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| Scene of the inauguration. |
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the “Minute-men” of Maryland and Virginia.
This condition, and the natural belief that many of the thousands of the loyal people who were pouring into the Capital to participate in the ceremonies were well armed, kept the enemies of the Republic in perfect restraint.
The dawn of the 4th of March was pleasant, and the day was a bright one. Washington City was crowded by more than twenty-five thousand strangers, a large portion of them the political friends of the President elect.
The streets around Willard's Hotel were densely packed, at an early hour, with eager watchers for the appearance of Mr. Lincoln.
The forenoon wore away, and he was yet invisible to the public eye. He was waiting for Mr. Buchanan, who was engaged almost up to twelve o'clock, the appointed hour for the inaugural ceremonies, in signing bills at his room in the Capitol.
Then he was conveyed rapidly to the White House, where he entered a barouche, waited upon by servants in livery, and hastened to Willard's. The President elect, with the late Senators Pearce and Baker, there entered
the carriage, and at a little before one o'clock the procession, under the direction of Chief Marshal Major French, moved along Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol.1 Mounted troops, under the direction of General Scott, moved on the flanks on parallel streets,
1 Marshal French was assisted by thirteen aids and twenty-nine assistant marshals, representing loyal States and Territories. Besides these were eighty-three assistants. The marshal's aids wore blue scarfs and white rosettes. Their saddle-cloths were blue, trimmed with gilt. The assistant marshals wore blue scarfs and white rosettes. Their saddle-cloths were white, trimmed with blue. Each carried a baton two feet in length, of blue color, with ends gilt two inches deep. The procession was composed as follows:--
Aids. Marshal-in-Chief Aids. A National Flag, with appropriate emblems. The President of the United States, with the President Elect and Suite, with Marshals on their left, and the Marshal of the United States for the District of Columbia (Colonel William Selden) and his Deputies on their right. The Committee of Arrangements of the Senate. Ex-Presidents of the United States. The Republican Association. The Judiciary. The Clergy. Foreign Ministers. The Corps Diplomatique. Members elect, Members, and ex-Members of Congress, and ex-Members of the Cabinet. The Peace Congress. Heads of Bureaus. Goernors and ex-Governors of States and Territories, and Members of the Legislatures of the same. Officers of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Militia, in full uniform. Officers and Soldiers of the Revolution, of the War of 1812, and subsequent periods. The Corporate Authorities of Washington and Georgetown. Other Political and Military Associations from the District, and other parts of the United States All organized Civil Societies. Professors, Schoolmasters, and Students within the District of Columbia. Citizens of the District, and of States and Territories. There was a military escort under Colonels Harris and Thomas, and Captain Taylor. The carriage in which the two Presidents rode was surrounded by military, so as to prevent any violence, if it should be attempted.
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