Mrs.Grant was with me in Washington at the time, and we were invited by President and Mrs.Lincoln to accompany them to the theatre on the evening of that day.

I replied to the President's verbal invitation to the effect, that if we were in the city we would take great pleasure in accompanying them; but that I was very anxious to get away and visit my children, and if I could get through my work during the day I should do so.

I did get through and started by the evening train on the 14th, sending Mr.Lincoln word, of course, that I would not be at the theatre.
At that time the railroad to New York entered Philadelphia on Broad Street; passengers were conveyed in ambulances to the Delaware River, and then ferried to Camden, at which point they took the cars again.
When I reached the ferry, on the east side of the City of Philadelphia, I found people awaiting my arrival there; and also dispatches informing me of the assassination of the President and Mr.Seward, and of the probable assassination of the Vice President, Mr.Johnson, and requesting my immediate return.
It would be impossible for me to describe the feeling that overcame me at the news of these assassinations, more especially the assassination of the President.

I knew his goodness of heart, his generosity, his yielding disposition, his desire to have everybody happy, and above all his desire to see all the people of the United States enter again upon the full privileges of citizenship with equality among all.

I knew also the feeling that Mr.Johnson had expressed in speeches and conversation against the Southern people, and I feared that his course towards them would be such as to repel, and make them unwilling citizens; and if they became such they would remain so for a long while.