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1 1861 18 APRIL 1861, THURSDAY THE WHITE HOUSE IS TURNED INTO BARRACKS. JIM LANE MARshalled his Kansas Warriors today at Willard's and placed them at the disposal of Maj. Hunter, who turned them tonight into the East Room. It is a splendid company-worthy such an armory. Besides the western Jayhawkers it comprises some ofthe best materielofthe East. Senator Pomeroy and old Anthony Bleecker stood shoulder to shoulder in the ranks. Jim Lane walked proudly up and down the ranks with a new sword that the Major had given him. The Major has made me his aid, and I labored under some uncertainty as to whether I should speak to privates or not.! The President today received this despatch. "We entreat you to take immediate measures to protect American Commerce in the Southern waters and we respectfully suggest the charter or purchase of Steamers of which a number can be fitted from here without delay." Signed by Grinnell Minturn, & many others ofthe leading business men of the place. The President immediately sent for the Cabinet. The[y] came together and Seward answered the despatch in these words.2 Despatch to the President received and letters under consideration. WH Seward.' All day the notes of preparation have been heard at the public buildings and the Armories. Every body seems to be expecting a Son or brother or "young man" in the coming regiments. Tonight, Edward brought me a card from Mrs Ann S. Stephens expressing a wish to see the President on matters concerning his personal safety. As the Ancient was in bed, I volunteered to receive the harrowing communication. Edward took me to his little room adjoining the Hall and I waited. Mrs. Stephens, who is neither young nor yet fair to any miraculous extent came in leading a lady who was a little of both whom she introduced as Mrs. CoL Lander. I was iftfinitely delighted at this chance interviewwith the Medea, the Julia the Mona Lisa ofmy stage struckSft!tt4 days. After many hesitating and bashful trials, Mrs. Lander told the im1 INSIDE LINCOLN'S WHITE HOUSE pulse that brought them. Some young Virginian long haired swaggering chivalrous of course and indiscreet friend had come into town in great anxiety for a new saddle, and meeting her had said that he and halfa dozen others including a daredevil guerilla from Richmond named Ficldin would do a thing within forty eight hours that would ring through the world. Connecting this central fact with a multiplicity of attendant details she concluded that the President was either to be assassinated or captured. She ended by renewing her protestations of earnest solicitude mingled with fears of the impropriety of the step. Lander has made her very womanly since he married her. Imagine Jean M. Davenport a blushing hesitating wife.4 They went away and I went to the bedside of the Chief couche. I told him the yarn; he quietly grinned. Going to my room, I met the Captain. He was a little boozy and very eloquent. He dilated on the troubles of the time and bewailed the existence of a garrison in the White House "to give eclat to Jim Lane:'5 Hill Lamon came in about midnight saying that Cash. Claywas drilling a splendid company atWillard's Hall and thatthe town was in a generaltempest ofenthusiastic excitement. which not being very new, I went to sleep.6 19 APRIL 1861, FRIDAY Early this morning I consulted with Maj. Hunter as to measures proper to be taken in the matter of guarding the house. He told me that he would fulfill any demand I should make. The forenoon brought us news of the destruction ofGov!. property at Harper's Ferry. It delighted the Major, regarding it as a deadly blow at the prosperity ofthe recusant Virginia.7 I called to see Joe Jefferson & found him more of a gentleman than I had expected. A very intellectual face, thin and eager with large intense blue eyes, the lines firm, and the hair darker than I had thought. I then went to see Mrs. Lander and made her tell the story all over again "just by way of a slanC' Miss Lander the sculptor was there. I like Jean M. more ana more. Coming up, I found the streets full ofthe bruit ofthe Baltimore mob & at the White House was a nervous gentleman who insisted on seeing the President to saythat a mortar battery has been planted on theVirginia heights commanding the town. He...

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