On the morning of November 19 at 9:30 a.m. , Lincoln , riding a brown horse , joined the townspeople , and widows marching out to the grounds to be dedicated . On the morning of November 19 at 9:30 a.m. , Lincoln , astride a chestnut bay horse and riding between Secretary of State William H. Seward and Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P. Chase , joined in a procession with the assembled dignitaries , townspeople , and widows marching out to the grounds to be dedicated .