Oxford Times, May 3, 1865
Alexandria, Va., April 21st 1865
One week ago today this city was the theater of one of the grandest and most joyful demonstrations in the memory of its oldest inhabitants; never before had it witnessed such an imposing military pageant and civic procession uniting together, as then took place to celebrate the Restoration of our Flag on the torn and battered embattlements of historic Sumter. It was one of those loveliest of days, known only to a Southern clime in its balmy month of April. "Old sol" shone out with more than wonted splendor, while the citizens and soldiery vied each other, to claim the palm in their joyous glorying. The music of several Bands playing national and favorite airs, the rolling of the drums, the joyous booming of cannons from the surrounding Forts, mingling with the steady tramp of the cavalry threatened to drown the ear in a sea of melodious joy. white the long lines of infantry advancing in measured tread with burnished muskets and bright bayonets glittering in the silver light of a cloudless sky, presented to the eye a pleasing appearance, better realized in beholding than old in writing. In the evening the Public Buildings and many private residences were quite splendidly illuminated, and again the streets were literally thronged with the old and the young, the sage, and the gay, making glad the scene and all retiring in hopeful anticipation that the nation was almost redeemed, and soon not only should our flag wave in full glory over the ruins of Sumter, but that its steaming stripes and glittering stars, should float in full triumph over all our land. But scarcely had the notes of rejoicing died away and lost themselves in starry light of heaven's blue, ere a shock came that has startled and horrified the Nation. Startling in its perfect unexpectedness. Horrifying in the depth of its iniquity, our beloved President had fallen a prey to the unholy hate generated and inculcated by the abettors of treason. At first we could not believe it, so utterly fiendish and inhuman did it seem; but it proved only too true. The daylight of Saturday was ushered in mournfully and sadly, the elements seemed to keep in harmony, and shed their dreamy misty tears as if to seep o'er the fallen and the slain. All the long dreary day the bells, that but yesterday rang out in such joyful peals, tolled in mournful knells that echoed and died away to sullen silence in the humid atmosphere; and the sun hid behind the leaden clouds away as if in good keeping with the fears, and the tears of a Nation's sorrow which alternately swayed in the bosoms of loyal citizens of the New Republic, and many who were hitherto disloyal mourned for him as at the loss of one whom they felt would strongly plead for them on the side of mercy, at the Tribunal of a nation's justice. But he is gone. Who shall entreat half so powerfully for leniency and forgiveness? Well may they tremble, for now stern justice stands alone and unmoved to deal unrelentless Law. Many southern sympathizers who have cursed Abraham Lincoln while living, we have heard speak of his good heart and have evidently honest purposes now that he is lost in the cold embraces of death, and while speaking, tremble for the future of the South. the voices of some of their Generals and the testimony of the 22,000 prisoners at Point Lookout I cite as an evidence of the generosity of the beings among them.
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