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inductive reason had discerned the truth, and in silence the great tears coursed down his gashed cheeks, as it sank into his heart.
Lxxii.
At the
Cabinet meeting held the morning of the day of the assassination, it was afterward remembered, a remarkable circumstance occurred.
General Grant was present, and during a lull in the discussion the
President turned to him and asked if he had heard from
General Sherman.
General Grant replied that he had not, but was in hourly expectation of receiving despatches from him announcing the surrender of
Johnston.
“Well,” said the
President, “you will hear very soon now, and the news will be important.”
“Why do you think so?”
said the
General.
“Because,” said
Mr. Lincoln, “I had a dream last night; and ever since the war began, I have invariably had the same dream before any important military event occurred.”
He then instanced
Bull Run,
Antietam,
Gettysburg, etc., and said that before each of these events, he had had the same dream; and turning to
Secretary Welles, said: “It is in your line, too,
Mr. Welles.
The dream is, that I saw a ship sailing very rapidly; and I am sure that it portends some important national event.”
Later in the day, dismissing all business, the