Lincoln's Cottage: a Country House for the President
Adapted · B2 · VOA · 2:13 · B2
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About five kilometers from the White House in Washington, DC there is an old building connected to Abraham Lincoln one of America's most famous presidents. This building is called President Lincoln's Cottage
Lincoln spent about a quarter of his time there while he was president. Important decisions were also made at this place In the summer the weather in Washington can be very hot Lincoln used a country house nearby to escape the heat.
Every morning and evening he rode his horse between the White House, and the country house. The journey took around 30 minutes The house he went to was located on the soldiers home grounds. It was on higher ground than the White House, which made it cooler, because of the wind.
The house was also quiet a good place for Lincoln to think, and work. Lincoln mainly used this house to write Some of what he wrote there later became famous including the early drafts of the Emancipation Proclamation.
This important document issued during the Civil War declared that all enslaved people in the rebellious states were free. The Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865
Soldiers stayed at the soldiers home to protect Lincoln during this time. At first Lincoln did not want their protection, and thought he did not need it, but he started to enjoy talking to the soldiers.
Most of what we know about Lincoln during his time at the house comes from stories told by these soldiers. One night in 1864 Lincoln was almost killed He was alone riding his horse near the house, when someone shot at him.
The shot hit his tall hat, which flew off his head. The soldiers who found the hat saw that a bullet had gone through it. Luckily Lincoln was not hurt
After this attack the War Department gave Lincoln more protection, but it was not enough. Lincoln visited his country house for the last time on April 13 1865. The next day he was shot by John Wilkes Booth an actor, who supported the Confederacy at Ford's Theatre in Washington.
The cottage opened for visitors in 2008 I'm John Russell.
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