doing good, and rarely, I was told, 
 was such a funeral witnessed in Washington as that of 
 this noble, unselfish woman, whose life was devoted to 
 acts of charity, and who was never so happy as when 
 engaged in some unostentatious act of benevolence. 
 On one occasion my hand was mechanically guided 
 and wrote of her the following lines that seem fittingly 
 to apply to her beautiful nature : — 
 
 Thy coming — 'tis as steals the morn 
 
 Across the starry skies ; 
 Night's jeweled crown of darkness born, 
 
 In morning's glory dies. 
 'Tis like a pure, sweet, tender strain 
 
 Of music drawing nigh, 
 As if we caught the low refrain 
 
 Of Bethlehem's lullaby. 
 
 Thy presence — soft it falls around 
 
 As falls the dew of ev'n ; 
 When twilight shuts the eyes of day, 
 
 And whispers dreams of Heaven. 
 Love tunes her harp when thou art near, 
 
 And softly sweeps the strings, 
 And ev'n despair looks up to catch 
 
 The hope that presence brings. 
 
WE LOSE A FRIEND. 159 
 
 Thy going — ah, fond memory tells 
 
 Thou never canst depart, 
 But like the spell that silence weaves 
 
 At twilight round the heart, 
 Thou lingerest ever, seeming like 
 
 The echo of a prayer. 
 A note of music, never lost, 
 
 But lingering everywhere. 
 
 The following obituary notice from a Washington 
 paper will convey somewhat of an idea of the warm 
 esteem in which she was held. But only those who 
 knew her intimately, as I did, can appreciate the 
 sweetness, purity, and depth of her character : — 
 
 OBITUARY. 
 
 Died, at her residence on Capitol Hill, on Tuesday, 31st 
 May, in the forty-sixth year of her age, after a lingering ill- 
 ness, Mrs. Anna Mills Cosby, wife of Fortunatus Cosby, 
 and daughter of the late Robert Mills. 
 
 Her death was tranquil and resigned, and full of faith and 
 hope of a blessed immortality, as her heart had been ever full 
 of all womanly and Christian sympathies and charities. Humbly 
 striving to follow the example of her adorable Redeemer, she 
 " went about doing good," and her gentle life was as the breath 
 of the flower garden for all on whom its sweet influences were 
 shed. Hers is a record which the eyes of earth are too dim to 
 read, but, in the light of that better world to which she has 
 been translated, it will glow with an eternal lustre. 
 
 The funeral will take place from her late residence, 553 New 
 Jersey avenue, this (Thursday) afternoon, June 2d, at four 
 o'clock. 
 
 At the same time, in a spiritualistic journal, ap- 
 peared the following notice : — 
 
 We have been called upon to part with one of our most 
 worthy advocates, Mrs. Anna M. Cosby, a lady whose praise 
 
160 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 was on the lips of all who knew her. It was my fortune to make 
 her acquaintance on my first visiting this city, and to no one 
 have I been more indebted than to her for many pleasant hours. 
 She was eminently a Christian Spiritualist, and although con- 
 tinuing to hold her connection with the Presbyterian Church — 
 Dr. Sunderland's — she openly and freely advocated Spiritual- 
 ism. During her last illness she had her spiritual vision opened, 
 saw and described many scenes of spirit life, as also conversed 
 with her spirit friends. At the funeral, which was conducted 
 by Dr. Sunderland and two other clergymen, full tribute was 
 paid to her worth, and especially did Dr. Sunderland expatiate 
 upon the visions she had during her last sickness. 
 
 Mrs. Cosby was the wife of the recent Consul to Geneva ; she 
 was a Southerner by birth, but as loyal a woman as the North 
 ever produced. Her personal attractions were only equalled by 
 her excellences of character ; no one could be in her presence 
 without feeling themselves associated with a superior person. 
 She was very benevolent, and the poor whites, as well as the 
 colored, have lost in her a true friend. She was the Lady 
 Blessington of Washington. Her death is a great loss to us, 
 for she was well adapted to advocate our views, and did so in 
 such a manner as to create an interest, while her social position 
 was such as to command respect. But while we shall miss her 
 personal appearance, we know she was well prepared, and is 
 now one of the bright spirit-advocates of our beautiful faith, 
 bringing us aid from the spirit-world. 
 
 During that month I was lecturing in Albany, Troy, 
 and other places, and consequent upon frequent 
 changes failed to receive the letter written us by her 
 aunt, Mrs. Lizzie Peyton Smith, telling of her dan- 
 gerous illness and earnest desire to see us, until it was 
 too late even to attend the funeral. The shock of the 
 sudden announcement of her death made me ill for 
 some time, and afterward it seemed as if the chief 
 attraction for me in Washington was gone. In June 
 (1864) I received another letter from Mrs. Smith, 
 
i'.KiiRCK A. BACON, Esq. 
 From photograph from life, [865 
 
WE LOSE A FRIEND. lijl 
 
 communicating the fact that Anna had intended pre- 
 senting the Columbia Fire Company with a signal flag 
 on the approaching Fourth of July, and that, as she 
 realized the end was approaching, she commissioned 
 her (Mrs. Smith) to present it in her name. She 
 wished me, therefore, to get my spirit friends to pre- 
 pare the address for her to accompany the flag, saying 
 that Anna's loss and the shock to her had been so sud- 
 den and severe that she did not feel competent to express 
 herself as she desired and as she knew Anna would 
 wish. I at once complied with her request, sending 
 her what she desired. This address was dictated by 
 my spirit guides through me, and written down by my 
 friend, Miss Hannura, and forwarded to Mrs. Smith. 
 She afterwards wrote us of her pleasure on receiving 
 it, telling us she copied it faithfully, as it expressed 
 exactly her feelings and views, and on the Fourth of 
 July following she presented the flag to the company. 
 She gave them the address ; and I have no doubt it is 
 still preserved in the archives of the company. The 
 following is a copy : — ■ 
 
 [Written for Mrs. Lizzie P. Smith, Washington, D. C] 
 
 A LETTER OF PRESENTATION. 
 To the Columbia Fire Company, Washington, D. C. 
 
 Gentlemen: The occasion which calls for these few lines 
 
 from me is so fraught with sadness that they must necessarily 
 
 be brief — sadness that I am called to take the place of one who 
 
 is now numbered with the angels of God, and who, I feel as- 
 
 11 
 
162 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 sured, smiles on us to-day from heaven, in thus witnessing one 
 of her last wishes fulfilled. 
 
 The departure from this life of my beloved niece, Mrs. 
 Cosby, has cast a gloom over my heart that only the glorious 
 light of God's promise of immortality to the "pure in heart" 
 can pierce and illuminate. 
 
 And on whom shall the white robes of the Resurrection fall, 
 if not on the pure spirit of her who was humanity's friend and 
 advocate, and who was to you a most faithful benefactress? 
 Then in the light of that holy immortality, that seemed to fall 
 around her while yet she walked with us, and which crowned 
 with a halo of glory her dying pillow, let us look up and say 
 with trusting hearts, " Thy will be done." 
 
 In closing the beautiful record of her earthly life she did not 
 forget those who, for so long a time, have had her kindly care, in 
 proof of which I present you the accompanying " Signal Flag," 
 which she desired you to receive from my hand on this anni- 
 versary of our national independence. 
 
 Hallowed as it will ever be by the most sacred associations, 
 let it ever admonish you of the glorious principles it repre- 
 sents — Equal Rights and Liberties ! And when 'tis thrown 
 out to kiss the breeze of heaven let it be a cheering signal to 
 all, that beneath it is to be ever found a brave and fearless band 
 of the "People's Defenders," who hurl defiance at the in- 
 cendiary's torch, and who stand in faithful guardianship over 
 the slumbers and busy life of our loved city. Let its bright 
 folds outshine the lurid glare of the fire fiend, and let your 
 strong arms and brave hearts fulfil its promise to the people — 
 that while a thread remains in the signal fag the Columbia 
 Fire Company will be found at its post of duty I 
 
 In expressing the above sentiments I feel I convey those of 
 the departed, and who, I feel assured, could she now address 
 you, would point you in conclusion to the motto of your com- 
 pany : — 
 
 " The performance of duty ensures the protection of GodV 
 
A TEST SEANCE. 163 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 A TEST SEANCE. 
 
 We are requested to attend a private stance at the White 
 House — The President asks me to demonstrate my "rare 
 gift," as he called it— The two soldiers present in citizen's 
 dress—" Perfectly satisfactory," said Mr. Lincoln; "Miss 
 Nettie does not require eyes to do anything" — Tracing 
 lines upon the map; I do not hear the import of the 
 stance — Those were not days for trifling— An account of a 
 witty application of a part of Knox's poem, " Why Should 
 the Spirit of Mortal be Proud?" — The complete poem. 
 
 THERE was another meeting with Mr. Lincoln 
 which is interesting and of considerable value. 
 Shortly after my return to Washington, and while visit- 
 ing Major Chorpenning one evening, Mr. Somes called. 
 After an exchange of compliments, he stated that he 
 had been requested to have me attend a seance, and 
 as the same was of a private character he was not at 
 liberty to say more. We all suspected the truth, how- 
 ever, and I instantly made ready to accompany him. 
 After entering the carriage provided for the occasion, 
 he informed us that our destination was the White 
 House, explaining that while at the War Department 
 that afternoon he had met Mr. Lincoln coming; from 
 
164 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 Secretary Stanton's office. Mr. Somes bowed to the 
 President and was passing onward when Mr. Lincoln 
 stopped him, asking whether Miss Colburn was still in 
 the city, and if so, whether it were possible to have 
 her visit the White House that evening. Upon a re- 
 ply in the affirmative to both questions, Mr. Lincoln re- 
 marked, " Please bring her to the White House at 
 eight or nine o'clock, but consider the matter con- 
 fidential." By the time Mr. Somes had completed 
 his recital we were at the door of that historic man- 
 sion, and a servant, who was evidently on the watch 
 for us, quickly opened the door and we were hurried 
 up stairs to the executive chamber, where Mr. Lincoln 
 and two gentlemen were awaiting our coming. Mr. 
 Lincoln gave an order to the servant, who retired, and 
 a moment later Mrs. Lincoln entered. I am satisfied 
 from what followed that she was summoned on my ac- 
 count to place me more at ease than otherwise, under 
 the circumstances, would have been the case. Mr. 
 Lincoln then quietly stated that he wished me to give 
 them an opportunity to witness something of my 
 " rare gift," as he called it, adding, " You need not 
 be afraid, as these friends have seen something of this 
 before." The two gentlemen referred to were evi- 
 dently military officers, as was indicated by the stripe 
 upon their pantaloons, although their frock coats, but- 
 toned to the chin, effectually concealed any insignia 
 or mark of rank. One of these gentlemen was quite 
 
A TEST SEANCE. 165 
 
 tall and heavily built, with auburn hair and dark eyes, 
 and side whiskers, and of decided military bearing. 
 The other gentleman was of average height, and I 
 somehow received the impression that he was lower in 
 rank than his companion. He had light brown hair 
 and blue eyes, was quick in manner, but deferential 
 towards his friend, whose confirmation he involun- 
 tarily sought or indicated by his look of half appeal 
 while the conversation went on. 
 
 We sat quiet for a few moments before I became 
 entranced. One hour later I became conscious of my 
 surroundings, and was standing by a long table, upon 
 which was a large map of the Southern States. In my 
 hand was a lead pencil, and the tall man, with Mr. 
 Lincoln, was standing beside me, bending over the 
 map, while the younger man was standing on the 
 other side of the table, looking curiously and intently 
 at me. Somewhat embarrassed, I glanced around to 
 note Mrs. Lincoln quietly conversing in another part 
 of the room. The only remarks I heard were these : 
 " It is astonishing," said Mr. Lincoln, " how every 
 line she has drawn conforms to the plan agreed upon." 
 " Yes," answered the older soldier, " it is very aston- 
 ishing." Looking up, they both saw that I was awake, 
 and they instantly stepped back, while Mr. Lincoln 
 took the pencil from my hand and placed a chair for 
 me. 
 
 Then madam and Mr. Somes at once joined us, Mr. 
 
166 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 Somes asking, " Well, was everything satisfactory ?" 
 " Perfectly," responded Mr. Lincoln ; " Miss Nettie 
 does not seem to require eyes to do anything," smil- 
 ing pleasantly. The conversation then turned, de- 
 signedly I felt, to commonplace matters. 
 
 Shortly afterwards, when about leaving, Mr. Lin- 
 coln said to us in a low voice, " It is best not to men- 
 tion this meeting at present." Assuring him of silence 
 upon the question, we were soon again on our way to 
 the major's. 
 
 Mr. Somes informed me that he heard enough in 
 the opening remarks of the spirit to convince him 
 that the power controlling knew why I had been sum- 
 moned. He said I walked to the table unaided and 
 requested that a pencil be handed me, after which the 
 President requested Mr. Somes and Mrs. Lincoln to 
 remain where they were at the end of the room. ' " In 
 accordance with this request," said Mr. Somes, " we 
 paid no attention to what was being said or done, fur- 
 ther than to notice you tracing lines upon the map, 
 and once one of the gentlemen re-sharpened the pen- 
 cil for you." I never knew the purport of this meet- 
 ing, nor can I say that Mr. Somes ever heard more 
 regarding the sh'ange affair. That it was important 
 may be supposed, for those were not days for the in- 
 dulgence of idle curiosity in any direction, nor was 
 Mr. Lincoln a man to waste his time in giving exhibi- 
 tions in occult science for the amusement of his 
 
A TEST SEANCE. 167 
 
 friends. The impressions left upon my mind could 
 not be otherwise than gratifying, in finding myself 
 the recipient of such unusual attentions, and, for the 
 occasion, the central figure in what appeared to be 
 a mysterious and momentous consultation. Had it 
 been simply an experiment to test my mediumship, 
 Mr. Somes and Mrs. Lincoln would have been in- 
 cluded in the group that gathered around the table. 
 Should the two stranger participants in that seance 
 be now living, and by any chance these lines should 
 be read by them, they will readily recall the scene, 
 and fully recognize the incident from the re- 
 marks that were uttered at the time. I am confi- 
 dent that my services were appreciated, and that the 
 spiritual guidance which found utterance through my 
 lips was confirmatory of the plans which they had al- 
 ready prepared. As in this instance, so in many 
 others, has this powerful aid been called upon and 
 used to advantage, to further important national and 
 personal interests, and accomplish results that sim- 
 ple human knowledge could not achieve. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln's fancy for poetry and song inclined 
 towards those melodies which appealed to his emo- 
 tional nature, as is illustrated by his keen appreciation 
 of Mrs. Laurie's " Bonnie Doon," and his favorite 
 poem, " Why Should the Spirit of Mortal be Proud ?" 
 I remember hearing him refer to the touching poem 
 upon an occasion of peculiar interest, at which time he 
 
168 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST* 
 
 recited a part of it, applying the verses to the occa- 
 sion in a very pleasant and happy manner. This 
 incident is worthy of appearing in print : — 
 
 One morning in January, 1863, Mrs. Laurie desired 
 me to go to the White House and inquire after Mrs. 
 Lincoln's health. Mrs. Laurie had visited Mrs. Lincoln 
 the previous day, and found her prostrated by one of 
 her severe headaches. It was about eleven o'clock 
 when I called. Upon sending up my name and in- 
 quiry to Mrs. Lincoln, I was requested to walk upstairs 
 to her rooms, where I found Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln, a 
 gentleman, and two ladies. I was cordially received 
 by Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln, and presented to the guests, 
 whose names were not mentioned, and when I noticed 
 their glances, I knew that they had been told I was 
 a "medium." After explaining my errand and being 
 about to withdraw, Mrs. Lincoln asked whether I felt 
 equal to the task of a seance. Noticing that all were 
 expectant, I signified my willingness and reseated 
 
 myself. 
 
 After Mrs. Lincoln had assisted me to remove my 
 
 wraps, she requested that the friends present do the 
 same. They declined. Whereupon the gentleman, 
 who was their escort, laughingly remarked, as he indi- 
 cated the lady nearest him : " It is useless to urge 
 Anna, Mrs. Lincoln, for she thinks she looks better in 
 her new bonnet." To which Anna replied, " That 
 she believed she did, and felt very proud of it." 
 
A TEST SEANCE. 169 
 
 Mr. Lincoln, who was seated, raised his hands with a 
 comical gesture, and quoted a part of his favorite 
 poem, " Why Should the Spirit of Mortal be Proud ?" 
 The gentleman said, "You are familiar with that 
 poem." To which the President replied, " Perfectly ; 
 it is a favorite of mine ; and, let me ask, what could 
 be finer in expression than the lines : — 
 
 " ' The maid on whose cheek, on whose brow, in whose eye, 
 Shone beauty and pleasure,— her triumphs are by ; 
 And the memory of those who loved and praised, 
 Are alike from the minds of the living erased.' "* 
 
 Continuing to the line : — 
 " Have quietly mingled their bones in the dust." 
 
 At this point I became unconscious, and awoke a 
 half hour later to find the company betraying much 
 emotion, and while recovering myself, they talked 
 together in low tones, and in an animated manner. 
 This was interrupted by Mr. Lincoln rousing himself 
 with an effort, saying : " I must go, and am afraid I 
 have already stayed too long." Shaking hands with 
 his visitors, he turned in his kind way to me, and, 
 while warmly shaking my hand, said : " I thank you, 
 Miss Nettie, for obliging us ; we have deeply enjoyed 
 our little circle." As he left the room, the others 
 expressed the same sentiment ; and as I was prepar- 
 
 * The reader will note the especial appropriateness of the 
 poetical sally on the part of Mr. Lincoln. 
 
170 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 ing to don my bonnet and shawl, Mrs. Lincoln re- 
 quested me to wait. She rang the bell for the servant, 
 who soon after returned with two beautiful bouquets, 
 one of which she said was for Mrs. Laurie, the other 
 for myself. The party then shook hands with me, 
 rising as they did so. I was treated by them with 
 the same courtesy as would have been offered any 
 friend or old acquaintance. The following poem is the 
 entire text of the part quoted by Mr. Lincoln on this 
 occasion : — 
 
 Oil ! WHY SHOULD THE SPIRIT OF MORTAL 
 BE PROUD ? 
 
 Oh ! why should the spirit of mortal be proud ? 
 Like a swift-fleeting meteor, a fast-flying cloud, 
 A flash of the lightning, a break of the wave, 
 He passeth from life to his rest in the grave. 
 
 The leaves of the oak and the willow shall fade, 
 Be scattered around, and together be laid ; 
 And the young and the old, and the low and the high, 
 Shall moulder to dust, and together shall lie. 
 
 The infant a mother attended and loved ; 
 The mother that infant's affection who proved ; 
 The husband, that mother and infant who blest, — 
 Each, all, are away to their dwellings of rest. 
 
 [The maid on whose cheek, on whose brow, in whose eye, 
 Shone beauty and pleasure, — her triumphs are by; 
 And the memory of those who loved her and praised, 
 Are alike from the minds of the living erased.] 
 
A TEST SEANCE. 171 
 
 The hand of the king that the sceptre hath borne, 
 The brow of the priest that the mitre hath worn, 
 The eye of the sage, and the heart of the brave, 
 Are hidden and lost in the depths of the grave. 
 
 The peasant, whose lot was to sow and to reap, 
 The herdsman, who climbed with his goats up the steep, 
 The beggar, who wandered in search of his bread, 
 Have faded away like the grass that we tread. 
 
 [The saint, who enjoyed the communion of Heaven, 
 The sinner, who dared to remain unforgiven, 
 The wise and the foolish, the guilty and just, 
 Have quietly mingled their bones in the dust.] 
 
 So the multitude goes — like the flower or the weed 
 That withers away to let others succeed ; 
 So the multitude comes — even those we behold, 
 To repeat every tale that has often been told. 
 
 For we are the same our fathers have been ; 
 We see the same sights our fathers have seen ; 
 We drink the same stream, we view the same sun, 
 And run the same course our fathers have run. 
 
 The thoughts we are thinking, our fathers would think ; 
 From the death we are shrinking, our fathers would shrink; 
 To the life we are clinging, they also would cling ; — 
 But it speeds from us all like a bird on the wing. 
 
 They loved— but the story we cannot unfold ; 
 They scorned — but the heart of the haughty is cold ; 
 They grieved — but no wail from their slumber will come; 
 They joyed — but the tongue of their gladness is dumb. 
 
 They died — ay, they died ; — we things that are now, 
 That walk on the turf that lies over their brow, 
 And make in their dwellings a ti'ansient abode, 
 Meet the things that they met on their pilgrimage road. 
 
172 WAS LINCOLN A SPJPdTUALIST? 
 
 Yea ! hope and despondency, pleasure and pain, 
 Are mingled together in sunshine and rain ; 
 And the smile and the tear, the song and the dirge, 
 Still follow each other, like surge upon surge. 
 
 'Tis the wink of an eye — 'tis the draught of a breath — 
 From the blossom of health to the paleness of death, 
 From the gilded saloon to the bier and the shroud : — 
 Oh ! why should the spirit of mortal be proud ? 
 
 William Knox. 
 
UNTIL MY WORK IS DONE. 173 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 UNTIL MY WORK IS DONE. 
 
 I go home for a time — The meetings at Great Barrington and 
 some old campaign recollections — I address the audience — 
 We return again to Washington — Major Chorpenning and 
 their home — I meet many well-known people there — I re- 
 ceive dispatch from home — We go to the White House — I 
 didn't catch her, did I ? — I don't think the knife is made or 
 the bullet run that will reach me — Never again did we meet 
 his welcome smile. 
 
 I LECTURED occasionally during the summer, and 
 in the fall, near the close of the presidential cam- 
 paign of that year (1864), found myself in New 
 Boston, Mass., visiting old friends, and speaking for 
 them every Sunday. Even in that quiet village, 
 political excitement ran high, and both parties had 
 arranged for a meeting in the town hall, where I was 
 accustomed to speak ; the Democrats occupying the 
 first evening, the Republicans the evening following. 
 The town hall was packed with an excited and in- 
 terested crowd on both occasions. The first evening 
 a Democratic lawyer from Great Barrington occupied 
 the platform. His speech consisted of story-telling, 
 ridicule, and abuse of the government ; but I was in- 
 
174 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 formed that he was far more temperate in his language 
 than it was his custom to be, owing to the fact that the 
 rumor had gone abroad, I know not how, that I was 
 a member of the " Loyal League," and that he was 
 in danger of being reported if he carried his vitupera- 
 tion too far. I did take a few notes during the even- 
 ing of his derisive stories, but only to refresh my 
 memory regarding them, and this fact, which I did 
 not conceal, doubtless strengthened his supposition. 
 I noticed that he watched me closely, but I had no 
 idea of the cause. My Republican friends informed 
 me afterwards that my innocent occupation was a 
 healthy check upon his tongue, which they informed 
 me had never before scrupled to use to give vent to 
 the strongest and worst epithets he was capable of 
 coining against President Lincoln. As it was, lie 
 kept the audience in a good humor, and for a man of 
 his sort and the exciting period in which he spoke, he 
 was in a measure temperate in language. I do not 
 now recall his name. The following evening Henry 
 L. Dawes, member of Congress from Massachusetts, 
 and a stanch Republican, spoke to the same immense 
 audience. He told but one story during the entire 
 two hours occupied by his address, and this was at 
 the outset of his remarks, and was as follows : He 
 said there was once a man who had a very vicious 
 and destructive dog, that became so annoying both to 
 himself and his neighbors, that he had to kill him ; 
 
UNTIL MY WORK IS DONE. 175 
 
 and after killing the dog then commenced kicking his 
 carcass about the neighborhood, beating it continually, 
 until his neighbors protested, saying, " You have killed 
 the dog and he has paid the penalty of his wrong-doing 
 by his death." " Why not bury him and let that end 
 it ?" He replied he was kicking and beating him for 
 the benefit of other dogs who might be inclined to 
 follow his example, and to let them know there was 
 punishment after death. " I am here to-night," said 
 Mr. Dawes, " for a similar purpose." " The results of 
 this campaign are a foregone conclusion." " The Demo- 
 cratic party is dead, and will receive a proper burial 
 at the coming election, but lest there should be some 
 Democrats ignorant of that fact, and inclined to follow 
 the vicious Avays of the party, I am here to say to 
 them, that in their case, also, there is punishment 
 after death." 
 
 When the laughter and applause had subsided, he 
 entered upon the real business of the hour, and never 
 had I heard the causes of the frightful war through 
 which we were passing, but which was then fortunately 
 drawing to a close, and the issues that had given rise 
 to it, so clearly and ably presented. He held the 
 audience in breathless attention by his dispassionate 
 presentation of the facts, sustained by overwhelming 
 proofs, never once descending to personalities, while 
 his periods were rounded with such eloquent outbursts 
 of patriotic fervor as awakened the wildest enthusiasm. 
 
176 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 When Mr. Dawes had finished his able and eloquent 
 address, the chairman of the meeting, who was also 
 the president of our Spiritualist Society, asked him if 
 he had any objections to my occupying the rostrum 
 with him and addressing the company. With the 
 courtesy that ever characterized him, he answered in 
 the negative, and when I was introduced to him he 
 recognized me, having met me in Washington. I felt 
 it an honor, indeed, to be permitted to speak from the 
 same platform with that able orator, for it was, indeed, 
 one of the proudest moments of my life. The au- 
 dience sang a ringing campaign song, when I became 
 entranced and addressed the audience for about fif- 
 teen minutes. The spirit controlling me stated in 
 substance, as I was afterwards informed, that he 
 had nothing to add to what had already been spoken, 
 beyond predicting, with unerring certainty, that 
 Abraham Lincoln would be re-elected at the coming 
 national election. I awoke amid the applause of the 
 audience, and Mr. Dawes congratulated me in his 
 kind way upon the manner in which I had been in- 
 strumental in closing the evening's exercises. This 
 pleasant incident may have passed from his recollec- 
 tion, but it stands out distinctly in my own, and while 
 the president of the meeting passed away two years 
 ago, his wife and son, with many others who are now 
 living, will bear testimony to its truth. 
 
 A few weeks later found us again in Washington 
 
UNTIL MY WORK IS DONE. 177 
 
 City, in response to urgent solicitations on the part of 
 friends, and we were the guests of Major Chorpenning 
 and his wife. Major George Chorpenning was the 
 first man to carry the United States mail across the 
 Rocky Mountains, from Salt Lake City to San Fran- 
 cisco, under a contract with our government, which he 
 had entered into many years previous to the time of 
 which I am speaking, and which was annulled through 
 the false representations of enemies, who coveted, and 
 finally obtained, his position. When I first met him, 
 he was engaged in vigorously prosecuting his claim 
 against the government for damages sustained by the 
 annulment of his contract. He was generous and 
 hospitable to a fault, while his wife, a brilliant society 
 lady, entertained in a manner that insured the accept- 
 ance of their invitations. A brilliant company assem- 
 bled in their parlors once a week, and the evenings 
 were always very enjoyable. Nearly every recep- 
 tion, by unanimous request, was turned into a spiritual 
 circle, and I here met many gentlemen from both 
 branches of Congress, among whom were Mr. Eben 
 Ingersoll and Mr. John F. Farnsworth, of Illinois 
 (Rep. 35th Congress), Mr. Henry L. Dawes, of Massa- 
 chusetts, and many others, whose names I cannot now 
 recall. To their honor be it said, the gentlemen I 
 have named were never associated with any of the 
 scandals with which Washington society was rife, and 
 I have always heard them named with respect, and 
 VL 
 
178 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 mentioned as above ..reproach, both as to their public 
 and private life. This was the truth also of many- 
 others. 
 
 Time and sickness have impaired my memory to 
 such an extent that although I can recall the faces and 
 manner of many whom I met, I cannot accurately place 
 them. They seemed to keenly enjoy the circles they 
 attended, while the major's violin and his wife's beau- 
 tiful singing added greatly to the charm of the even- 
 ings. Refreshments were usually served at a late 
 hour. 
 
 These pleasant social gatherings are among the 
 most plesant memories of my Washington experiences. 
 Tuesday afternoons we usually attended Mrs. Lin- 
 coln's receptions, often meeting there the ladies and 
 gentlemen who graced our own. It was during this 
 memorable winter of '64 and '65, when the Rebel- 
 lion was in its death-throes, that I knew of the visits 
 of Charles Colchester and Charles Foster (two well- 
 known mediums of that time) to the White House, 
 and of their sittings with President Lincoln. Through 
 them and through myself, he received warnings of his 
 approaching fate ; but his fearless, confident nature 
 disregarded the warnings he received. It was during 
 the last days of February, when the city was being 
 filled to its utmost capacity by people from all parts of 
 the country, to witness the second inauguration of 
 President Lincoln, that I received a dispatch from my 
 
UNTIL MY WORK IS DONE. 179 
 
 home telling me my father was dangerously ill, and to 
 come to him at once. Having an appointment at the 
 White House for the following week, 1 hastened with 
 m y friend, Miss Hannum, to the Executive Mansion to 
 inform Mrs. Lincoln of the necessity that called me 
 away. She was out, and we proceeded upstairs to the 
 anteroom, adjacent to Mr. Lincoln's office, hoping for 
 a last word with him. It was two o'clock in the after- 
 noon, and during the last days of the expiring Con- 
 gress, and the waiting-room was filled with members 
 from both Houses, all anxious to get a word with the 
 President. Mr. Ingersoll and a number of others 1 
 knew were there, and it seemed doubtful of our obtain- 
 ing an interview. Mr. Ingersoll smilingly asked, It 
 I Expected to have an interview with Mr. Lincoln I 
 replied, « I hope so, as I am about to leave the city. 
 He remarked, he feared it was doubtful as he and 
 many others had been waiting many hours for a chance 
 to speak with him and had failed. Edward, the 
 faithful and devoted usher of the White House, was 
 passing to and fro taking in cards to Mr. -Lincoln s 
 office. Calling him to me, I explained that I wished 
 to see the President for one brief moment, to explain 
 W hy I could not keep my engagement the following 
 week; and giving him my card, bade him watch for 
 an opportunity when Mr. Lincoln would be parting 
 from those that were with him, and then place my 
 
180 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 card in his hand, telling him I would detain him but 
 an instant. 
 
 Half an hour went by, when Edward approached 
 and bade us follow him. Mr. Ingersoll, with whom 
 we had been talking, bade us laughingly to speak a 
 good word for him, and we were soon ushered into 
 Mr. Lincoln's presence. He stood at his table, busily 
 looking over some papers, but laid them down and 
 greeted us with his usual genial smile. In as few 
 words as possible, knowing how precious was his time, 
 we informed him of the cause of our unseasonable call, 
 stating I had been summoned home by a telegram tell- 
 ing me my father was dangerously ill. Looking at 
 me with a quizzical smile, he said, " But cannot our 
 friends from the upper country tell you whether his 
 illness is likely to prove fatal or not ?" I replied that 
 I had already consulted with our friends, and they 
 had assured me that his treatment was wrong, and 
 that my presence was needed to effect a cure. Turn- 
 ing to my friend, he said laughingly, " I didn't catch 
 her, did I ?" Then turning to me he said, " I am 
 sorry you cannot remain to witness the inauguration, 
 as no doubt you wish." " Indeed we would enjoy it," 
 I replied, " but the crowd will be so great we will not 
 be able to see you, Mr. Lincoln, even if we remain." 
 "You could not help it," he answered, drawing his 
 tall figure to its full height, and glancing at my friend 
 in an amused way, " I shall be the tallest man there." 
 
" Then turning to me he said, ' I am sorry you cannot remain to witness 
 the inauguration, Is no doubt you wish.' 'Indeed we would enjoy it I 
 reolied ' but the crowd will be so great we will not be able to see vou, Mr. 
 I incoln even if we remain.' ' You could not help it,' he answered, drawing 
 his tall figure to its full height, and glancing at my friend in an amused way. 
 ' I shall be the tallest man there.' "—Page 1S0. 
 
UNTIL MY WORK IS DONE. 181 
 
 "That is true," my friend responded, "in every 
 sense of the word." He nodded pleasantly at the 
 compliment, and then turning to me remarked, "But 
 what do our friends say of us now ?" " What they 
 predicted for you, Mr. Lincoln, has come to pass," 
 I answered, " and you are to be inaugurated the 
 second time." He nodded his head and I continued, 
 " But they also re-affirm that the shadow they have 
 spoken of still hangs over you." He turned half im- 
 patiently away and said, "Yes, I know. I have 
 letters from all over the country from your kind of 
 people — mediums, I mean — warning me against some 
 dreadful plot against my life. But I don't think 
 the knife is made, or the bullet run, that will reach it. 
 Besides nobody wants to harm me." A feeling of 
 sadness that I could not conceal nor account for came 
 over me and I said, " Therein lies your danger, Mr. 
 Lincoln — your over-confidence in your fellow-men." 
 The old melancholy look that had of late seemed 
 lifted from his face now fell over it, and he said in his 
 subdued quiet way, " Well, Miss Nettie, I shall live 
 till my work is done, and no earthly power can pre- 
 vent it. And then it doesn't matter so that I am 
 ready— and that I ever mean to be." Brightening 
 again he extended a hand to each of us saying, " Well, 
 I suppose I must bid you good-by, but we shall hope 
 to see you back again next fall." " We shall certainly 
 come," we replied, "if you are here" without think- 
 
182 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 ing of the doubts our words implied. " It looks like 
 it now," he answered, and walking with us to a side 
 door, with another cordial shake of the hand, we 
 passed out of his presence for the last time. Never 
 again would we meet his welcome smile. 
 
 " He perished ere the hand of peace 
 Had rolled war's curtain from the sky; 
 But he shall live when wrong shall cease ; 
 The great and good can never die." 
 
THE MAN LINCOLN. 183 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 THE MAN LINCOLN. 
 
 A Personal Description of President Abraham Lincoln and 
 his Peculiarities. 
 
 LOOKING back upon those years of terrible 
 struggle, Lincoln stands out in golden colors as 
 the central figure of all persons whom I have ever 
 met, and in my more mature judgment was repre- 
 sentative of all that was good and great among our 
 common humanity. 
 
 If he was not great in those qualities which made a 
 Cicero or a Webster, he was great in that supreme 
 goodness that allied him alike to the most brilliant 
 minds of his time and the common people, to whose 
 sorrows and necessities he was ever ready to listen. 
 
 His countenance in repose always struck the be- 
 holder as sad and expressive, which sadness his rare 
 kindly smile could not wholly obliterate. I have 
 watched him when listening to views and opinions 
 presented by members of his Cabinet, both in the 
 Executive chamber and in the parlor of the White 
 House, also while in conversation with foreign minis- 
 ters and men prominent in social and business circles, 
 with men older and younger than himself, and in each 
 
184 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 and every instance his manner was marked by a gen- 
 tleness and courtesy of demeanor, that could not fail 
 to flatter the recipient, while the alert and clear ex- 
 pression of his eyes indicated that he lost no part in 
 the conversation, nor failed to thoroughly understand it. 
 He listened more than he talked upon these occa- 
 sions, and he was wont to express much in a few 
 words, and if compelled to refuse a portion of the 
 many petitions which were daily presented to him, the 
 manner of refusal was apparently so tinged with 
 regret of the fact that duty and inclination would not 
 harmonize, that he seemed to have granted the favor 
 he was compelled to deny. He was especially 
 thoughtful of the feelings of the common people, from 
 whom he sprang. Never was this thoughtfulness 
 more forcibly illustrated than upon an occasion of a 
 public reception given at the White House during the 
 winter of 1865, at which myself and friend attended. 
 After greeting the President on our passing him, or 
 our way to the Blue room, at the entrance of which Ik 
 was standing, we took up our place to the right o< 
 Mrs. Lincoln, who was surrounded by a bevy of ladie 
 who usually assisted at those receptions, for the pur 
 pose of watching the throng of visitors who wen 
 entering and passing on their way to the East room. 
 Mr. Lincoln's manner was attentive, as his duty oi 
 host required, but I noticed that as men of fashion i* 
 faultless costume and bedecked with jewels greeted 
 
THE MAN LINCOLN. 185 
 
 him, his handshake was mechanical and his glance 
 indifferent, and he scarcely noticed them. But if a 
 boy in blue entered, or a laboring man, whose un- 
 gloved hand was timidly offered in greeting, he earn- 
 estly met the offer, and giving the hard hand a hearty 
 shake, added a cheery word and kindly smile, which 
 was quickly reflected on the face of his humble visitor, 
 who walked away with prouder mien and bolder step, 
 as he wended his way through the mixed assemblage 
 that jostled toward the exit. 
 
 On the occasion of these public receptions Mr. 
 Lincoln always appeared well dressed in the regula- 
 tion evening costume of black, his clothing seemed well 
 fitting and his general appearance that of dignity and 
 self-command. At other times when I have met him, 
 both in his office and in other rooms of the White 
 House, he impressed me as being indifferent to his 
 apparel, his clothing at times being decidedly seedy- 
 looking, and it may be added that at these meetings 
 he seemed encompassed and imbued with a pre-occu- 
 pied state of mind that forcibly impressed itself upot 
 the memory of the on-looker as indicating great menta 
 oppression, thought and care, plainly saying, " I an. 
 wholly the agent of a special purpose, and the servant 
 of a condition that is not mine, but for the good of all 
 whom I serve." He never seemed to have an idle 
 moment, nor did he ever appear to relax his manner 
 of reserve, nor give way to excessive mirthfulness, 
 
186 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 even at a time when witty sayings were a part of the 
 conversation. Rather would he smile in sympathy 
 with those around him, showing that he was in accord 
 with them, indicating that his mind was so fully occu- 
 pied with the cares of the Nation, that he could not 
 enter into the spirit of the hour. In such instances 
 those present could not but feel that he was witli them, 
 but not of them. When I recall his manner, conver- 
 sation and conduct at these various meetings, the feel- 
 ing impresses itself upon me that he remained in the 
 presence of his friends a sufficient time to absorb the 
 information which they could impart, and so long as 
 they could occupy and hold his interest, he felt a 
 special desire for their company, but that a precedence 
 of friendship was in favor of those only who could 
 maintain this interest. This quality of absorbing in- 
 formation was, I am inclined to believe, more a mental 
 equipment of him as a man, than a quality in him as a 
 ruler. Lincoln lived and acted at a time, and under 
 circumstances, without a parallel in the history of 
 nations, and by the common standard with which 
 ordinary men are judged he cannot be justly measured. 
 He was " of the time" because its chief actor, and 
 " for the time" because he created its results. 
 
 It should be borne in mind that all my meetings 
 with Mr. Lincoln were at periods of special import, 
 and upon occasions when he was in need of aid and 
 direction. After the " circles," which he attended, 
 
THE MAN LINCOLN. 187 
 
 he invariably left with a brighter and happier look, 
 evidencing the benefit in part which he experienced 
 from that which had been imparted to him. 
 
 My friend, Francis B. Carpenter, who resided for 
 some time at the White House, and who painted that 
 beautiful historical work, " The Emancipation Procla- 
 mation," and also the last portrait of Abraham Lin- 
 coln from life (a copy of which forms the frontispiece 
 of this volume), has written a series of charming 
 reminiscences of his experiences and personal contact 
 with Mr. Lincoln in which will be found many very 
 beautiful thoughts. 
 
 The truth and accuracy of his observations and 
 statements certainly make them as valuable to us to- 
 day as any reminiscences that are left as a legacy of 
 the past. By his permission a few of these thoughts 
 are subjoined : — 
 
 " Much has been said and written, since Mr. Lincoln's 
 death, in regard to his religious experience and char- 
 acter. Two or three stories have been published, 
 bearing upon this point, which I have never been able 
 to trace to a reliable source ; and I feel impelled to 
 state my belief that the facts in the case — if there 
 were such — have received in some way an unwar- 
 ranted embellishment. Of all men in the world, the 
 late President was the most unaffected and truthful. 
 lie rarely or never used language loosely or carelessly, 
 or for the sake of compliment. He was the most in- 
 
188 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 different to the effect he was producing, either upon 
 official representatives or the common people, of any 
 man ever in public position. 
 
 " In the ordinary acceptation of the term, I would 
 scarcely have called Mr. Lincoln a religious man — 
 and yet I believe him to have been a sincere Christian. 
 A constitutional tendency to dwell upon sacred things, 
 an emotional nature which finds ready expression in 
 religious conversation and revival meetings, the cul- 
 ture and development of the devotional element till 
 the expression of such thought and experience becomes 
 habitual, were not among his characteristics. Doubt- 
 less he felt as deeply upon the great questions of the 
 soul and eternity as any other thoughtful man ; but 
 the very tenderness and humility of his nature would 
 not permit the exposure of his inmost convictions, ex- 
 cept upon the rarest occasions, and to his most intimate 
 friends. And yet, aside from emotional expression, I 
 believe no man had a more abiding sense of his de- 
 pendence upon God, or faith in the Divine govern- 
 ment, and in the power and ultimate triumph of Truth 
 and Right in the world. The Rev. J. P. Thompson, 
 of New York, in an admirable discourse upon the life 
 and character of the departed President, very justly 
 observed : ' It is not necessary to appeal to apocry- 
 phal stories — which illustrate as much the assurance 
 of his visitors as the simplicity of his faith — for prool 
 of Mr. Lincoln's Christian character.' If his daily 
 
THE MAN LINCOLN. 189 
 
 life and various public addresses and writings do not 
 show this, surely nothing can demonstrate it." 
 
 "After further reference to a belief in Divine 
 Providence, and the fact of God in history, the con- 
 versation turned upon prayer. He freely stated his 
 belief in the duty, privilege and efficacy of prayer, 
 and intimated, in no unmistakable terms, that he had 
 sought in that way the Divine guidance and favor. 
 The effect of this conversation upon the mind of Mr. 
 Bateman, a Christian gentleman whom Mr. Lincoln 
 profoundly respected, was to convince him that Mr, 
 Lincoln had, in his quiet way, found a path to the 
 Christian standpoint— that he had found God, and 
 rested on the eternal truth of God. As the two men 
 were about to separate, Mr. Bateman remarked : ' I 
 have not supposed that you were accustomed to think 
 so much upon this class of subjects ; certainly your 
 friends generally are ignorant of the sentiments you 
 have expressed to me. 1 He replied quickly : ' I know 
 they are, but I think more on these subjects than upon 
 all others, and I have done so for years ; and I am 
 willing you should know it.' ' 
 
 » The President was a man of deep convictions, of 
 abiding faith in justice, truth and Providence. His 
 voice was pleasant, his manner earnest and emphatic. 
 As he warmed with his theme, his mind grew to the 
 
190 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 magnitude of his body. I felt I was in the presence 
 of the great guiding intellect of the age, and that those 
 ' huge Atlantean shoulders were fit to bear the weight 
 of mightiest monarchies.' His transparent honesty, 
 republican simplicity, his gushing sympathy for those 
 who offered their lives for their country, his utter for- 
 getfulness of self in his concern for its welfare, could 
 not but inspire me with confidence that he was Heaven's 
 instrument to conduct his people through this sea of 
 blood to a Canaan of peace and freedom." 
 
 " On an occasion I shall never forget," said the 
 Hon. H. C. Deming, of Connecticut, " the conversa- 
 tion turned upon religious subjects, and Mr. Lincoln 
 made this impressive remark : ' I have never united 
 myself to any church, because I have found difficulty 
 in giving my assent, without mental reservation, to 
 the long, complicated statements of Christian doctrine 
 which characterize their Articles of Belief and Con- 
 fessions of Faith. When any church will inscribe 
 over its altar, as its sole qualification for membership,' 
 he continued, ' the Saviour's condensed statement of 
 the substance of both Law and Gospel, " Thou shalt 
 love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all 
 thy soul, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as 
 thyself," that church will I join with all my heart and 
 soul.' " 
 
THE MAN LINCOLN. 191 
 
 " ' Mr. Bateman, I am not a Christian — God knows I 
 would be one— but I have carefully read the Bible, 
 and I do not so understand this book ;' and he drew 
 forth a pocket New Testament. 'These men well 
 know,' he continued, ' that I am for freedom in the 
 Territories, freedom everywhere as free as the Con- 
 stitution and the laws will permit, and that my oppo- 
 nents are for slavery. They knoiv this, and yet, with 
 this book in their hands, in the light of which human 
 bondage cannot live a moment, they are going to vote 
 against me ; I do not understand it at all.' 
 
 "Here Mr. Lincoln paused — paused for long 
 
 minutes — his features surcharged with emotion. Then 
 
 he rose and walked up and down the reception-room 
 
 in the effort to retain or regain his self-possession. 
 
 Stopping at last, he said, with a trembling voice and 
 
 his cheeks wet with tears : ' I know there is a God, 
 
 and that He hates injustice and slavery. I see the 
 
 storm coming, and I know that his hand is in it. If 
 
 He has a place and work for me— and I think He has 
 
 — I believe I am ready. I am nothing, but Truth is 
 
 everything. I know I am right, because I know that 
 
 liberty is right, for Christ teaches it, and Christ is 
 
 God. I have told them that a house divided against 
 
 itself cannot stand ; and Christ and reason say the 
 
 same ; and they will find it so.' 
 
 " ' Douglas don't care whether slavery is voted up 
 or down, but God cares, and humanity cares, and I 
 
192 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 care ; and with God's help I shall not fail. I may 
 not see the end ; but it will come, and I shall be vin- 
 dicated ; and these men will find that they have not 
 read their Bibles aright.' " 
 
 In the spring of 1862, the President spent several 
 days at Fortress Monroe, awaiting military operations 
 upon the Peninsula. As a portion of the Cabinet were 
 with him, that was temporarily the seat of govern- 
 ment, and he bore with him constantly the burden of 
 public affairs. His favorite diversion was reading 
 Shakespeare. One day (it chanced to be the day 
 before the capture of Norfolk), as he sat reading alone, 
 he called to his aide (Colonel Le Grand B. Cannon, 
 of General Wool's staff) in the adjoining room, " You 
 have been writing long enough, Colonel ; come in here. 
 I want to read you a passage in ' Hamlet.' " He read 
 the discussion on ambition between Hamlet and his 
 courtiers, and the soliloquy, in which conscience de- 
 bates of a future state. This was followed by pas- 
 sages from " Macbeth." Then opening to " King 
 John," he read from the third act the passage in 
 which Constance bewails her imprisoned, lost boy. 
 
 Closing the book, and recalling the words : — 
 
 " And, Father Cardinal, I have heard you say 
 
 That we shall see and know our friends in heaven : 
 If that be true, I shall see my boy again." 
 
THE MAN LINCOLN. 193 
 
 Mr. Lincoln said : " Colonel, did you ever dream of 
 a lost friend, and feel that you were holding sweet 
 communion with that friend, and yet have a sad con- 
 sciousness that it was not a reality ? Just so I dream 
 of my boy Willie." Overcome with emotion, he 
 dropped his head on the table, and sobbed aloud. 
 
 In Barrett's biography of Mr. Lincoln, it is stated 
 that the first draft of the Emancipation Proclamation 
 was written on board of the steamboat returning from 
 his 8th of July visit to the army at Harrison's Land- 
 ing. This circumstance was not included in the state- 
 ment given me, and to others in my presence, at dif- 
 ferent times ; but from the known relations of the 
 author with the President, it is undoubtedly true. 
 The original draft was written upon one side of four 
 half sheets of official foolscap. He flung down upon 
 the table one day for me several sheets of the same, 
 saying, " There, I believe, is some of the very paper 
 which was used— if not, it was, at any rate, just like 
 it " The original draft is dated September 22, 1862, 
 and was presented to the Army Relief Bazaar, at 
 Albany, N. Y., in 1864. It is in the proper hand- 
 writing of Mr. Lincoln, excepting two interlineations 
 in pencil by Secretary Seward, and the formal head- 
 ing and ending, which were written by the chief clerk 
 of the State Department. ? 
 
 The final Proclamation was signed on New Year s 
 13 
 
194 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 Day, 1863. The President remarked to Mr. Colfax, 
 the same evening, that the signature appeared some- 
 what tremulous and uneven. " Not," said he, " be- 
 cause of any uncertainty or hesitation on my part ; 
 but it was just after the public reception, and three 
 hours' hand-shaking is not calculated to improve a 
 man's chirography." Then, changing his tone, he 
 added : " The South had fair warning that if they 
 did not return to their duty, I should strike at this 
 pillar of their strength. The promise must now be 
 kept, and I shall never recall one word." 
 
 Mr. Chase told me that at the Cabinet meeting, 
 immediately after the battle of Antietam, and just 
 prior to the issue of the September Proclamation, the 
 President entered upon the business before them by 
 saying that " the time for the annunciation of the 
 emancipation policy could be no longer delayed. 
 Public sentiment," he thought, " would sustain it — 
 many of his warmest friends and supporters demanded 
 it — and he had promised his God that he would do 
 it!" The last part of this was uttered in a low tone, 
 and appeared to be heard by no one but Secretary 
 Chase, who was sitting near him. He asked the 
 President if he correctly understood him. Mr. Lin- 
 coln replied : " I made a solemn vow before God, that 
 if General Lee was driven back from Pennsylvania, 
 
THE MAN LINCOLN. 195 
 
 7 would crown the result by the declaration of freedom 
 o the slaves." 
 
 It was often a matter of surprise to me how the 
 
 President sustained life ; for it seemed, some weeks, 
 
 is though he neither ate nor slept. His habits con- 
 
 inued as simple as when he was a practising lawyer 
 
 n Springfield, but they came to be very irregular. 
 
 During the months of my intercourse with him he 
 
 arely entertained company at dinner. Almost daily, 
 
 it this hour, I met a servant carrying a simple meal 
 
 upon a tray upstairs, where it was received, perhaps 
 
 two hours later, in the most unceremonious manner. 
 
 I knew this irregularity of life was his own fault ; but 
 
 the wonder as to how his system endured the strain 
 
 brought to bear upon it was not lessened by this 
 
 knowledge. 
 
 All familiar with him will remember the weary air 
 which became habitual during his last years. This 
 was more of the mind than the body, and no rest and 
 recreation which he allowed himself could relieve it. 
 As he sometimes expressed it, the remedy " seemed 
 never to reach the tired spot." 
 
 Mr. Lincoln's height was six feet three and three- 
 quarter inches " in his stocking-feet." He stood up, 
 one day, at the right of my large canvas, while I 
 marked his exact height upon it. 
 
 His frame was gaunt, but sinewy, and inclined to 
 
196 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 stoop when he walked. His head was of full medium 
 size, with a broad brow, surmounted by rough, un- 
 manageable hair, which, he once said, had " a way of 
 getting up as far as possible in the world." Lines of 
 care ploughed his face — the hollows in his cheeks and 
 under his eyes being very marked. The mouth was 
 his plainest feature, varying widely from classical 
 models — nevertheless, expressive of much firmness and 
 gentleness of character. 
 
 His complexion was inclined to sallowness, though I 
 judged this to be the result, in part, of his anxious life 
 in Washington. His eyes were bluish-gray in color — 
 always in deep shadow, however, from the upper lids, 
 which were unusually heavy (reminding me, in this 
 respect, of Stuart's portrait of Washington), and the 
 expression was remarkably pensive and tender, often 
 inexpressibly sad, as if the reservoir of tears lay very 
 near the surface — a fact proved not only by the re- 
 sponse which accounts of suffering and sorrow invari- 
 ably drew forth, but by circumstances which would 
 ordinarily affect few men in his position. 
 
 A few days before the re-inauguration of Mr. Lin- 
 coln, the Emancipation picture was placed temporarily 
 on exhibition in the Rotunda of the Capitol. As the 
 workmen were raising it to its place, over the northern 
 door leading to the Senate Chamber, a group gathered 
 in front of it, among whom was policeman R , of 
 
THE MAN LINCOLN. 197 
 
 Capitol Squad. As the painting reached its position, 
 a wandering sunbeam crept in from the top of the great 
 dome and settled full upon the head of Mr. Lincoln, 
 leaving all the rest of the picture in shadow. The 
 effect was singular and wonderful. " Look !" ex- 
 claimed the enthusiastic R , pointing to the canvas, 
 
 " that is as it should be. God bless him ! may the 
 sun shine upon his head forever!" 
 
 Mr. Lincoln once said: — 
 
 " So far as I have been able, so far as came within 
 my sphere, I have always acted as I believed was 
 right and just, and done all I could for the good of 
 mankind. I have, in letters and documents sent forth 
 from this office, expressed myself better than I can 
 now." 
 
 I am not one of those inclined to believe that 
 Mr. Lincoln, in the closing months of his career, 
 reached the full measure of his greatness. Man may 
 not read the future ; but it is my firm conviction, that, 
 had he lived through his second term, he would have 
 continued to grow, as he had grown, in the estimation 
 and confidence of his countrymen ; rising to a grander 
 moral height with every emergency, careful always to 
 weigh every argument opposed to his convictions, but, 
 once mounted upon those convictions, grounded in 
 righteousness, as immovable as one of the giant ranges 
 of our own Rocky Mountains ! 
 
198 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST* 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 A COMICAL SEANCE. 
 
 A visit from two sable contemporaries — The lost money and its 
 return — Who can say that Spiritualism is not of Divine 
 origin ? 
 
 AVERY pleasant episode which had almost escaped 
 my recollection occurred one evening after re- 
 turning from the White House, where a seance had 
 been given for Mr. Lincoln. Miss Colburn informed 
 me that during my absence Mrs. Chorpenning's col- 
 ored cook had told her that an old colored friend had 
 lost three hundred dollars, which he had kept hidden 
 in the toe of an old shoe (darkey fashion), secreted in 
 his bedroom, which sum represented the savings of a 
 lifetime, and that some one had taken it, and "Auntie" 
 wished her (Parnie) to use her influence with me to 
 obtain my assistance, and for that purpose to have a 
 sitting with the old man. At the same time the cook 
 stated that she was " afeard he would dun go crazy." 
 My friend promised a sitting on my return, and told 
 her to bring the old man to our room just previous to 
 our retiring for the night. Parnie had scarcely 
 ceased her revelation when a loud knock upon the back 
 stair-way door announced the arrival of our sable vis- 
 
A COMICAL STANCE. 199 
 
 iters. On opening the door a tall, gaunt, stooping figure 
 met our sight, whose gray head contrasted strongly 
 with the black features, and who shambled into the 
 room with many apologies, followed by the cook. 
 Cutting short his profuse expressions of gratitude, 
 we reminded him of the lateness of the hour and 
 seated ourselves for the stance, and for the second 
 time that evening I went under influence, and my 
 little spirit messenger « Pinkie" at once informed him 
 that his " wampum" was safe where he had put it, 
 but that the old shoe had been thrown out, with other 
 rubbish, into the back yard of the tenement house he 
 occupied, and that among the rubbish he would find 
 it safe in the morning. My friend had much difficulty 
 in making the old man comprehend what had been 
 said to him, and when she informed him that it was a 
 " spirit" in the room, whom he could not see, who had 
 given the communication, his eyes rolled in terror as 
 he edged toward the door. It required our combined 
 power of explanation to assure him that he was in no 
 danger of seeing « ghostses." The explanation given 
 him was in answer to his question: "How dat chile 
 know about dis ?" 
 
 They finally left with many apologies for calling. 
 The next morning as we were about to descend to 
 breakfast the old man's timid rap was heard. He 
 came in, smiling and bowing, saying he had come to 
 tell us that he had found the shoe and the money 
 
200 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 " right whar the young missis sed he was." He was 
 overjoyed at the recovery of his lost treasure, and ex- 
 hibited his pleasure by offering to pay me anything I 
 would require for the service rendered him. We as- 
 sured him that he was welcome, and that there was 
 no charge. He asserted, in further explanation and 
 thanks, that old Sally had been "clarin' up the rooms," 
 and in cleaning out the dirt had thrown out the worn- 
 out shoe as being of no account, little dreaming that 
 its dilapidated toe contained the precious hoard of a 
 lifetime, accumulated in small sums, until its total 
 represented comparative ease and future protection 
 to the old fellow. 
 
 Early in the evening my time had been passed, and 
 my gift exercised, in the presence and for the benefit 
 of the ruler of a great nation, while the latter part 
 was given, in the same manner, to alleviate the misery 
 of a poor old negro who represented one of his most 
 humble adherents. To the thoughtful mind the pic- 
 ture presented declares the breadth and scope of that 
 power that leads and guides all mediums in their god- 
 given work of ministering to the needs of humanity. 
 Equal to every occasion, it touches the loftiest heights 
 with a light of truth and wisdom guiding the uncertain 
 steps of man in hours of supreme trial, and descends 
 to the lowest valleys to aid and comfort the poor and 
 humble, and carry joy to the weak and miserable. 
 Therefore, who shall say that it is not of God ? 
 
PECULIAR HISTORY. 201 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 PECULIAR HISTORY. 
 
 A 
 
 We go to Washington to attend the great Inauguration ball- 
 Meet at Chorpenning's— General Banks calls— General 
 Longstreet has his fortune told— "Twice did I tender my 
 sword, and twice was it refused"— A remarkable state- 
 ment — You have my blessing. 
 
 VERY pleasant reminiscence which had almost 
 escaped my memory transpired during a visit 
 to Washington with my husband. We went to Wash- 
 ington to attend the first Inauguration ceremony which 
 made General Grant president of the United States. 
 During our stay we were the guests of Major and Mrs. 
 Chorpenning. While there I assisted in dedicating a 
 hall for the First Spiritualist Society, of which Major 
 Chorpenning was president. The Sunday evening fol- 
 lowing the dedication I lectured for the Society, and at 
 its close was introduced to many persons, one of whom 
 was the ex-Confederate General James Longstreet. 
 This gentleman was a most striking figure, even among 
 the brilliant assembly that filled the hall. He was 
 more than six feet in height, of fine features, iron- 
 gray hair and beard, and with his correct military 
 bearing, could not fail to attract attention and cause 
 
202 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 more than a passing glance from every beholder. His 
 manners were pleasing and indicated him a refined 
 gentleman. He accompanied our party to the Major's 
 home, asking me many questions meanwhile concern- 
 ing my mediumship, and expressing himself as having 
 been greatly entertained by the discourse which he 
 had heard, and desirous of knowing something addi- 
 tional regarding the subject. The Major cordially 
 invited him to join us the following evening at eight 
 o'clock, at the Major's residence. 
 
 At the appointed hour the bell was rung, but to our 
 surprise not by General Longstreet, for the servant 
 immediately afterward announced General Nathaniel 
 P. Banks, of Massachusetts. The general was in full 
 evening costume, and blooming serenely and sweetly 
 upon his lapel was the inevitable boutonnikre. His 
 hands were encased (I am certain) in lemon-colored 
 kids and his whole appearance was decidedly satisfac- 
 tory, and, withal, he bore about him a military and 
 commanding air. He was on his way to a reception, 
 and after a pleasant chat took his departure. It now 
 being about 8.30, we concluded that our expected 
 guest would not arrive. It was suggested that we 
 resort to the amusement of " telling fortunes," and 
 that the Major and his wife should be the subjects. 
 A pack of cards was handed me, and while I was in 
 the act of spreading them upon ray lap General Long- 
 street was announced. I hastily threw a portion of 
 
PECULIAR HISTORY. 203 
 
 my dress over the cards, holding it in a manner I felt 
 secure, while the Major and his wife went forward to 
 greet the general. As I arose to shake hands with 
 him, to my embarrassment and consternation, the cards 
 slipped from my dress and scattered themselves at his 
 feet. Stepping back he exclaimed, with an amusing 
 smile : " Why, what is this ?" Mrs. Chorpenning, in 
 a gracious manner, explained the matter, whereupon 
 he said : " Well, you must tell my fortune." 
 
 All entered into the spirit of the jest, Mrs. Chorpen- 
 ning explaining to him that he must " mix" the cards, 
 and at the time " make a wish," assuring him that I 
 would tell him whether or not he would obtain the same. 
 He followed her directions and literally mixed them, 
 facing and handling them in a most awkward manner, 
 frequently dropping a part of them in a vain attempt to 
 force them into shape. While doing so he assured us it 
 was the first time in his life that he had handled cards, 
 adding : " Neither have I ever tasted liquor nor tobacco 
 in any form." At last he cut the cards in regular 
 form, and passing them to me remarked : " I have 
 wished that I may succeed in that which has called 
 me to Washington." I had scarcely received the 
 cards in my hands when I was controlled by a 
 " spirit," who, he afterwards declared, " had stated 
 the truth in every particular concerning his past life," 
 of which they freely spoke. 
 
 The spirit told him that upon two separate occasions 
 
204 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 he had tendered his sword in resignation to Jefferson 
 Davis during the war, requesting at the same time to 
 be released from his oath to the Confederacy, and that 
 in both instances his request was refused. The rea- 
 sons for so doing, he said, were that he did not realize 
 the full meaning and magnitude of the Confederate 
 oath of allegiance which he had taken, and that when 
 he did fully understand it he knew that his act was 
 pointing toward the dissolution of the Union, and he 
 therefore assured Jefferson Davis that he could not 
 continue his work and " put his heart into it." In 
 connection with this he added : " I don't believe there 
 is another person living in Washington to-night cog- 
 nizant of these facts, and how could this young woman 
 tell me of these matters unless it be through the aid 
 of a higher power ? It is most astonishing." The 
 spirit also assured him that he would procure the ful- 
 filment of his wish and obtain the position he sought. 
 In verification of this statement he was appointed col- 
 lector of the port of New Orleans by General Grant. 
 I am told that Generals Grant and Longstreet became 
 firm and lasting friends, and continued so up to the 
 time of the death of the former. The student of his- 
 tory will ponder over this statement, and the politi- 
 cian partly comprehend its touching and earnest 
 verification of the lasting value and virtue of our re- 
 publican form of government, and also the fact that this 
 friendship conferred honor upon both these distin- 
 guished representatives of the North and South. 
 
PECULIAR HISTORY. 205 
 
 The pleasant conversation which followed the im- 
 promptu circle will long be remembered by those who 
 met this brave man for the first and the last time. 
 
 As he uttered his parting words to me he laid his 
 hand upon my head, saying : " I will bid you good- 
 night, and should we never meet again, you have my 
 most earnest blessing." 
 
206 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 In concluding, I call attention to the fact that I 
 have said little or nothing of the religion of Spirit- 
 ualism, for the reason that neither time nor strength 
 would permit so doing. I may here mention that 
 since the fact has been made public that this book was 
 about to issue, I have received many letters inquir- 
 ing, " Whether I found the same comfort and consola- 
 tion in the teaching of Spiritualism, in these hours of 
 extremity, that could be found in the Christian re- 
 ligion ?" To one and all I answer, Yes, and infinitely 
 more ! While I have all the strength and comfort to 
 be derived from the teachings of Christianity, I have 
 the added blessing that knowledge alone can convey — 
 man's immortality. Apart from every use or good 
 to spring from the exercise of spiritual mediumship, 
 this central vital truth stands out clear and crystalline 
 against the dark background of doubt, and the grow- 
 ing infidelity of the age. 
 
 The sweet and ever precious story of Jesus and 
 his love, work, and sacrifices for humanity, finds in 
 modern Spiritualism, confirmation, and in the ranks of 
 our army of medium-workers, to-day, we see the fulfil- 
 
CONCLUSION. 207 
 
 raent of his words, " Greater things than these shall 
 ye do, for I go to the Father." His assurance that 
 these signs, viz : " Healing the sick by the laying on 
 of hands, casting out devils, speaking in tongues, the 
 utterance of prophecies, and their subsequent fulfil- 
 ment," should follow those who believe, finds little or 
 no application to the church founded in his name. But 
 in modern Spiritualism we realize a new Pentecost, 
 and it seems strange, indeed, to find the doors of the 
 so-called Christian world closed against the only testi- 
 mony that can demonstrate and prove, beyond perad- 
 venture, the truths taught by Jesus and his followers, 
 and to discredit its teachings, on the ground that some 
 of its mediums and followers are ignorant or without 
 moral character, which is no argument against its 
 truth, for of the chosen twelve of the Master, one 
 betrayed him, one denied him, and a third doubted 
 him, and in all ages there have been those ignorant 
 and unwise enough " to steal the livery of heaven in 
 which to serve the devil," or to subserve some selfish 
 end or aim. But time, the great interpreter of all 
 things, clears away all error, and eventually banishes 
 the dust and tarnish of sacred things ; and we learn 
 
 to know that — 
 
 «* Truth crushed to earth shall rise again, 
 The eternal years of God are hers-, 
 But Error, wounded, -writhes in pain 
 And dies among his worshippers." 
 
208 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 In the years I have been confined to my bed, Spirit- 
 ualism has been to me a perpetual solace and joy. 
 The mediumistic gift has remained with me, and while 
 my external vision has grown dim from years of suf- 
 fering, my clairvoyant sight has grown clearer, and 
 the forms of my loved ones who have gone before me 
 to the bright Beyond, are plainly visible in my dark- 
 ened room, and although my external hearing is dull 
 and unreal, my clairaudient power abides with me, and 
 I hear the loved voices that death has silenced to the 
 outer sense, and I am not left to say, I long for " the 
 touch of a vanished hand, and the sound of a voice 
 that is still." 
 
 From these risen loved ones I have received en- 
 couragement and comfort in hours of darkest trial. 
 Three times in as many years the death angel has 
 come under our roof, each time leading one of our 
 loved ones home. Three separate times the casket 
 containing the form of a cherished member of our 
 household has been brought to my bedside, that I 
 might look for the last time upon all that was mortal 
 of a loved mother, sister, and aunt. In my present 
 physical aspect, with one voice after another becoming 
 silent, one dear, familiar face after another going out 
 from my home, and, as the world views it, never to 
 return, conditions arose which I never could have 
 borne, had not God endowed me with the priceless gift 
 that enabled me to realize, beyond question, that my 
 
CONCLUSION. 209 
 
 dead were living still, and that they could and did 
 return and comfort me. My experience as regards 
 mediumship has been, and is, the experience of thou- 
 sands. Sacred forever be the memory of our army 
 of risen mediums, workers, and pioneers of our beauti- 
 ful philosophy, and all honor to the noble, increasing 
 army, each one a standard-bearer, in advancing the 
 work of revealing the mightiest truth ever given to 
 man ; for by it we solve the question of all questions, 
 uttered by the prophet of old, " If a man die, shall 
 he live again V 
 
 To all those workers I send loving greetings, and if 
 I may no longer take active part with them in spread- 
 ing the glad tidings, and disseminating this living 
 gospel for the benefit of mankind, I can pray for 
 them, and bid them God-speed on their holy mission. 
 In the immortal words of him who occupies so promi- 
 nent a place in this book, " With charity to all, and 
 malice toward none," I close these pages, always 
 bearing in mind the beautiful lines by our venerated 
 Whittier:— 
 
 " I know not where His Islands lift 
 Their fronded palms in air ; 
 I only know I cannot drift 
 
 Beyond His love and care. 
 And so, beside the Silent sea, 
 
 I wait the muffled oar ; 
 No harm from Him can come to me 
 From ocean or from shore. 
 14 
 
210 
 
 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST* 
 
 Oh, brothers, if my faith is vain, 
 
 If hopes like these betray. 
 Pray for me that my feet may gain 
 
 The sure and safer way. 
 And thou, O God, by whom are seen 
 
 Thy ereatures as they be, 
 Forgive me if too close I lean 
 
 My human heart on Thee !" 
 
MRS. NETTIE COI^BUKN MAYNARD. 
 Photographed from miniature, [863. 
 
SPIRIT POEMS, 
 
 DICTATED 
 
 THROUGH THE MEDIUMSHIP 
 
 Mrs. NETTIE C. MAYNARD. 
 
 (211) 
 
SPIRIT POEMS. 
 
 TO MY MOTHER. 
 
 Passed to the Higher Life, March 17, 1883. 
 
 Three times, dear, the roses have blossomed 
 
 And faded our faces between — 
 Three times o'er your still heart, dear mother, 
 
 The grass on your grave has grown green — 
 And my lips wear the smiles I have taught them, 
 
 And your name, without weeping, I speak. 
 Ah, mother ! we learn through Time's weary years 
 
 What the poor heart may bear, and not break. 
 
 To-day, as I gazed on your picture, 
 
 In likeness so faithful and true, 
 Did you know how my poor heart was weeping, 
 
 And how it was calling for you ? 
 Ah ! That moment I know the dear angels 
 
 Missed you from your own holy place, 
 For I felt you were bending above me 
 
 And leaving a kiss on my face. 
 
 And I heard, in the hush of that moment, 
 
 A sound like the sweep of a wing ; 
 And a note trembled down through the silence 
 
 Like the music, dear, you used to sing ! 
 
 (213) 
 
214 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 While the peace that is given the angels 
 Seemed wrapping me up in its fold, 
 
 Till the clouds of my sorrow were lifted 
 And their edges were bordered with gold. 
 
 When the fingers of twilight are closing 
 
 The dim, weary eyes of the day, 
 And the meek, lowly heads of the flowers 
 
 Are bowed in the silence to pray ; 
 Oh, come then, dear mother, and banish 
 
 The dust and the darkness of care, 
 And tell me a story of heaven, 
 
 And tell me you 're loving me there. 
 
 And now that I've reached the " Still River," 
 
 Will you come to me — close to my side ? 
 Shall I hear the sweet words of your welcome 
 
 Above the low lull of the tide ? 
 And lying so helpless, with garments 
 
 All dusty and worn with the strife, 
 I am longing to bathe in the River, 
 
 In the waves of the " River of Life." 
 
 And then, can I kiss you in heaven, 
 
 And tell you how lonely I've been ? 
 And find you the same, with your true loving heart 
 
 Wide open, to gather me in ? 
 Alas ! I am sometimes impatient 
 
 And feel but the blow of "the rod." 
 Oh, help me and strengthen me, mother, 
 
 Till we meet in the "mansions of God !" 
 
SPIRIT POEMS. 215 
 
 THE SPIRIT OF ROBBIE BURNS. 
 
 I gie you greeting fra' the land 
 
 That's filled with mony a blessing ; 
 Where love and truth walk hand in hand, 
 
 Mid balmy airs caressing ; 
 Na angry God 1 na de'il wild, 
 
 As in tradition's story, 
 But the Guid Shepherd owns each child, 
 
 And love takes a' the glory. 
 
 The grave fra' whence ye culled the flowers 
 
 Holds not the souls ye cherished ; 
 They dwell in fair immortal bowers ; 
 
 Their bodies only perished. 
 The guid wife loved the clover bloom 
 
 And every ither blossom ; 
 She saw ye bending o'er her tomb 
 
 And leaning on your bosom. 
 
 Knew all thy thoughts in sadness fra't, 
 
 As o'er the twa graves bending ; 
 It seemed that they from heaven had caught 
 
 The peace that e'er is lending ; 
 Look up, na doon ; a joy awaits 
 
 Your heart, as mony anither, 
 And ye shall own at heaven's gate, 
 
 Tha' Robbie Burns your brither. 
 
 Once more I gie ye greeting, mon, 
 
 Amid the world o' trial ; 
 But it wad seem it nigh had gane 
 
 Completely to the de'il. 
 When a guid mon will gang astray, 
 
 Regardless o' their teaching, 
 They canna mean it when they pray, 
 
 Nor even when they're preaching. 
 
216 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 Ah weel ! ah weel ! be thankful, mon, 
 
 Ye'r wife has gane to glory, 
 And that ye may her record scan, 
 
 Nor fear a shamefu' story. 
 The poet in ye olden time 
 
 Was ca'd the prince o* evil ; 
 And that the spirit o' his rhyme 
 
 Was taken fra' the de'il. 
 
 But, sir, tho' often grave and quaint, 
 
 And common ways eschewen, 
 We did na claim to be a saint 
 
 When we were mischief brewin' ; 
 But had we run a tilt on earth 
 
 Wi' mony an evil doer ; 
 We wad na rob a man o' worth, 
 
 That we might play the wooer. 
 
 Note. — Given to the artist, S. R. Fanshaw, of Morrisania, N. Y., 
 on the occasion of his having visited the graves of his wife and 
 children at Woodlawn. A few preserved flowers in a pass-book in 
 Mr. Fanshaw's pocket gave rise to this spirit poem. 
 
 LABOR. 
 
 The subject of this poem was suggested by a gentleman who 
 called upon me with Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Newton, of New York 
 City, for the purpose of learning something of Spiritualism. On 
 being told that I was able at times to give forth spirit poems, he 
 suggested the title "Labor." The result was satisfactory to him. 
 
 To-night I will sing you a song of the sea, 
 And tell you the story it's telling to me, 
 For I never bend over the wild solemn waves 
 But I long for the secret hid down in their caves. 
 
SPIRIT POEMS. 217 
 
 The unceasing murmurs that rise from its breast 
 Are telling of labor and constant unrest ; 
 And its cold hands all sparkling with jewels of spray, 
 On the white sands are beating the long hours away. 
 
 Down under the waters bright corals I see, 
 That stretch their fair fingers and beckon to me, 
 And point to the temples the ages have wrought, 
 All sparkling with jewels the swift tides have bro't. 
 
 And leading me down through the white coral doors 
 They point to the jewels that gleam thro' their floor, 
 And the tide's busy fingers forever at play 
 Are fash'ning in beauty by night and by day. 
 
 There are shells of rare structure and beauty, I ween, 
 Whose rainbow-like tintings reflect heaven's sheen, 
 And pearls fair as roses, of beauty untold, 
 Awaiting their setting of silver and gold. 
 
 Oh 1 the wondrous treasures I saw in the sea ! 
 And the lesson they taught in their murmurs to me 
 Was this, that I give you— that labor alone 
 Is the means to develop the treasures we own. 
 
 In the ocean of life there's a far brighter gem 
 Than ever encircled a king's diadem ; 
 And far richer blessings all hidden may be 
 In some lonely spirit, than in the deep sea. 
 
 But labor unceasing, and close watchful care 
 Is needed for progress, all hallowed by prayer ; 
 And the deep tides of nature are working for aye 
 To fashion the temples that never decay. 
 
 Those temples of beauty, where God in the soul 
 Dwells ever in spirit, in loving control ; 
 
218 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 So the song that I heard as I bent o'er the sea 
 Was the lesson, dear Myrtle, I'm telling to thee. 
 
 That unceasing labor alone can impart 
 The light to the jewels hid down in the heart; 
 And the song of life's ocean unceasing doth rise 
 Till its music is blent with the song of the skies. 
 
 For " Progress" is written all over the sod 
 Where blossoms lift up their fair faces to God. 
 To all that are faithful and truthful 'tis given 
 To win while on earth a bright mansion in heaven. 
 
 AN ANNIVERSARY CAROL. 
 
 Dedicated to B. B. Hill, Esq. 
 
 How golden the years that are crowning our planet 
 With truth and with wisdom her lessons to prove, 
 
 The broad book of Nature in covers of granite, 
 Unsealed to our eyes by Omnipotent love ! 
 
 No longer the gloom of the olden-time twilight, 
 When Reason was wrapped in a chrysalis dream, 
 
 The bold mountain headlands are touched with the highlight 
 That kisses the mists from the lowland and stream. 
 
 Though slow was the dawning till Mind broke its fetters, 
 And dared to go forward where Truth led the way, 
 
 Though slow was our childhood in learning its letters 
 Our Manhood redeemed what was lost by delay ! 
 
 When man claimed his birthright of freedom and power, 
 And shook off the shackles of slavish duress, 
 
 He caught from the cloud his electrical power 
 And lit with its lightning the Path of the Press. 
 
SPIRIT POEMS. 219 
 
 Then quickly the long suppressed truths of the ages 
 
 In radiant garments illumined the earth, 
 And man read aright Nature's beautiful pages, 
 
 And learned the true standard of Manhood is Worth ! 
 
 The thrones, Sceptres of Empires are falling, — 
 
 The Idols of Ignorance roll in the dust, 
 While deep unto deep, for re vision is calling, 
 
 And Love led by Knowledge looks upward in trust. 
 
 While Science with iconoclastic hand lifted 
 
 Dethroning old Errors, so hoary and gray, 
 The chaff from the wheat hath slowly been sifted, 
 
 And stones from the tombs of our dead rolled away. 
 
 How golden the harvest ! how rich the fruition ! 
 
 And almost the fruit of a three-score of years, 
 What may we not hope from the Future's tuition 
 
 When joy weaves a rainbow from sorrow's sad tears? 
 
 It is well to have lived when no power of restriction 
 Retarded thy soul-growth to manhood's full prime, 
 
 When the meaning of life, like a sweet benediction, 
 Leads onward and Godward through eternal time. 
 
 But grand to have lived and received as a treasure 
 The bright golden harvest these years have unrolled ; 
 
 Truth gives to her children her gifts without measure, 
 Her jewels and wealth are more precious than gold. 
 
 And thou didst perceive her divine revelation, 
 That love in thy heart that casteth out fears, 
 
 And well may thy soul claim for its coronation, 
 A diadem worthy thy threescore of years. 
 
220 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 Our congratulations on thy sixtieth birthday, 
 
 Rejoicing with thee o'er thy labor "well done," 
 
 But far more than all, the sweet flowers in thy pathway, 
 Proclaim thy good works from the truth thou hast won. 
 
 TO MY MOTHER. 
 
 On her eightieth birthday, December 11, 1880. 
 
 Dear mother, tis no easy task 
 
 That's given to me, 
 Thy children and their children ask 
 
 1 speak to thee 
 Their loving greetings, as they bring 
 For thine acceptance, love's pure offering. 
 
 And friends afar and those near by 
 
 Give each a token 
 In proof that friendship's tender tie 
 
 Remains unbroken, 
 And ask that I for each convey 
 Congratulations for thy natal day ! 
 
 But thou dost know where love would speak 
 
 The lips are dumb. 
 'Tis shallow brooks in bubbles break 
 
 And find a tongue ; 
 Therefore we pray our acts may bear 
 Our hearts' real message in our watchful care. 
 
 'Tis something to have lived to see 
 
 These eighty years, 
 And they have brought far more to thee 
 
 Of smiles than tears ; 
 And looking forward where the "valley" lies, 
 Peace seems reflected from the evening skies. 
 
SPIRIT POEMS. 221 
 
 True, in these years thou seem'st to tread 
 
 Life's path alone, 
 But sweet revealings now declare thy dead 
 
 Are still thine own. 
 And he whose love made glad thy early days 
 Still walks beside thee in the twilight haze. 
 
 And, looking down the vale of time, 
 
 Our eyes behold 
 Such wondrous thoughts outwrought in deeds sublime ; 
 
 The age of gold 
 Seems rising in the glory that appears ; 
 The rightful harvest of these eighty years. 
 
 Thou hast beheld a nation small and young 
 
 Reach manhood's day, 
 And seen fair freedom wrench with hand and tongue 
 
 Her chains away, 
 And sink them deep beneath a million graves 
 That crowned with manhood a whole race of slaves. 
 
 'Tis thine to tell of sciences and art 
 
 Thine eyes have seen ; 
 The throbbing pulses from great Nature's heart 
 
 Outwrought in steam, 
 And the whole world arise from ignorance dire 
 And don her girdle of electric fire. 
 
 But a far higher theme would here engage 
 
 Our grateful thought ; 
 The joy, the crown, the glory of our age, 
 
 Our souls have caught ! 
 Another Pentecost ! Oh, priceless truth 
 That gives the promise of eternal youth ! 
 
222 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 Who now regrets the passing of the years 
 
 Of fleeting time ? 
 When angel voices fill our listening ears 
 
 With love divine? 
 And from our graves their loving hands to-day 
 Have rolled the last dark tear-stained stone away ! 
 
 Then, mother, what of time is left 
 
 To journey on, 
 Though for a little while bereft 
 
 Of loved ones gone. 
 This do we know, each broken household chain 
 Shall through' God's law eternal find its own again. 
 
 Then let this day be one of joy complete 
 
 That we are given 
 Amid much earthly good, this precious, sweet, 
 
 Pure glimpse of Heaven ! 
 Joyful to know our seeming lost can hear us 
 And bring us blossoms from their border near us. 
 
 The warm congratulations of this day 
 
 We tender now, 
 Fail to express all that our love would say, 
 
 Yet this we know — 
 That all unite 'mid happy smiles and tears 
 To thank God humbly for thy eighty years ! 
 
 TO MRS. L. L. DUNHAM. 
 
 We come on the breath of the morning, 
 Your dear cherished darling and I, 
 
 With roses your sad brow adorning, 
 Gathered where flowers never die. 
 
SPIRIT POEMS. 223 
 
 We came when the blushes were stealing 
 
 Across the fair face of the dawn ; 
 When the first morning anthem was peeling ; 
 
 When the new day in glory was born. 
 
 Though he murmured softly, " My Sister," 
 
 She knew not her darling was there ; 
 Yet he whispered, " Dear Mary," and kissed her 
 
 And coupled her name with a prayer. 
 
 And bending o'er thee, as no other, 
 
 (Oh, could you have looked on your child,) 
 
 He breathed, oh so fondly, "My Mother," 
 Your heart must have heard it and smiled. 
 
 " God bless you !" we whispered together, 
 We'll guard you from sorrow and strife, 
 
 'Til we meet in the home of " Our Father" 
 On the banks of the " River of Life." 
 
 Marie. 
 
 TO MRS. M. A. NEWTON. 
 
 Dear mother-heart, we see thy hands 
 Outstretched in longings deep and wild ; 
 
 Beckoning to one in angel hands, 
 Praying to clasp again thy child. 
 
 His tiny feet have gone the way, 
 The shining way the angels trod, 
 
 That leads from night to glorious day ; 
 Lit by the sunny smile of God. 
 
 Yet, gentle mother, love hath power 
 To woo thy darling back again ; 
 
 We but removed thy budding flower 
 Beyond earth's chilling frost and rain. 
 
221 WAS LINCOLN A SPI1UTUALIS1? 
 
 Now blooming in his garden sweet, 
 Guarded by tenderest love Divine, 
 
 We bring thy jewel back to greet 
 
 With fondest love that heart of thine. 
 
 We know your arms all empty seem ; 
 
 We know thine eyes are often wet ; 
 Still, death is but a silvery stream, 
 
 And loving souls can ne'er forget. 
 
 Whene'er your love begs return, 
 Remember He knows best for thee ; 
 
 Forbid thy murmuring heart to mourn ; 
 Rather rejoice that he is free. 
 
 Better a little grave on earth 
 
 Than manhood gained in world of care ; 
 Better to know of a sinless birth 
 
 And angel brow in Eden fair. 
 
 Marie. 
 
 MY PRAYER. 
 
 Eternal love ! all infinite 
 
 And everywhere thou art ; 
 I know thou guidest me aright, 
 
 Abiding in my heart. 
 Thou hearest oft my spirit-cry — 
 
 Shall this wild searching cease ? 
 Or will Thy law this need supply 
 
 And bring Thy perfect peace ? 
 
 I know Thy worlds are beautiful, 
 Thy glorious works I see ; 
 
 And all my soul is worshipful ; 
 Dear Lord, I kneel to Thee. 
 
SPIRIT POEMS. 225 
 
 Yet Thou dost know if here I dwelt, 
 
 Queen of these kingdoms rare, 
 And all the world before me knelt, 
 
 Unless one soul was there. 
 
 That answered fully unto mine, 
 
 In everything my own, 
 I'd rather be that child of Thine 
 
 I am to-day — alone — 
 I cannot think I disobey 
 
 When eager souls I meet — 
 As evermore I turn away 
 
 And seek the more complete. 
 
 For life and all it is to me, 
 
 Is sacred and divine ; 
 All that I am or hope to be 
 
 I'd consecrate as thine. 
 But that sweet tie which thou hast given, 
 
 That binds two souls as one, 
 Seems to my heart the all of heaven 
 
 Wherein "Thy will is done!" 
 
 Around me in His "mansion fair" 
 
 True hearts in love are bound ! 
 Fragrance in every breath of air — 
 
 Music in every sound ; 
 While purity and love increase, 
 
 Surround on every side 
 The lily bordered paths of peace 
 
 Wherein their feet abide. 
 
 Earthward I wend my weary way, 
 
 To Nature's leafy bowers ; 
 Where mated song birds all the day 
 
 Are singing to the flowers ; 
 
 15 
 
226 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 And mingling with the chorus grand 
 
 Of labor's organ tone, 
 I hear the tender clasp of hands 
 
 As true hearts claim their own ! 
 
 I see the rosy dawn of love 
 
 Blush over faces fair, 
 As Nature kisses into bloom 
 
 The roses budding there ; 
 The solemn light of holy trust 
 
 Is shining in their eyes, 
 As if they saw 'mid fading dust 
 
 The glow of Paradise ! 
 
 And e'en amid the haunts of sin 
 
 Where truth is crucified, 
 The only pure and holy thing — 
 
 This love, that hath not died, 
 Shines like a lone star through the night 
 
 Of passion, fierce and wild, 
 The one unbroken link to bind 
 
 The Father to His child! 
 
 The lowliest lives have a priceless crown, 
 
 If this the wreath they wear ; 
 The shepherd's crook, the rustic gown 
 
 Gleam with a glory rare ! 
 And I can wait thro' twilights dim 
 
 Of ages yet to be, 
 So that at last this diadem, 
 
 All perfect, waiteth me ! 
 
 Sometimes amid the silence sweet 
 Where dwells my life apart, 
 
 I hear a voice so low and deep 
 Responding to my heart ! 
 
SPIRIT POEMS. 227 
 
 It seems to rise from worlds afar 
 
 With sorrow in its tone, 
 As if, amid a cold world's jar, 
 
 It, too, was all alone. 
 
 I sometimes feel a presence near, 
 
 So pure, so true, so sweet, 
 I hush my very heart to hear 
 
 Kneeling low at its feet ! 
 These are not dreams, somewhere thou art — 
 
 Oh, soul of God-like grace ! 
 
 Somewhere I'll find thy waiting heart 
 
 And claim my dwelling-place. 
 
 Effie. 
 
 MY NEIGHBOR. 
 
 [Gratefully Inscribed to Mr. and Mrs Quinby.J 
 Luke, 10th Chap., 27th Ver. 
 
 Who comes my weary life to bless, 
 With thoughts and acts of kindliness, 
 For one who lies in sad duress ? 
 
 My neighbor. 
 
 Who never wished to know my creed, 
 But only sought to know my need, 
 And proved they were a friend indeed ? 
 
 My neighbor. 
 
 Who comes with sweet and gentle grace, 
 With heaven's pure sunshine in her face, 
 Without a Pharisaic trace ? 
 
 My neighbor. 
 
228 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 Who brings me blossoms bright and fair, 
 Of sweetest perfume, rich and rare, 
 As if the breath of heaven was there ? 
 
 My neighbor. 
 
 When crushed and weak with weary pain. 
 Or bowed by sorrow's bitter rain, 
 Who comes to cheer me up again ? 
 
 My neighbor. 
 
 Thus, like the Master, doing good, 
 Their lives but dimly understood, 
 Who yet shall reach their home and God ? 
 My neighbor. 
 
 Through three long years of helplessness, 
 Who can their kindness e'er express ? 
 I can but ask that God may bless 
 
 My neighbor. 
 
 MEMORIES. 
 
 Look forth on waking Nature, 
 
 Whose quickened pulses beat 
 In springing grass and bursting bud 
 
 Beneath the sunshine's feet; 
 And while the scoffer only sees 
 
 A changing season there, 
 We hear a story in the breeze, 
 
 In e'en the viewless air. 
 
 Then turn away from sadder theme 
 And catch the sunny glow 
 
 Of resurrected, joyful strains 
 Whose magic rhythms flow 
 
SPIRIT POEMS. 229 
 
 From out the very heart of God, 
 
 Through all his universe ; 
 'Til one grand chorus seems to rise, 
 
 His goodness to rehearse. 
 
 O brother ! friend ! my heart responds 
 
 To Nature's thrilling voice, 
 And with a love that's true and fond 
 
 I bid it to rejoice 
 That this old earth I still may claim 
 
 As birth-place of my soul ; 
 The mighty music of the main 
 
 Still o'er my senses roll. 
 
 » 
 
 The kneeling of the white waves down, 
 
 Still moves my soul to prayer ; 
 The night's dusk splendor, with its crown, 
 
 Still claims from love a share ; 
 The dim dark silence of the wood ; 
 
 The grand old mountains tall ; 
 The broad, rich, swelling grassy flood ; 
 
 The blue arch over all. 
 
 The blushes on the cheek of June ; 
 
 The Autumn's golden prime; 
 Ah ! well, I love old mother Earth, 
 
 Her treasures still are mine. 
 Oft do I leave th' immortal hills 
 
 To seek her spreading palms ; 
 Unseen to bask beside her rills 
 
 And breathe her olden balms. 
 
 The holy blooms of spirit land 
 
 My words can ne'er portray ; 
 But flowers I culled with childhood's hand 
 
 Are sweeter far than they. 
 
230 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 The music of celestial isles, 
 
 One rounded, perfect strain, 
 Is sweet, but ah ! not quite as sweet 
 
 As memory's low refrain. 
 
 Ah, friend of many years, I come 
 
 To bind your heart again 
 To Nature's more alluring smile, 
 
 That her sweet music strain 
 May steal the sadness from your brow 
 
 Bidding all care depart, 
 'Til all her richest roses spring 
 
 Within and round your heart. 
 
 Thine eyes may be too dim to trace 
 
 The wisdom of His plan ; 
 Know, each hath e'er his perfect place 
 
 Beside his brother man ; 
 And time shall prove His way the best ; 
 
 Then, never doubt, my friend, 
 When, seeming banned, thy way is blest; 
 
 Oh ! trust him to the end. 
 
 Aciisa. 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 
 
 (231) 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 
 
 This portion of a book is generally supposed to con- 
 tain explanatory notes so valuable as neither to find 
 place in the body of the work, nor to possess a 
 sufficient amount of immediate interest to be placed 
 therein. While this is true of ordinary books, in this 
 especial work and for a direct purpose are they 
 added to this volume. While they possess a material 
 value in their contents, they represent a friendly in- 
 terest to me to whom they have been sent; and to 
 the public, both within and without the lines of 
 Spiritualism, they stand as indisputable evidence, 
 corroborative evidence as to many portions of the 
 main body of the work. In brief, they indicate 
 the character and standing of some of my many ac- 
 quaintances. It is now a source of regret that I did 
 not get autograph letters from all with whom I came 
 in contact during the war years. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
 Lincoln would have been glad to place in my hand 
 their favor in any form that I chose to indicate ; and 
 upon several occasions I was asked by others for 
 
 ( 233 ) 
 
234 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST ? 
 
 Mrs. Lincoln, whether I expected and would accept 
 remuneration for my services at the White House, to 
 which I replied that it was my joy to gratify them and 
 at the same time prove the value of Spiritualism, and 
 that to accept money for what service I could render 
 would naturally destroy the pleasure the sea?ices gave 
 me, as well as place me in a light contrary to my 
 desires. 
 
 The following testimonial was presented my husband 
 and myself upon the occasion of our departure for the 
 West, some few years ago. It bears evidence of the 
 kindly intent of its signers : — 
 
 HONORABLE TESTIMONIAL. 
 
 To all whom it may concern: — 
 
 The ladies and gentlemen whose names are inscribed 
 below have the honor to offer 
 
 Friendly Greetings. 
 
 It is the object of this circular letter to witness that 
 the bearer, Mrs. Nettie C. Maynard, is a lady with 
 whom we have enjoyed a long and intimate acquaint- 
 ance, some of us having been familiar with her private 
 history for twenty years or more. Her friends are 
 conscious that wherever she is truly known and justly 
 appreciated she needs no one to bear testimony to her 
 rare gifts and eminent worth. Being reminded, how- 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 235 
 
 ever, that she has recently found a new home in the 
 West, among comparative strangers, it may not he 
 improper for her friends in the East to unite in a brief 
 expression of regret at parting company with one so 
 deservedly beloved, while they take pleasure in pre- 
 senting this memorial of a sacred confidence and sin- 
 cere affection which much observation and long expe- 
 rience have only confirmed and sanctified. 
 
 Be it known, then, that in all her relations Mrs. 
 Maynard has ever led a singularly pure and blameless 
 life. Always above suspicion and free from reproach, 
 no shadow has ever fallen on the crystal whiteness of 
 her fame. Indeed, the most eloquent words at our 
 command fail to express our high appreciation of such 
 a character. No subtile chemistry can impart a more 
 delicate aroma to the violet ; the lapidary may not 
 burnish the stars ; nor can the art of the rhetorician 
 add dignity and beauty to virtue. In this fair and 
 unobtrusive presence let 
 
 "Envy prow pale and bite the dust, 
 And slander gnaw her forked tongue." 
 
 In the loving kindness that disarms resentment and 
 the patience which is proof against physical suffering ; 
 in the gentleness that neutralizes acidity of temper 
 and obliterates personal animosities ; in the spotless 
 purity of an irreproachable life ; and in the sweetness 
 of a disposition tempered by all heavenly graces, Mrs. 
 
23G WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 Maynard furnishes mild but constant reproofs of all 
 bitterness and want of charity among men. These, 
 too, are the silent, persuasive and powerful incentives 
 to higher aspiration and a better life. There is a re- 
 deeming Gospel in such an example, and the unworthy 
 bow in silent contrition before the simple majesty of 
 the virtues which adorn the noblest types of woman- 
 hood. 
 
 In subscribing to the contents of this letter, the 
 undersigned cannot omit to record the honored name 
 of William Porter Maynard — husband of the lady to 
 whom this testimonial chiefly refers — whose amiable 
 disposition, courteous manners, and sterling integrity 
 give him a just claim to universal respect and esteem. 
 L. B. BRITTAN, New York. 
 
 A. A. Wheelock, Ballston Spa, N. Y. 
 
 Samuel R. Fanshaw, Fulton Avenue, Morrisania, N. Y. 
 
 Nellie G. T. Bkigham, Elm Grove, Mass. 
 
 J. A. V. Mansfield, Gl West Forty-second Street, N. Y. 
 
 Alonzo G. Hutt, M.D., 175 West Forty-fifth Street, N. Y. 
 
 Edwin R. Kirk, 195 West Street, New York. 
 
 Henry J. Newton, 128 West Forty-third Street, N. Y. 
 
 Mary A. Newton, 128 West Forty-third Street, N. Y. 
 
 Henry Van Gelder, 97 Spring Street, N. Y. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. John S. Chase, 129 East Seventy-first Street, 
 
 N. Y. 
 Melville C. Smith, New York City. 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 237 
 
 Letterby Hudson Tuttle, published in the "Banner" 
 March 7, 1891. 
 
 MRS. NETTIE COLBURN-MAYNARD— REMINIS- 
 CENCES OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 To the Editor of the Banner of Light : 
 
 Mrs. Maynard is not as well known to Spiritualists as she 
 was years ago under the name of Nettie Colburn. She set out 
 as a trance speaker with Mrs. Nellie Brigham, and was a popu- 
 lar speaker, and continually engaged by societies. She was 
 eloquent, and had that sterling integrity of character which 
 endeared her to all. 
 
 She gave her whole being, cheerfully sacrificing herself to 
 the cause. For the last three years of the war she was con- 
 stantly consulted by President Lincoln, and the communications 
 he received through her were of most astonishing character. 
 The results of battles were foretold before the telegraphic dis- 
 patches, and on several occasions advice was given and accepted 
 which, acted on, proved of momentous consequence. The 
 reader has undoubtedly already seen the reports of the deplor- 
 able condition of this excellent lady, yet it is impossible for 
 any one to conceive of the sufferings she endures, the care she 
 requires, and the patience and magnanimous spirit which sus- 
 tains her, and changes pity into admiration. 
 
 It afforded us the greatest pleasure to accept an invitation 
 from Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Newton to visit the home of 
 Mrs. Maynard at White Plains, which really is only a suburb 
 of New York. The visit will be long remembered. She was 
 stricken with rheumatism some years ago, and for three years 
 has been confined to her bed. Her hands and feet are .dis- 
 torted by the strained muscles. She is afflicted with a cough, 
 
238 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRT! UALIST? 
 
 and has to be constantly fanned or she cannot breathe. She is 
 in constant pain, and the slightest touch is torture. She has 
 lain for over a year in exactly the same position, and cannot be 
 moved without intense pain. Yet for all this her countenance 
 is bright and almost placid in expression, and she greeted us 
 with smiles of joy. Her spiritual being is entirely above and 
 beyond the limitations of the body. Her sensitiveness is so 
 acute that she knows everything going on in the house, and 
 gives directions. Her mediumship is wonderful. Gathered 
 around her bedside she became entranced, and it seemed our 
 spirit friends had a perfect means of communicating with us. 
 Every sentence bore evidence of truthfulness. Truly it was 
 one of the most wonderful and convincing stances I ever had 
 the fortune to attend. 
 
 For the past year she has been dictating her reminiscences of 
 the stances given to Lincoln, which extended over the last 
 years of the war. They are of deep interest, not only for tlie 
 facts revealed, but as a psychological study. It has been re- 
 ported that President Lincoln issued the Proclamation of 
 Emancipation by advice of the spirit-statesmen through her 
 mediumship. This she emphatically denies, saying that it was 
 not until after that event that she became acquainted with the 
 President. (She met the President after the promulgation, but 
 before the Proclamation of Emancipation was signed. See 
 page 72. — Ed.) 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Maynard have a pretty home, but her long- 
 continued illness has reduced their circumstances ; for her con- 
 dition has required his almost constant attendance, and his 
 devotion to her makes a pleasing memory in the minds of visi- 
 tors. 
 
 HUDSON TUTTLE. 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 239 
 
 Letter from Asa H. Rogers, of the firm of " Rogers 
 & Brothers," cutlers and electroplaters. 
 
 West Meriden, March 6, 1874. 
 Dear Mrs. Maynarp : 
 
 I am here in old Connecticut settled, as far as a poor 
 widowed one could be settled— that is, 1 have bought me a 
 house, furnished it anew, and commenced, first, by having a 
 young man keep house for me (being afraid of that other part 
 of creation) ; but that soon played out then, and now have an 
 old lady and the boy both. Oh that I could get rid of both ; 
 but fate, fate holds them tight till the wheel turns again, then 
 off they go. Then who cometh up? This I cannot tell, and 
 no prophet is permitted to tell, and so I resign myself unto the 
 fates again. I have an arrangement to stay in the factory for 
 ten years more— the same factory and the same company who 
 use our trade-marks in manufacturing plated goods. They do 
 not want me to leave them while I live, so I concluded to stay 
 a part of that time (ten years), and the other eight to travel, 
 not on "Jordan's hard road," but to Jerusalem and Egypt and 
 Arabia, etc. 
 
 And now, what I want of you is to come here and lecture, 
 and give sittings, sing and pray, etc., to get up a religious ex- 
 citement, an old-fashion time ; as we have just organized, under 
 our statute law, a Spiritual Church to hold property, sue and 
 be sued, to license ministers, to preach the new Spiritual Gospel, 
 to solemnize marriage— in fact, we are the same as any church 
 in the State of Connecticut. We do this to protect our lec- 
 turers from any molestation or inconvenience such as they have 
 often had ; and more is to come if they are not protected by 
 law. Now, can you come in month of May or June? Stay 
 at my house ; it's your home when you come ; and then again, 
 it's so near your old home, Hartford ; you must not forget that; 
 
240 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 remembering your old friends ; some who have passed the 
 river, who helped you out by their counsel and encourage- 
 ment, and your first grand effort in Winstead. Come and stay 
 one month ; we will do the best we can. We are not rich, but 
 we want a medium here and a lecturer combined, and it is in 
 you. Write me what you are doing for the cause, if you can 
 come, and when and for what amount per Sunday. 
 
 By the way, where is Cornelia ? I saw her last in New York 
 with a Mr. Brother Brown. Is she done Brown, very Brown ? 
 If not, let her come and lecture ; and if she lectures according 
 to our new and glorious Gospel, we will give her a license to 
 preach, to solemnize marriage, to heal the sick, to raise the 
 dead, to cast out devils, etc. Now, this is a large field, and let 
 us have a fair fight. 
 
 Now, Sister Nettie, do let me hear from you soon, and tell 
 me how your health is, and Mother Maynard, Cornelia, and 
 all. My regards to your beloved, and may the angels bless you, 
 
 ASA H. ROGERS. 
 
 The following tender and paternal letters were 
 received by me from our dear friend, General William 
 Norris, who was widely known as a famous builder of 
 engines. He was at the time of our acquaintanceship 
 engaged in some work for the U. S. government: — 
 
 Willard's, Washington, August 4, 1863. 
 My Sweet Nettie: — 
 
 Do you not feel the out-gush of affection for you as I write ? 
 Do you not feel the tingling of your tender heart in response to 
 my electric pulsations ? It seems to me that my heart is pressed 
 to yours in filial love. 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 241 
 
 Dear Nettie, I am indeed happy in reading your affectionate 
 letter. I appreciate your feelings, and instead of outspoken 
 thanks you must only love me as a sweet daughter, her devoted 
 father; you owe me no thanks, dear Nettie. 'Tis I that am 
 indebted to you immensely for your fond love. 
 
 My heart is happy because you have been made happy by the 
 assurance that Parnie and you shall never part, and I am still 
 further happy that you approve of dear Anna being received 
 into our full communion. 
 
 Please reply to this on or before the 7th, 8th or 9th, and 
 direct to Astor House, New York, and say therein where you 
 expect to be about the 10th of this month, and I will telegraph 
 you there when you may expect me. 
 
 Is there a telegraph at South Adams ? 
 
 I am glad to say that I am improving in health, and I intend 
 calling on your good friend, Mrs. Cosby, this evening. In con- 
 sequence of my illness, I have been unable to go out and un- 
 able to call upon the President in behalf of your brother, but I 
 -have drawn up a petition in his behalf, which I will present to 
 the President to-morrow, and shall show him your letter of the 
 29th ult., which I duly received. I am sure of success. And 
 now, my beloved Nettie, I desire your assistance in soliciting 
 the aid of the spirits. I desire that the minds of Secretary 
 "Welles" and Assistant- Secretary "Fox" be favorably im- 
 pressed in my behalf on account of my "Cruiser," which I 
 have proposed to build for the government. 
 
 With best love to your dear mother and with fervent prayers 
 to the Giver of all good things for his constant mercies to you 
 and my sweet Triune, 
 
 I remain ever your loving Grandpap, 
 
 WILLIAM NORRIS. 
 
 16 
 
242 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 Willard's, Washington, August 6, 1863. 
 Belovkd Daughters Nettie, Parnie, Anna: — 
 
 Delayed in New York by slight illness until Saturday ; after 
 the refreshing visit to my dear daughters, I pursued my way to 
 this place ; but unfortunately left before my system had recov- 
 ered its tone ; and the result was, I had to lay by on the route, 
 near Philadelphia, finding it necessary to use active remedies. 
 
 Oh, how I regretted my departure from my dearly beloved 
 daughters, for the time passed on the road, with all its discom- 
 forts, could have been so lovingly spent with them, and as dear 
 Parnie so affectionately offers in her kind letter (written on the 
 22d of July, but only received late last evening), she would 
 have had an opportunity to exercise her filial affection in 
 nursing so tenderly her affectionate father. Indeed, I often 
 felt her absence, and it seemed to me when reading her letter 
 last night that she must have had some intimation tKat I did 
 require her affectionate kindness. God bless her ! 
 
 I am exceedingly gratified, dear Nettie, in meeting your 
 dear mother, and I love her with a brother's affectionate regard. 
 
 I am equally gratified, dear Parnie, in knowing your dear 
 mother, and I love her as well as your noble-visaged father, 
 whose Nestor head is a study, and whose goodness of heart 
 beams brightly through his eyes. I am equally gratified, dear 
 Anna, in knowing your dear mother, and I love her for the 
 trembling of her heart, evinced in the few words of kind thanks 
 she could scarcely utter. 
 
 And now, dear daughters, I know will pardon me for closing 
 abruptly. The weather is intensely hot and I am still an in- 
 valid, although fast approaching convalescence. 
 
 That God, in his merciful kindness, will bless and protect you, 
 dear daughters, is the constant prayer of your 
 
 devoted Grandpap, 
 
 W. NORRIS. 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 243 
 
 P. S. You may write me and direct to Astor House, New 
 York, up to Friday 7th, as I hope to be there on Saturday or 
 Monday next. 
 
 For sake of distinction please give me my title of General 
 William Norris, in your direction — as I find there is another 
 William Norris, who sometimes receives my letters. 
 
 Willard's, Washington, Oct. 8, 1863. 
 My Beloved Children : — 
 
 I wrote you yesterday in great haste, and I am sorry to say 
 that business engagements may prevent the dispatch of this 
 letter by the regular mail of this day, for I have been all day 
 at the Navy Department, immersed in business. 
 
 But, dear children, I hope you received my letter of Sept. 
 30th from here ; for if not I shall be distressed that you should 
 have been so long without a letter from me, and indeed I do 
 entreat your pardon. Forgive me, Parnie, for those days of 
 tears that sweet Nettie writes so affeetingly of. I will hereafter 
 regularly write you. 
 
 On the 1 7th September, while in the cars to New York from 
 this place, I was taken suddenly ill, and in an unconscious state 
 was taken out of the cars and left at Havre de Grace, where I 
 soon recovered and went on to Philadelphia in the next suc- 
 ceeding train, where I found it necessary to take four or five 
 days' rest. From that time until day before yesterday 1 have 
 been suffering from the effects of my attack of gastric epilepsy. 
 I am indeed happy to say that I have now entirely recovered 
 my healthy tone. As a proof, I ate a hearty breakfast this 
 morninor and have been all the morning busily occupied at the 
 Department. By this misfortune your letters that were di- 
 rected to New York were by my previous orders transferred to 
 this place and of course I could not receive them in New York, 
 
244 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 and I addressed you after my arrival here, replying to three, too 
 late, unfortunately (if I had been able and well enough), for me 
 to go with you to see your soldier friends. 
 
 Your good friends, Mrs. Cosby and Mrs. Smith, have been 
 very kind and attentive. They visited me quite frequently, 
 for I have not been able to go out until yesterday. 
 
 Now please excuse this short letter, and written hurriedly and 
 in reply special to your heartrending winding up, and it cuts 
 me to the soul. I quote from yours : " Noio do not, grandpa, 
 write us a long letter if you are full of business — only just a 
 word to tell us you still love and remember Nettie and Pa7-nie." 
 
 My heart indeed is sad, sad, that you could ever have for a 
 second supposed that such a horrible idea could ever enter my 
 head as to forget and not to love my darlings Nettie and Parnie. 
 
 Write me, in reply, of your health — especially Nettie. I 
 have much to say to you, and shall in a day or two write again. 
 
 Oh, Heavenly Father, keep my beloved Nettie and Parnie in 
 
 thy care. 
 
 Y'r Grandpa, 
 
 WILLIAM NORRIS. 
 
 Peila., Dec. 15, 1863. 
 My Dkar Nettie : — 
 
 Your affectionate favor of the 10th came to my hands yester- 
 day at the Astor House. The severe storm of yesterday pre- 
 vented my leaving New York until this morning at ten. I 
 leave in the train for Washington to-morrow and hope to reach 
 Willard's about six or seven P. M. Please write me your ad- 
 dress and send to Willard's during to-morrow, and I will en- 
 deavor to see you in the evening. Sincere thanks for your kind 
 wishes, and with love to dear Parnie, 
 
 I remain ever yours, 
 
 WILLIAM NORRIS. 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 245 
 
 Astor House, New York, Jan'y 3, 1864. 
 My Dear Daughters Nettie and Parnie : — 
 
 To-day is my first day out since Christmas. My liver has 
 been in fault, so the physicians say, and it has been laboring 
 under the effects of prussic acid from the peach skins eaten in I 
 October, which caused my first attack of apoplexy. I havej 
 been under treatment until yesterday, and the desired effects 
 were only produced yesterday, and I am happy in believing, 
 with the assurance of my physician and my own feelings, that 
 I have overcome the disease, and in consequence feel in good 
 spirits for active work to-morrow. I expect to leave, at the 
 latest, on Wednesday morning for Washington, and I hope to 
 see you same evening. I have also written by this mail to 
 friend Somes. With kind regards and the compliments of the 
 season to Mrs. Somes and family, 
 
 I am yours, most affectionately, 
 W. NORRIS. 
 
 P. S. I wrote Anna Betts and directed to her address, as 
 
 requested, at Buffalo. 
 
 W. N. 
 
 Astor House, New York, Jan'y 29, 1864. 
 My Dear Nettie : — 
 
 Your affectionate favor of 25th came duly to hand. I regret 
 indeed to say that I am still in doubt as to my affairs, although 
 appearances are in favor. My health is improving slowly, but 
 surely. I expect to leave here to-morrow for Philadelphia, and 
 my present intention is to go to Washington on Monday, where 
 I am promised certain influences that will very materially affect 
 my affairs. 
 
 I shall therefore see you at Washington, as I will be there 
 for nearly two weeks. 
 
246 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 I thank you, dear Nettie, for your news of dear Mrs. Cosby 
 (God bless her) ! Give my warmest regards to her and dear 
 Purnie with all my love. 
 
 Your affectionate 
 
 WILLIAM NORMS. 
 
 Remember me to your dear parents and friends. 
 
 W. N. 
 
 New York, March 26, 1864, Saturday. 
 My Dears, Nettie and Parnie : — 
 
 Grandpa's heartfelt greetings, with sincere hope that you are 
 both well. 
 
 I left Washington on Wednesday, reached Philadelphia the 
 same evening, where I found all well but anxious, and I had 
 great difficulty in tearing myself away, which I succeeded in 
 effecting at last, but under a guard, who delivered me into the 
 hands of my niece, in good condition. Since my arrival I re- 
 ceived your affectionate letter. I purpose leaving here on 
 Monday evening next at three o'clock P. M., if clear, under 
 the care of my niece, who will accompany me, and hope to 
 arrive between seven and eight at Hartford, where I shall be 
 happy to see you at the City Hotel. God bless you ! 
 
 Your affectionate 
 
 GRANDPAP. 
 
 Willard's, Monday Evening, 9 o'clock. 
 God bless you, my dear children ! You have much relieved 
 me by your true obedience in telegraphing of your safe arrival. 
 
 1 have this moment received it, after anxious expectation since 
 
 2 P. M., for I have counted the hours and minutes. Thanks 
 sincere to our Heavenly Father for all his mercies. I shall now 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 247 
 
 to bed to dream of you both, delighted with the pleasing thought 
 that you are safe at home. 
 
 There are no letters for Nettie. When I see you I shall 
 have to punish you both for making me pass so many mise- 
 rable hours this afternoon. So look out for squalls — real squalls 
 — I will send your telegram to Mrs. Cosby early in the morn- 
 ing. 
 
 I am improving rapidly, and with love to all your friends and 
 to my well-beloved sister Hamilton, and praying ye pardon 
 for my hasty scrawl, if you can make out to read it, as you 
 know I am your nearly blind but loving 
 
 GRANDPA. 
 
 Astor House, April 7, 1864. 
 My Dear Nettie and Parnie : — 
 
 Your kind favors of March 25th to Washington and March 
 31st to the Astor are at hand. The letter you refer to, for 
 Parnie, was the one which Mrs. Cosby sent to me and which I 
 enclosed by mail to you at Hartford the day after you left 
 Washington. 
 
 I am most happy to say that my trip has been of signal ser- 
 vice. 
 
 My strength has very nearly recovered. My vision though 
 is still dim, which cautions me for the present to avoid much 
 exercise. 
 
 I sincerely hope you and Parnie are perfectly well. I trust 
 to be able to go to Philadelphia in a few days, and will write 
 you before I leave here. With best love to all, 
 
 Your affectionate 
 
 GRANDPA. 
 
248 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 The following letters are from my dear departed 
 friend Mrs. Anna M. Cosby, daughter of Robert 
 Mills, Esq., architect of the Washington Monument at 
 Baltimore and the Capitol building in Washington. 
 At the last meeting with this lady she presented me 
 with a volume of Burns's poems, saying, " Money you 
 would spend, and clothing wear out. This book is a 
 far better gift, it will always be a friend, and let me 
 add, that as you journey through life you will make 
 many friends, some of whom will wish to make you 
 presents. Let me counsel that when the gracious 
 tender of a present is made you always choose a book, 
 and have them inscribe their name upon the fly-leaf 
 of the volume. In after years the book will be a last- 
 ing record of your passing friendship, and be a pleasure 
 and service to you. At the same time those received 
 from spiritualistic friends will prove a record of per- 
 manency and value ; and testify for you when you can 
 no longer speak for yourself." My well-stored book- 
 case is an evidence of her wise suggestion, and also 
 the tribute of many friendships : — 
 
 Washington, March 25th. 
 Dear Nettie : — 
 
 Like the dew on the drooping flower which has been wilted 
 by the ardent rays of a scorching sun came your dear letter ; 
 but 'twere vanity in me to apply to myself all that your loving 
 nature imparted in its welcome folds. I have missed dear 
 Parnie and yourself, whose coming from time to time has 
 cheered the otherwise solitude of the old homestead. We are 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 249 
 
 told to beware of parting. The true sadness is not in the pang 
 of parting ; it is in the when, and the how, you are to meet 
 again with the face about to vanish from your view. Have you 
 not, after a year, even a month's absence, returned to the same 
 place, found the same groups re-assembled, and yet sighed to 
 yourself? But where is the charm that once breathed from the 
 spot, and once smiled from the faces. A poet has said, 
 " Eternity itself cannot restore the loss struck from the minute." 
 Are you happy in the spot on which you tarry with the persons 
 whose voices are now melodious to your ear ? Beware of part- 
 ing, or if part you must, say not, in defiance of time and destiny, 
 " What matter ! we shall soon meet again." I echo that hope 
 of yours, dear Nettie, and that the May birds sing out a joyous 
 note at your coming. 
 
 Both aunt and myself were rejoiced to learn of the cheering 
 prospect of realizing the joys of home under your dear parents' 
 roof, and that a cup sent up its streamy column to remind you 
 of your absent friend. Aunt will heed the request and send 
 what you desire in the making of another drink. Not a day 
 passes but that your names are mentioned and the wish that you 
 were both here again. As to the care I was to bestow on our 
 good friend, Mr. Norris, no opportunity was given, by his 
 sudden departure from the city ; no inducement remained after 
 his sights were withdrawn. I suppose you have heard from 
 him. Mrs. McClelland we have not seen since you left; an 
 invitation was kindly extended to us to spend an evening with 
 her, but the elements were against us and we did not attend. 
 As soon as I see her, I will deliver her your love. An arrival 
 by the evening train brings us Mrs. Forney and Mary ; they 
 made kind inquiries about you ; many ladies are clustering in 
 Washington for the purpose of attending the ball to-morrow 
 evening ; " half of beauty's court is going." You will soon see 
 Mr. Howells, who goes to visit Hartford for the improvement of 
 
250 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 his health ; he got a severe injury in the cars that has caused 
 him much suffering. He will return again to Washington, and 
 by him you can send a pack of cards like our friend Mrs. Ham. 
 bleton had, so that when you come again you can find out if a 
 "light man or a bundle comes to the house." Polly still calls 
 out "Come in," and is now adding to the number of words 
 those of " Black your boots." Aunt has a song for you which 
 she will send; it is popular verse, commencing with "Sing a 
 song of greenbacks." 
 
 Write as often as you can find time to devote, and tell 
 " Pinkey" that she must come and rap for us, as also to remind 
 Romano of his promise to manifest his presence by some sign 
 or sound that will assure me of his guardianship and watchful 
 care. Ever shall I cherish the memory of your presence in my 
 lonely room, where you awakened the echo of the "Old Bell 
 Tavern," as well as brought about the inmates of its old walls, 
 loved memories of the past. I wrote Mrs. Hambleton last 
 evening in reply to her letter preceding the medicines. You 
 must not neglect to send the piece of poetry you spoke of stowed 
 away among your papers — rightfully belonging to me. You 
 must know, dear Nettie, how much I prize all that emanates 
 from your pen, especially as in this case it told of a warm 
 place in your heart for your friend, 
 
 ANNA. 
 
 Washington, April 17. 
 Dear Nettie : 
 
 Aunt is now writing to Parnie, and I cannot allow her letter 
 to go without a little messenger-bird like this sheet to accom- 
 pany it, if 'twere, merely to thank you for your refreshing and 
 kind communication of the 1 1 th inst. Above all things it con- 
 tained, was the gushing out of a heart that told its love pure as 
 the "lap-wing font." I feel you would not utter words of 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 251 
 
 affection, or write them beautifully as you are able to express 
 them, did they not come willingly up from the deep recesses of a 
 noble and genuine soul, therefore I earnestly thank you ; and 
 though I cannot ascribe any merit for all you said, yet it shall be 
 my warmest endeavor to deserve it. There is a deep trustful- 
 ness in a loving heart. 
 
 You may remember when we promised each other we were 
 to write just as we felt ? This privilege you assumed when 
 you expressed the idea that the Angel of Death stood in one of 
 the paths of your lecturing field ; this I will not allow you to 
 say, for I want you always to recollect that no exertion on your 
 part in the capacity of lecturing must be enacted, for there is 
 always a haven of rest and quiet where no annoyance or trouble 
 shall reach your heart; and wherever you may be and want to 
 come to me, say the word and the means shall be provided for 
 your coming ; then say no more, dear Nettie, about anxieties 
 for the future, while I have a roof and the means of supply— 
 the simple fare you seemed ever willing to appreciate. 
 
 I saw Mr. Horton at Mrs. McClellan's a few evenings since; 
 he did not receive your letter, and asked me to mention this to 
 you, with the desire that you should address him again. There 
 
 is another Mr. A. Horton in W , who sometimes gets his 
 
 letters, and I feel assured if one of yours fell in his possession, 
 he would be loath to give it up. Mr. H.'s address is at the 
 Quartermaster's Department, if I rightly recollect. But, at 
 any rate, he told me he had sent his direction to the " Banner 
 of Light," so that any one desiring to address him on business 
 might have a correct direction. I was gratified to learn you 
 and dear Parnie had arranged everything at your home con- 
 ducive to health and comfort, and that your good parents were 
 quiet and happy once more. I know full well the happiness 
 you can bring along with you wherever you may go; did not 
 sunshine come at your advent in the " Old House on the Hill?" 
 
252 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 You know me too well to believe otherwise than that I pay a 
 sincere and honest tribute to one I know is incapable of flat- 
 tery, of one incapable of saying what she does not think and 
 feel. 
 
 I must tell you in brief terms a dream I had, and get Pinkey 
 
 to interpret it for me I stood by an opening in the floor, 
 
 and saw a murky stream rushing with great force ; I seemed 
 greatly disturbed in mind, and had in my hand three kind of 
 rings, black, gold, and diamond, and was about dashing them 
 into the stream, when my eye caught the sparkle of my darling 
 sister s gift, and I thought could I cast into the troubled waters 
 her ring ? There were also some large and small black buttons 
 among the rings, but I disregarded these and thought of a 
 sister's gift alone. While reflecting on this I awoke. 
 
 Have you consulted the fates to see the condition of the 
 light man, whether there is sickness near, or an enemy at work, 
 As my impression, I know he would like to turn his face to the 
 house. Give my love to Parnie, and tell her everything that 
 can be done in her behalf is in process. In her success we may 
 induce " our Nettie" to return. Tell her, also, I have changed 
 her ring and got one as near as possible like the one given to 
 Pinkey. No communications of any kind have met my eye 
 that would interest her, but that I will still look out. Be 
 pleased to remember me kindly to Mr. and Mrs. Hannum, and 
 thank them for their kind message to me ; and for Parnie and 
 yourself receive the affectionate regard of your friend, 
 
 ANNA. 
 
 April 21. 
 Dear Nettie : 
 
 I inclose a letter that came through the mail to-day, hoping 
 
 it may bring you kind greetings from some absent friend. I 
 
 had a visit from Mr. Horton a few evenings since, and you 
 
 were not forgotten in the conversation we had together. 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 253 
 
 To-day is another added to many that I have given to the 
 firemen in getting their bill passed -it lies on the table 
 awaiting more strong action to raise it ; a lively and animated 
 discussion ended by placing it where it now is. But 1 have 
 since been at work, and taking its opposers one by one have 
 received a gratifying response from them that notwithstanding 
 they are not fully convinced, yet they will not oppose it when 
 it comes up again. When 1 see you I will have some amusing 
 things to tell you of some of my interviews. Yesterday the 
 firemen paraded with a new reel of 1000 feet ot hose, and 
 when they returned to the house, a committee came to our 
 door accompanied by the Marine Band and played a piece of 
 music ; I hope to tell you my labors will be rewarded by suc- 
 cess for this brave and noble band of men. Tell Pinkey she 
 must go with me to the Capitol when the subject comes up, 
 and press the heads of those antagonistical to its passage 
 Tell her, also, I heard a driver to-day caressing his horse, and 
 by the most endearing terms call it his dear Pinkey. I was 
 very sorry Mr. Howells left before I saw him, for I would have 
 sent Parnie's ring to her as other things Mr. McL. has. Love 
 to Parnie, and kind regards to your dear parents. 
 
 Affectionately your friend, 
 
 ANNA. 
 
 Washington, 553 Capitol-line, July 9. 
 Dear Nettie: „ 
 
 That you may not be put to auy trouble m seekmg ; Mrs. Ham. 
 bleton, in order*, obtaiu the medicine ordered by Dr Beeehe 
 I write a few hurried lines to tell you, I found upon fu the, 
 Lpdry among our druggists I eonld have it made, and have 
 
 ""How did yon and Miss P— come to run off so soon from 
 New York, when a kind, good friend of yours told yon he 
 
254 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 would be with you the Saturday following your departure from 
 this city ? 
 
 I saw Mr. Norris after his return, and he told me he had 
 been informed that you and your friend had left but a few 
 hours previous to his inquiries for you, "Gone," as his in- 
 formant said, "to Albany." I told him I felt assured you would 
 have some good reason for your sudden movement, as I knew 
 your intention was, when you parted with us, to go immediately 
 to your parents. We all feel anxious to hear from you both, 
 to know how you progress in your affairs ; you must always re- 
 member the "old house on the hill" contains the same hearts 
 and well-wishers for your happiness and prosperity. 
 
 Miss Bctts left us this afternoon for her friends in the country ; 
 she was anxiously looking for letters from home, as also from 
 Miss Hannum and yourself. 
 
 The day after your departure I was very unwell, and so con- 
 tinued for several days. Tell Miss Parnie to seek the doctor's 
 advice for me, for I feel he has been with me often to sustain 
 me in the many little cares and annoyances that disturb my 
 mind, especially in the complicated Webb affair. 
 
 Col. Forney got back this morning, enlivening the old home- 
 stead by his many visitors. Mr. Laurie, I hear, is still suffer- 
 ing from illness, and Mrs. L , though roaming about the 
 
 city, has not sought the air of Capitol Hill, where, I think, she 
 might be greatly benefited by the influences that Dr. Beecher 
 told us were so good about this house. Mr. Miller, I think, 
 with this knowledge in his possession, would recommend a trial 
 of it. What think you ? 
 
 The piano still moves, and anxious inquirers seek to solve the 
 mystery of Spiritualism. But I am writing much more than I 
 intended, which was merely to save you trouble on my account. 
 
 Be pleased to present us kindly to your parents, and for Miss 
 Parnie and yourself the affectionate regard of your friend, 
 
 ANNA M. COSBY. 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 255 
 
 553 Capitol-line, Washington, July 26th. 
 
 Dear Nettie : — 
 
 For so I must now, and ever call you, in memory of the bright 
 hours passed with you. You came at a moment when we felt your 
 presence an actual need. I was sad and lonely ; earth has its 
 solitudes, so has life, and there is no solitude so cheerless and 
 forlorn as that of the human heart without companionship or 
 sympathy. You came and brought with you our kind, good 
 friend "the Dr.," who soon soothed into forgetfulness all my 
 sorrows ; he, with yourself, possessing a graceful union of 
 delicate satire, exquisite humor, genuine pathos and fervid 
 fancy, of which I never wearied, but fear my sweet young 
 friend I may have wearied you, did not your kind letter tell 
 me otherwise. I saw throughout its pages the continued welling 
 up of the unfathomed springs of your goodness of heart, and 
 thank both Parnie and yourself for what you are pleased to 
 term an act of kindness extended by me, assuring you that I 
 looked upon your part it was "more blessed to give than to 
 receive." Now let me thank you for your welcome and truly 
 beautiful letter ; it spoke out the pure doctrine of your heart, 
 and I united in prayerful joy that you had a mother and father 
 to bid you welcome home. I often feel that hunger of the 
 heart, for so brief a period has passed since mine were taken to 
 a better land. But I am thankful to God that he permitted 
 me to have them on earth so long, and to have the blessed 
 assurance that they are now re-united in the kingdom of God. 
 Present me kindly to your parents, and say I am gratified if I 
 have in any way been the means of restoring their loved 
 daughter to their arms. I am glad your devoted and noble 
 friend Miss Parnie went to your rescue in the arrangement of 
 the household ; I expect she found it an easier task than the 
 accomplishment of the one in Georgetown. Give her my love and 
 say I will expect to hear from the doctor through her, as I 
 
256 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 quite miss his counsel. Why will he not come and influence 
 my hand, at some appointed time, at my writing-table in the 
 little nook where your last beautiful little tribute was written, 
 which I shall cherish as one of the gems of thought. I wrote 
 Parnie a few days since in answer to her kind and welcome 
 letter, and mentioned therein a strange dream I had had on the 
 night of the 12th inst., dreaming the same thing three times. 
 I did not know but that the doctor might interpret its meaning. 
 I want you to ask him if he is ever present before I go to sleep, 
 for I have imagined sometimes he is there, and ask him to im- 
 press me in my dreams of certain events that passed over the 
 surface of my mind ; in several instances I have dreamed on the 
 subject of thought. The medicine has acted like a charm, re- 
 moving all unpleasantness after eating, and so well have I liked 
 it that I have added more liquid to it, and occasionally take a 
 small quantity as a token of remembrance to my spirit friend. 
 Regarding the rattlesnake oil, I have at last met with a gentle- 
 man who knows all about its virtues and promises to obtuin me 
 some from the mountains, where he soon expects to visit. I 
 hope you will have a speedy opportunity of seeing "Father 
 N orris," for no one holds his children dearer than he does. He 
 is constantly suggesting plans for their happiness, and devising 
 means in carrying them out. 
 
 The benevolence and goodness stamped upon his face is a fit 
 index of the purity within. I rejoice with you both that God 
 has seen fit to give you so kind a friend. 
 
 Mr. N orris in his visits to our city on business can always 
 bear me pleasant tidings of the absent ones, whose names have 
 become as household words. Some time in the fall I may visit 
 for a brief period the city of New York ; if so, we shall meet 
 again. I know, dear Nettie, if you often speak of the "old 
 house on the hill," and pen so feelingly a tribute to the recol- 
 lection of your visit there, may not the memory of one who 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 257 
 
 loves to dwell upon that time, cluster around your heart to give 
 birth to words and messages to her who is left ? 
 
 I will deliver your message to the Messrs. Forney and friend 
 as soon as an opportunity occurs ; and Mr. Marceron shall be 
 the recipient of your kind recollection through a special note 
 from me. When a committee of the Columbia Fire Company 
 waited on me, the evening of the 3d, to receive the signal flag, 
 and receiving also that which no company had ever been 
 honored with before, a message from the spirit world, I added 
 a throb of pleasure in the heart of all its members, and a memory 
 of grateful joy never to be forgotten. They regretted you were 
 called away so soon, and desire me to say a word from me will 
 always obtain you their hall to speak in. 
 
 The noble old flag was thrown out on the 4th to catch the 
 breeze of heaven and bid defiance to its upstart rival. And 
 among the many who passed under its folds as it waved from 
 the window of the engine-house was one who especially attracted 
 my attention, walking with a pretty-looking girl. 
 
 He pointed upward to the stars and stripes and passed under 
 with his head uncovered. 
 
 How comes on " Pinkey ?" We miss her too, and the gifted 
 "Lady" whose visits, truly like angels, are " few and far be- 
 tween." She brought with her the beacon of bright and hope- 
 ful days to come, and from the storehouse of her mind im- 
 parted a knowledge of events to come to the inmates of the 
 old house. 
 
 Aunt E. has not received as much benefit as myself. Tell 
 the doctor that she has not been able to get the oil of sage, but 
 in using the others there is a numbness about the organs of the 
 ear, and a most unpleasant sensation at times when she lays her 
 head on her pillow. I know he will tell her what will relieve 
 her. For you know my faith is great in him. 
 
 I wish I was near to ask Dr. Beecher's advice on a subject 
 17 
 
258 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 that I have taken deep interest in, that is the pardon of a Col. 
 Warren, a State prisoner in Fort Delaware; I am in league 
 with his friends to get himself and family restored to their 
 home in Maryland, as we all believe a persecution has set in 
 against him, and most unjust. But I will not weary you, dear 
 Nettie, but now bid you good-bye, thanking you once again for 
 your letter and hoping you will write as often as your time or 
 that of dear Miss Parnie will permit ; in hearing from one I can 
 hear of both. God bless you ! Your friend, 
 
 ANNA. 
 
 The following beautiful poem was written and pre- 
 sented to my husband and myself at the anniversary 
 of our crystal wedding. The writer, Prof. S. B. 
 Brittan, was a writer of distinguished merit, and his 
 books will be found in the leading libraries of this 
 country and Europe. He was formerly a Univer- 
 salist pastor, but later converted to Spiritualism, to 
 which religion he devoted his life and efforts. His 
 last work, " The Battle-ground of Spiritualism," had 
 a flattering reception and large sale. " In argument 
 for Spiritualism he was a host against all opponents," 
 said Mr. Partridge at his funeral services. He was 
 a practical man of great experience ; and with all the 
 bitterness heaped upon us while we were associated, I 
 never heard an unkind word from his lips. 
 
 My dear friend Henry J. Newton, President of the 
 first New York Society, said, in addressing Mr. Riddle, 
 President of the Spiritual Alliance : " He was sustained 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 259 
 
 by an unbounded, unfaltering faith and confidence in 
 the goodness of his heavenly Father. This faith 
 never forsook him; it was the rock to which he 
 seemed securely anchored, and from which no storm 
 nor tempest, however fierce or rude, could for a single 
 instant move him." 
 
 THE CRYSTAL WEDDING. 
 
 BY S. B. BRITTAN. 
 
 Inscribed to Nettie C. and William P. Maynard on the Fifteenth 
 Anniversary of their Marriage. 
 
 Come, gracious Muse ! now wake my sleeping lyre ; 
 Touch our fond hearts with Love's celestial fire ; 
 Come, spirit pure — come in thy gentle mien ; 
 The life of wedded lovers is our theme. 
 Come, holy spirit of a blameless love, 
 Whose living symbol is the spotless dove ; 
 Let angel hosts, all beautiful and fair, 
 Now offer incense to the morning air ; 
 And mortals full of hope and chaste desire 
 Come here, to learn the lesson and admire : 
 Come, all the pure ! your loving presence lend ; 
 We worship faith unbroken to the end. 
 
 Hail, mated souls ! whose faith was never moved — 
 The living faith so fully tried and proved. 
 These loving friends come in their kindly zeal, 
 With cordial greeting and to wish you weal ; 
 The coming of the truth, like crystal clear, 
 Is lucid as the vision of the seer ; 
 The vital truth, it seems to me, is seen — 
 The Crystal Wedding here is made to mean — 
 
260 WAS LINCOLN A SPIUITUALIST? 
 
 No fragile substance like to brittle glass, 
 That broken once can nevermore, alas ! 
 Be sound ; but where is the secret meaning — 
 The hidden truth, deeper than all seeming ? — 
 Not merely crystal in the common name, 
 But crystal whiteness of a spotless fame. 
 
 Hail, blessed Love ! the heart's sincere desire, 
 The blissful state to which pure souls aspire ; 
 Thy gentle presence, in our noblest moods, 
 Like morning light above the spirit broods : 
 A peaceful spirit on life's battle-field 
 Is better far than burnished sword and shield ; 
 Man struggles vainly with a cruel fate 
 Till Woman smiles upon his lonely state ; 
 Her gentle presence stills the mortal strife 
 And sweetens all the bitterness of life. 
 Let discord cease ! Now banish all our woes ; 
 The household Angels bring us sweet repose. 
 
 Dear, gifted Guide : through shadows of the night, 
 
 Thy shining footprints on the mountain height, 
 
 Of purest truth and most aspiring thought, 
 
 Reveal the work that willing hands have wrought. 
 
 Our blessing rest upon the noble soul, 
 
 And gentle hands that lead* thee to the goal ; 
 
 We can but worship with supreme delight 
 
 Before the shrine of Purity and Right. 
 
 In living you impart a modest charm 
 
 To life — our wayward passions to disarm ; 
 
 From many ills you bring us sweet release, 
 
 And blessing in the victories of peace. 
 
 The purest souls interpret thee aright, 
 
 And gladly hail thee, Messenger of Light ! 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 261 
 
 The following letter was sent to Mrs. Cosby, and 
 by her presented to me. It refers to my lecture in 
 the Fire Company's hall : — 
 
 Washington, June 26, 1863. 
 Mrs. Anna M. Cosby: — 
 
 Dear Madam : Your request in relation to the hall for 
 Monday night was unanimously and with pleasure granted. 
 And I trust that your friend, Miss Colburn, will meet with that 
 success that crowned her efforts on Wednesday night. I know, 
 madam, that anything that the company can do, that is a 
 pleasure to you and a benefit to your friend, will afford us as 
 much satisfaction as it will you pleasure. Trusting, madam, 
 that you will ever, in your prayers, remember us, 
 I remain truly your friend, 
 
 M. MARCERON, 
 Corresponding Secretary Columbia Fire Company. 
 
 The following letter is of special interest at this 
 present time, as it comes unsolicited from an acquaint- 
 ance of long ago : — 
 
 Hot Springs, Ark., June 18, 1890. 
 Dear Mrs. Maynard : — 
 
 You will be surprised by receiving a letter from me, as we 
 have not met for twenty-one years, but you have not forgotten 
 me I hope. I lived in Washington City during the war, and 
 we frequently met there in those turbulent days. The first 
 time we met was at Thomas Gale Foster's house. A few days 
 after that I went with yon to the War Department to see some- 
 thing about your brother, who was in the army, and we were 
 referred to an officer in some other part of the city, where we 
 
262 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRI1 UALIS1 ? 
 
 went. The officer then received us very uncivilly, being a 
 young lieutenant, was arrogant and insulting. We left, both 
 feeling quite humiliated. After that I heard you were received 
 very differently at the White House. I understood that the 
 President consulted the spirits through you, Charlie Foster, and 
 Colchester, but I never knew until recently that he gave the 
 credit to you for the inspiration that produced the Emancipa- 
 tion Proclamation. I read in the "Better Way" Mr. New- 
 ton's report of the wonderful manifestations in your room on 
 5th of March last. If your husband would write me and state 
 who was the spirit speaking through you that inspired that 
 great national work I will be very much obliged. I had a 
 communication purporting to come from Mr. Lincoln not long 
 since, and I would like very much to be assured that it was 
 genuine. If he ever comes to you ask him if he has ever given 
 me a communication, and if so, when and through what medium, 
 also what it was about. I would give anything in reason to 
 have it verified. 
 
 I have resided here for over twelve years, and Mr. Newton 
 told me when I was in New York last winter that you were 
 here some ten years ago. I would have been so glad to have 
 met you and renewed our old acquaintance had I known you 
 were in town. Mr. Newton told me of your terrible affliction, 
 and I was very sorry to hear of it. 
 
 I leased my hotel to my son (L. F. Hay), and retired my- 
 self, being now over seventy years old. Mrs. Hay and myself 
 will leave to-morrow for Denver, Col., where we will spend the 
 hot months. My address there will be No. 722 Lincoln Ave. 
 
 The last time we met was in February, 1869, in Washington. 
 I escorted you to and from the lecture-room. On our way to 
 the lecture I remarked to you I wished the old Yankee doctor 
 (I have forgotten his name) would control you that evening. 
 Sure enough he did, and gave a very interesting discourse. I 
 
APPENDED NOTES. 263 
 
 was very much entertained. I wonder he did not appear to 
 vou at the stance named above. I was acquainted with Dr. J. 
 R. Newton, who appeared on that occasion. With my best 
 wishes and high esteem, I am very truly your 
 
 Friend and brother, 
 
 DR. C. D. HAT. 
 
 The following note was clipped from a paper some 
 time ago. It is by State Legislator Warren Chase, 
 of Illinois : — 
 
 THE MEDIUM COLCHESTER. 
 To the Editor : — 
 
 W. C. H., of Sodus, N. Y., says he did not know what be- 
 came of Colchester. He passed to spirit life many years ago. 
 In January, 1865, while I was lecturing in Washington, D. C, 
 I often saw Colchester, who was astonishing many public men 
 by his tests. I know that he visited President Lincoln and was 
 often sent for by him and gave him evidence of spirit inter- 
 course, as did also Mrs. Nettie Maynard, of White Plains, N. 
 Y. , before she was married to Mr. Maynard. She was a re- 
 markable medium, whom I knew in Hartford, Conn., in the 
 early days of her mediumship. She is an invalid and great 
 sufferer now. Colchester told me he often received from public 
 men ten and twenty dollars for the tests given when he asked 
 nothing. He was very generous and a remarkable test medium, 
 but he also told me he often cheated the fools, as he could easily 
 do it, but never deceived the honest and intelligent inquirers. 
 Mrs. Maynard's conscience would never let her cheat anybody. 
 She stopped where I did in Washington, and I know when she 
 was sent for by President Lincoln, and as I knew him well, I 
 
264 WAS LINCOLN A SPIRITUALIST? 
 
 knew he was a Spiritualist. Much of this early history is re- 
 corded in my "Forty Years on the Spiritual Rostrum." 
 Cobden, III. WARREN CHASE. 
 
 This brings the present volume to a close. My 
 experience teaches me that my work is almost done, 
 but not entirely, until I have recounted the experi- 
 ences which befell me after the close of the war ; and, 
 therefore, I propose to incorporate the many subse- 
 quent happenings of the latter part of my life in 
 another volume ; and should I be spared so to do, very 
 many of my dear friends will find place and recogni- 
 tion therein. To have included them in this volume 
 would have extended it beyond a reasonable limit, and 
 also not enabled the perfection of a single purpose — 
 
 Was Abraham Lincoln a Spiritualist ? 
 

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