GDG- A flat Failure

[Dennis Lawrence]

November 19, 1863
Gettysburg

According to Nicolay's account, after breakfast at Wills house, Lincoln 
retires to his room, where Nicolay joins him, and completes preparation of 
his speech. John G. Nicolay, "Lincoln's Gettysburg Address," The Century 
Magazine 25:598.

About 10 A.M. President, dressed in black, wearing white gauntlets and 
usual crepe around hat in memory of Willie, leaves Wills house to join 
procession. Receives round after round of "three hearty cheers," and shakes 
many hands as crowd gathers. Washington Chronicle, 21 November 1863.

Thousands welcome President in Gettysburg. Weather fine. Flags in 
Washington at half-mast in honor of dead in cemetery at Gettysburg. 
Washington Star, 19 November 1863.

Gov. Curtin (Pa.), who arrived last evening with numerous important people 
on special train from Harrisburg, Pa., remarks to Lincoln about serenade 
given Gov. Seymour (N.Y.), and Lincoln replies: "He deserves it. No man has 
shown greater interest and promptness in his cooperation with us." Rice, 514.

President mounts "a magnificent chestnut charger." Monaghan, 
<http://www.thelincolnlog.org/show_cite.php?corresp=books_Monaghan>Diplomat, 
341.

Rides in procession to cemetery. Hay, 
<http://www.thelincolnlog.org/show_cite.php?corresp=books_Hay>Letters and 
Diary.

Procession delayed; starts to move about 11 A.M. LL, No. 1425.

Head of procession arrives at speaker's platform inside cemetery at 11:15 
A.M. President receives military salute. President and members of cabinet, 
with group of military and civic dignitaries, occupy platform. "The 
President was received with marked respect and a perfect silence due to the 
solemnity of the occasion, every man among the immense gathering uncovering 
at his appearance." Washington Chronicle, 20 November 1863.

Lincoln shakes hands with Gov. Tod (Ohio), who introduces Gov.-elect John 
Brough (Ohio), and takes his place between chairs reserved for Sec. Seward 
and Edward Everett, orator to make principal address. At 11:40 A.M. Everett 
arrives, is introduced to President, and program music begins. Washington 
Chronicle, 21 November 1863.

Once during Everett's two-hour oration Lincoln stirs in his chair. "He took 
out his steel-bowed spectacles, put them on his nose, took two pages of 
manuscript from his pocket, looked them over and put them back." Monaghan, 
<http://www.thelincolnlog.org/show_cite.php?corresp=books_Monaghan>Diplomat, 
341.

About 2 P.M. Lincoln "in a fine, free way, with more grace than is his 
wont" delivers Gettysburg Address. He holds manuscript but does not appear 
to read from it. John G. Nicolay, "Lincoln's Gettysburg Address," The 
Century Magazine 25:602; Dennett, 
<http://www.thelincolnlog.org/show_cite.php?corresp=books_Dennett>Hay 
Diaries and Letters, 121; 
<http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=lincoln;rgn=div1;view=text;idno=lincoln7;node=lincoln7%3A40>Address 
Delivered at the Dedication of the Cemetery at Gettysburg, 19 November 
1863, <http://www.thelincolnlog.org/show_cite.php?corresp=books_Basler2>CW, 
7:22-23.

Pronounces his "r" plainly, does not speak like Southerner. Henry B. 
Rankin, Intimate Character Sketches of Abraham Lincoln (Philadelphia: 
Lippincott, 1924), 285.

On platform, after speech, President remarks to Marshal Lamon: "Lamon, that 
speech won't scour! It is a flat failure and the people are disappointed." 
Lamon, 
<http://www.thelincolnlog.org/show_cite.php?corresp=books_Lamon2>Recollections, 
173.

John R. Young, recording speech in shorthand for Philadelphia "Press," 
leans across aisle and asks President if that is all. Lincoln replies, 
"Yes, for the present." John R. Young, Men and Memories: Personal 
Reminiscences, 2 vols., edited by May D. Russell Young (New York: F. T. 
Neely, 1901), 1:69.

President decides to hear address by Lt. Gov.-elect Charles Anderson (Pa.) 
at 4:30 P.M. in Presbyterian Church. Meets "old John Burns, the soldier of 
1812, and the only man in Gettysburg who volunteered to defend it." Burns 
accompanies him and Sec. Seward to hear Anderson speak. President's special 
train leaves Gettysburg about 7 P.M. and arrives in Washington at 1:10 A.M. 
on Friday. Washington Chronicle, 21 November 1863.

Lincoln returns from Gettysburg with a mild form of smallpox (varioloid) 
and remains under half quarantine in White House for nearly three weeks. 
Bates, 
<http://www.thelincolnlog.org/show_cite.php?corresp=books_Bates3>Diary, 30 
November 1863; Welles, 
<http://www.thelincolnlog.org/show_cite.php?corresp=books_Welles1>Diary, Dec.