A tale of two presidents

Almost 100 years apart, two men of great importance to this country set foot in Annapolis. One was a farmer and soldier who wrested victory from the hands of the British and helped make possible the formation of the United States; the other was a young attorney from the Midwest, seeking to retain the "more perfect union" of his predecessor.

Both found themselves in our city in service of their country. We honor them together on Presidents Day today, but their experiences in Annapolis could not have been more different.

In Washington's time, Annapolis was a lively, refined town, referred to by one writer of the time as "the genteelest town in North America." Many people of wealth and social standing made their way to this port on the Severn to attend lavish dinners, balls and enjoy musical and theatrical arts.

From all accounts, Washington first came to Annapolis to discuss military cooperation between Maryland and Virginia with Gov. Sharpe of Maryland. There is a record of his presence on Feb. 14, 1757.

Many history books of the period refer to a tale, which may or may not be true, that while being entertained at Whitehall (the governor's home near "Greenberry" Point), Washington danced with Sally Ridout while Benjamin Franklin played musical glasses."

By 1770, Washington had become a frequent visitor to Annapolis. From Mt. Vernon, he would cross the Potomac River to Port Tobacco on the Maryland side, then ride on through Upper Marlborough across the South River to Annapolis, a comfortable day's journey.

He was particularly fond of the horse races put on by the Maryland Jockey Club, and often timed his visits to coincide with the racing season.

Washington kept a meticulous diary of his travels, which offer a marvelous window into the social life of the upper-class Annapolitans of the time. The entries are numerous and detail the people and activities he enjoyed: Dined at Mr. Carroll's and went to the ball. Dined at Mr. Ridout's and went to the play after it. Set off for the Annapolis races - dined and lodged at Mr. Boucher's.

But soon the serious business of the War for Independence took precedence over the pleasures of Annapolis. Throughout the period of the Revolutionary War, no record of Washington being in the city exists until Nov. 21, 1781, when he passed through town after defeating Cornwallis in Yorktown. Then, according to The Maryland Gazette, "on his appearance in the streets, people of every rank and age eagerly pressed forward to feed their eyes … on the man, to whom … they owed their present security and hopes of future liberty and peace."

Washington's most famous visit to Annapolis occurred when he returned to town on in 1783 to present his resignation as commander in chief of the Revolutionary armies to Congress, which was assembled at the time in the Old Senate Chamber of the State House.

The general arrived in Annapolis on Dec. 20, 1783, staying at Mann's Tavern at Conduit and Main streets. His arrival set off a flurry of activity. By the time he left town on the 24th, numerous receptions and parties had been held in his honor including a public dinner, an illumination of the State House and a ball.

According to invoices retained by State Archives, George Mann's bill to the state for refreshments associated with the festivities included "49 gallons of claret, 32 gallons of Madeira, 35 port, 6 of spirit" and "beefs, hams, tongues, chickens, turkey, tarts, custards and cheese-cakes" as well as candles, music etc. The state also had to pay Mr. Mann for 35 knives and 29 forks lost, 28 plates, 43 wine glasses and 61 broken bottles. It was quite a party.

Almost 100 years later, on Feb. 2, 1865, Abraham Lincoln arrived in Annapolis by train at 1 p.m., greeted only by Captain Blodgett, post quartermaster. The president, accompanied by his aides and Blodgett, walked from the depot, (located behind what is now the Loew's Annapolis Hotel), down West Street through Church Circle and over to the Naval Academy wharf, virtually unnoticed.

Annapolis was Lincoln's starting point for a journey to Fortress Monroe in Hampton, Va., to meet with representatives of the Confederacy to discuss an end to the Civil War.

There is some debate as to whether Lincoln kept the visit to Annapolis quiet because of the need for secrecy or because of the town's divided sympathies for the Union cause. He must have been aware that in the 1860 elections only one vote was cast for him in Annapolis, and three in all of Anne Arundel County.

The election of 1860 was divided between four parties: the Republicans (Lincoln's party), the Constitutional Union Party, the Northern Democrats, and the Southern Democrats.

The prevailing understanding is that the Republicans were poorly organized in the county and did not have what pundits today call "a good ground organization" in the area. The Constitutional Union Party won that year in Annapolis on a platform advocating a vague appeal for adherence to the Constitution, the Union, and the laws of the United States.

Lincoln had originally planned to make the trip to Fortress Monroe by steamer from Washington. But 1865 was an especially bitter winter, and ice on the Potomac made the trip hazardous. So the decision was made for him to take the train to Annapolis and board the steamer Thomas Colyer at the Naval Academy pier.

Accounts of the trip down the Chesapeake Bay and the meeting itself were recorded by a reporter from The New York Herald who found himself in the fortuitous position of being onboard the Thomas Colyer when the President boarded in Annapolis.

According to the newspaper, the illustrious visitor was entirely unexpected - at least to the other passengers.

Arriving on board at 2 p.m., the president asked Captain Samuel Colyer if he knew where he was going. "To Fortress Monroe," replied the Captain. "Thataright," said the president. The article goes on to state that "the boat at once threw off her lines and started on a mission which everyone hoped might be peace."

At first, the ship encountered large fields of ice. But heading south, the bay waters cleared and the Thomas Colyer, said in The Herald to be "the fastest in the world," arrived at its destination at 10:20 p.m. The arrival surprised all the participants at the fort, as Lincoln was not expected until morning. The Herald noted "he (Lincoln) undoubtedly made the quickest trip on record from Annapolis to Fortress Monroe."

Unfortunately, the meeting did not result in a consensus. Lincoln was intent on retaining one nation, and the Confederacy was intent on dividing the United States into two separate governments.

At 6 p.m., on the evening of February 3, Lincoln boarded the steamer River Queen and arrived in Annapolis at around 7:30 the following morning. This time, a carriage picked up Mr. Lincoln and took him to the train. By 9:30 a.m., he was back at work in the White House.

While there are many acknowledgments of Washington's presence in Annapolis, Lincoln's somber walk through our town at the height of the Civil War has gone largely unrecognized.

Now that is about to be rectified. Last month, through a resolution introduced by Alderman Richard Israel, the City Council approved the formation of Annapolis' Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. The group is charged with commemorating Lincoln's presence and walk through Annapolis to coincide with the nation's celebration of Lincoln's 200th birthday on Feb. 9, 2009.

According to Alderman Israel, who serves on the commission in an ex-officio capacity, the commission plans to erect a historical marker near the site of the railway station and hold an event following the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln through town.

"Whatever may have been the opinion of Lincoln among residents of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County in the Civil War," Alderman Israel wrote in a recent letter to County Executive John R. Leopold, "I think that we say without doubt that local opinion, like that of the Nation, is that Lincoln and Washington were our two greatest Presidents."

And both crossed paths with history in Annapolis.

Sources: Books "The Ancient City," by Elihu Riley; Annapolis: Anne Arundel's Town," by William O. Stevens; "Annapolis: Its Colonial and Naval Story," by Walter B. Norris.

Janice Gary is an award-winning writer of creative nonfiction. She teaches memoir at Annapolis Senior Center. Do you have an Annapolis story? Contact jangary22@hotmail.com