Group 1 Source #1 - The Death of President Lincoln, 1865 Morse, John T. (editor), The Diary of Gideon Welles (1911) http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/lincoln.htm "The President had been carried across the street from the theater to the house of a Mr. Peterson. We entered by ascending a flight of steps above the basement and passing through a long hall to the rear, where the President lay extended on a bed, breathing heavily. Several surgeons were present, at least six, I should think more. Among them I was glad to observe Doctor Hall, who, however, soon left. I inquired of Doctor Hall, as I entered, the true condition of the President. He replied the President was dead to all intents, although he might live three hours or perhaps longer. The giant sufferer lay extended diagonally across the bed, which was not long enough for him. He had been stripped of his clothes. His large arms, which were occasionally exposed, were of a size which one would scarce have expected from his spare appearance. His slow, full respiration lifted the clothes with each breath that he took. His features were calm and striking. I had never seen them appear to better advantage than for the first hour, perhaps, that I was there. After that his right eye began to swell and that part of his face became discolored. A double guard was stationed at the door and on the sidewalk to repress the crowd, which was of course highly excited and anxious. The room was small and overcrowded. The surgeons and members of the cabinet were as many as should have been in the room, but there were many more, and the hall and other rooms in the front or main house were full. One of these rooms was occupied by Mrs. Lincoln and her attendants, with Miss Harris. Mrs. Dixon and Mrs. Kinney came to her about twelve o'clock. About once an hour Mrs. Lincoln would repair to the bedside of her dying husband and with lamentation and tears remain until overcome by emotion. About 6 A.M. I experienced a feeling of faintness, and for the first time after entering the room a little past eleven I left it and the house and took a short walk in the open air. It was a dark and gloomy morning, and rain set in before I returned to the house some fifteen minutes later. Large groups of people were gathered every few rods, all anxious and solicitous. Some one or more from each group stepped forward as I passed to inquire into the condition of the President and to ask if there was no hope. Intense grief was on every countenance when I replied that the President could survive but a short time. The colored people especially-and there were at this time more of them were overwhelmed with grief. A little before seven, I went into the room where the dying President was rapidly drawing near the closing moments. His wife soon after made her last visit to him. The death struggle had begun. Robert, his son, stood with several others at the head of the bed. He bore himself well but on two occasions gave way to overpowering grief and sobbed aloud, turning his head and leaning on the shoulder of Senator Sumner. The respiration of the President became suspended at intervals and at last entirely ceased at twenty-two minutes past seven"
Source #2 - Abraham Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Transcribed and Annotated by the Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College. Galesburg, Illinois. James S. Knox to Knox, Saturday, April 15, 1865 (Eyewitness account of Lincoln's assassination) http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mal:@field(docid%2b@lit(d4362700)) Washington D C Apr. 15th 1865. Dear Father. It is with sad feelings that I take up my pen & address you. Last Friday night at 10 o clock, I witnessed the saddest tragedy ever enacted in this country. Not with standing my promise to you not to visit the theatre, I could not resist the temptation to see General Grant and the President, and when the curtain at Ford's rose on the play of Our American Cousin my roommate and I were seated on the second row of orchestra seats, just beneath the presidents box. The President entered the Theatre at 8 1/2 o'clock, amid deafening cheers Everything was cheerful, and never was our magistrate (President) more enthusiastically welcomed, or more happy-- Many pleasant allusions were made to him in the play to which the Audience gave deafening responses, while Mr. Lincoln laughed heartily and bowed frequently to the gratified people. Just after the 3rd Act, and before the scenes were shifted, a muffled pistol shot was heard, and a man sprang wildly from the national box, partially tearing down the flag, then shouting "'sic semper tyrannis', the south is avenged" with brandished dagger rushed across the stage and disappeared The whole theatre was paralyzed. But two men sprang for the stage, a Mr. Stewart & myself. we rushed after the murderer and Mr. Stewart being familiar with the passages, reached the rear door, in time to see him spring on his horse and ride off. I became lost amid the scenery and was obliged to return. My roommate had followed me and secured the murderers hat. The shrill cry of murder from Mrs. Lincoln first roused the horrified audience, and in an instant the uproar was terrible. The silence of death was broken by shouts of "kill him", "hang him" while Mrs. Lincoln, on her knees uttered shriek after shriek at the feet of the dying President. Finally the theatre was clear and the President removed still greater was the excitement in the city. Rumors of the murder of Sec. Seward and his son reached us as we gained the street. Mounted patrols dashed everywhere, bells tolled the alarm, and excited crowds rushed about the avenues. dark clouds had gathered in the heavens, and soldiers sternly paced their patrol. May I never see another such night-- I could not sleep. I could only think, till thought was weary, and in despair thought again. Yesterday morning the president died. At 8 1/2 o clock, the kindest, noblest, truest heart ceased to beat, and Abraham Lincoln was dead. Let no man ever speak to me again of Southern Chivalry, or talk in sympathy with traitors-- The events of last night can never be forgotten and while there is strength in my arm, I never can, never will endure it-- Nor stand I alone-- The nation is aroused and terrible will be its vengeance. Treason, pardoned, forgiven, patiently dealt with by our president, viper like, has stung the breast, that kindly treated it, and the traitor south, has slain its truest, noblest friend. But I must cease... Love to all. Your affec son. Jas. S. Knox. Group 2
Group 3 Source #3 - Courier-Extra. National Calamity! Lincoln & Seward Assassinated!! Washington, April 15, 1865 http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/alrb/stbdsd/00800300/001.jpg
Source #4 - Milwaukee, Wis., Mayor (Abner Kirby). The great crime at Washington. Proclamation by the Mayor's office, Saturday morning, April 5th. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/alhtml/alrb/stbdsd/00502200/001.jpg Group 4
Source #5 Brokeburn: The Journal of Kate Stone 1861-1868 http://history.furman.edu/benson/fyw2010/anderson/andersonkatestone.htm Group 5 April 28, 1865 Tyler, Texas We hear that Lincoln is dead. 19 There can be no doubt, I suppose, that he has been killed by J. W. Booth. Sic semper tyrannis as his brave destroyer shouted as he sprang on his horse. All honor to J. Wilkes Booth, who has rid the world of a tyrant and made himself famous for generations. Surratt has also won the love and applause of all Southerners by his daring attack on Seward, whose life is trembling in the balance. How earnestly we hope our two avengers may escape to the South where they will meet with a warm welcome. It is a terrible tragedy, but what is war but one long tragedy? What torrents of blood Lincoln has caused to flow, and how Seward has aided him in his bloody work. I cannot be sorry for their fate. They deserve it. They have reaped their just reward. Source #6 Leconte Diary April 21-2, 1865 http://history.furman.edu/benson/fyw2010/anderson/andersonemmaleconte.htm Friday - Hurrah! Old Abe Lincoln has been assassinated! It may be abstractly wrong to be so jubilant but I just can't help it. After all the heaviness and gloom of yesterday this blow to our enemies comes like a gleam of light. We have suffered till we feel savage. Never mind our hated enemy has met the just reward of his life. The whole story may be a Yankee lie. It says Lincoln was murdered in his private box at the theatre on the night of the 14th (Good Friday - at the theatre) The assassin brandished a dagger and shouting Sic semper tyrannis Virginia is avenged! Shot the president through the head. He fell senseless and expired the next day a little after 10. The assassin made his escape in the crowd. No doubt it was regularly planned and he was surrounded by Southern sympathizers. Sic semper tyrannis! Could there have been a fitter death for such a man! I was at Mrs. Leland's saying my German when Mrs. Snowden brought in the news. We were all so excited and talked so much that Wilhelm Tell was quite forgotten. Our Spirits had been so low that the least good news elevated them wonderfully - and this was so utterly unlooked for - took us completely by surprise. I stopped in at Aunt Josie's to talk it over. As soon as I reached the head of the stairs they all cried out: What do you think of the news! Isn t it splendid! We were all in a tremor of excitement. The first feeling I had when the news was announced was simply gratified revenge. The man we hated had met is proper fate. The next thought was how it would infuriate them against us. And that was pleasant too. Andy Johnson will succeed him. The rail-splitter will be succeeded by the drunkard - such are the successors of Washington and Jefferson - such are to rule the South! Sic semper tyrannis! It has run in my head all day.
Source #7 - Douglass, Frederick (1818-1895) Title to Mary Todd Lincoln Date 17 August 1865 https://www.gilderlehrman.org/sites/default/files/inline-pdfs/douglass%20letter.pdf Rochester N.Y. August 17, 1865. Mrs. Abraham Lincoln: Dear Madam: Allow me to thank you, as I certainly do thank you most sincerely for your thoughtful kindness in making me the owner of a cane which was formerly the property and the favorite walking staff of your late lamented husband the honored and venerated President of the United States. I assure you, that this inestimable memento of his Excellency will be retained in my possession while I live - an object of sacred interest - a token not merely of the kind consideration in which I have reason to know that the President was pleased to hold me personally, but of as an indication of his humane interest in the welfare of my whole race. With every proper sentiment of Respect and Esteem I am, Dear Madam, your Obedient Servant. Frederick Douglass Source #8 - Behind the Scenes by Elizabeth Keckley, 1868 http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/keckley/keckley.html Group 6 I asked and received permission to go into the Guest Room, where the body of the President lay in state. When I crossed the threshold of the room, I could not help recalling the day on which I had seen little Willie lying in his coffin where the body of his father now lay. I remembered how the President had wept over the pale beautiful face of his gifted boy, and now the President himself was dead. The last time I saw him he spoke kindly to me, but alas! the lips would never move again. The light had faded from his eyes, and when the light went out the soul went with it. What a noble soul was his--noble in all the noble attributes of God! Never did I enter the solemn chamber of death with such palpitating heart and trembling footsteps as I entered it that day. No common mortal had died. The Moses of my people had fallen in the hour of his triumph. Fame had woven her choicest chaplet for his brow. Though the brow was cold and pale in death, the chaplet should not fade, for God had studded it with the glory of the eternal stars. When I entered the room, the members of the Cabinet and many distinguished officers of the army were grouped around the body of their fallen chief. They made room for me, and, approaching the body, I lifted the white cloth from the white face of the man that I had worshipped as an idol--looked upon as a demi-god. Notwithstanding the violence of the death of the President, there was something beautiful as well as grandly solemn in the expression of the placid face. There lurked the sweetness and gentleness of childhood, and the stately grandeur of god like intellect. I gazed long at the face, and turned away with tears in my eyes and a choking sensation in my throat. Ah! never was man so widely mourned before. The whole world bowed their heads in grief when Abraham Lincoln died.