Monday, January 21, 2013

Second Inaugurals

Lincoln's Second Inaugural was brilliantly discussed by Walt Whitman, but his words seem sad, and not a little prophetic.

When I look at the photos of the Second Inaugural, I remember only too clearly who was not there--our Colonel. He had worked so hard to elect Lincoln. He rode the famous Inaugural Express to Washington, protecting Lincoln and the First Family as he went. He, Hay, and Nicolay sat together in the crowd at the Capital to hear Lincoln repeat the oath of office, and later that evening, they went as a trio of bachelors to the Inaugural Ball, held in a large tent erected especially for the occasion.

I know Elmer Ellsworth was missed. I missed him today.

3 comments:

  1. I posted a photo and the text of Lincoln's Second Inaugural on a Chinese version of FaceBook where I have an account. No easy feat if you don't know Mandarin! But I do it mainly to keep the memory of me alive in the mind of a certain English teacher who thinks I am too old for her. I ought to post the enlargement you show here. It is amazing to think that we have photographs of such an important and historic public event from 148 years ago! I wonder what the Chinese people who read my page think about it all. I would link to your blog on occasion, but the PRC government doesn't allow Blogger blogs into the Mainland. One of my avatars is of my great grandfather, in his uniform, on his wedding day in 1864. Another one is of "Lord Dundreary"...so I am spoon feeding them some ACW history from time to time. And it is very poignant to think of someone like EE not being able to see the conclusion of what he had worked, fought and died for. Life is unfair and tragic after all. So many others died too, without knowing the outcome. I wonder if all of them would have thought the sacrifice was worth it?

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