Full Title

Printed General Order no. 66 - Department of War.

Description

Official general order issued by the United States War Department announcing President Lincoln's death and ordering various mourning rituals be observed.

Source

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Gordon Block Collection of Lincolniana, UPenn Ms. Coll. 941, Box 1 Folder 48

Rights

This item is in the Public Domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

United States. War Department . "Printed General Order no. 66 - Department of War.". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 3, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/297

Creator

United States. War Department

Date

April 16, 1865

Full Title

Printed General Order no. 51 - Department of the Navy

Description

Official general order issued by the United States Department of the Navy announcing President Lincoln's death and ordering various mourning rituals be observed.

Source

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Gordon Block Collection of Lincolniana, UPenn Ms. Coll. 941, Box 1 Folder 47

Rights

This item is in the Public Domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

United States. Navy Department . "Printed General Order no. 51 - Department of the Navy". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 3, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/296

Creator

United States. Navy Department

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

Printed Treasury Department order to wear a crepe mourning band in honor of Lincoln

Description

Printed order issued by the Treasury Department in Washington and signed by Secretary of the Treasury Hugh McCulloch instructing all Treasury employees to wear a crepe arm band for six months following Lincoln's assassination.

Source

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Gordon Block Collection of Lincolniana, UPenn Ms. Coll. 941, Box 3 Folder 13.

Rights

This item is in the Public Domain

Tags

Cite this Item

McCulloch, Hugh, 1808-1895United States. Department of the Treasury. "Printed Treasury Department order to wear a crepe mourning band in honor of Lincoln". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 3, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/295

Creator

McCulloch, Hugh, 1808-1895United States. Department of the Treasury

Date

April 17, 1865

Full Title

Dedicated to the Memory of Abraham Lincoln...America's noblest sons are weeping

Description

Broadside reading "Dedicated to the Memory of Abraham Lincoln" including 8 lines of poetry beginning "America's noblest sons are weeping" copyright James Logan [Philadelphia].

Transcription

DEDICATED
TO THE
MEMORY OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN

America’s noblest sons are weeping
Her daughters they are bathed in tears;
Abraham the Great has fallen---in
Nature’s sleep, the sleep of years.
Now he’s gone, we’ll not recall him
From a paradise of bliss----
Where he pleads the cause of Freedom
To a changing world like this.

Entered to Act of Congress in the year 1865 by James Logan, in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.




[Transcription by: Dr. Susan Corbesero, Ellis School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]

Source

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Gordon Block Collection of Lincolniana, UPenn Ms. Coll. 941, Box 4 Folder 1

Rights

This item is in the Public Domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

Logan, James. "Dedicated to the Memory of Abraham Lincoln...America's noblest sons are weeping". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 3, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/294

Creator

Logan, James

Date

1865

Full Title

Britannia Sympathises with Columbia

Description

Cartoon from the British newspaper Punch which appeared in the May 6, 1865 issue. This copy is later and includes the note in manuscript. "Copied from the original for A. Boyd" (likely Andrew Boyd of Albany).

Source

Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Gordon Block Collection of Lincolniana, UPenn Ms. Coll. 941, Box 3 Folder 14

Rights

This item is in the Public Domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

Tenniel, John, 1820-1914. "Britannia Sympathises with Columbia". Punch. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 3, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/293

Creator

Tenniel, John, 1820-1914

Publisher

Punch

Date

May 6, 1865

Full Title

Senator Alexander Ramsey's Diary Entries, April 1865

Description

Senator Ramsey of Minnesota was in Washington D.C. when President Lincoln was assassinated. These are his diary entries from when it happened, including details as he heard them; being part of President Johnson inauguration; and his participation in the congressional escort on Lincoln's funeral train.

Transcription

April 14, 1865

At 10 ½ pm at Fords Theater the Presd. of U.S. was shot by J. Wilkes Booth of which he died. Booth escaped.

Mr. Secretary Seward and his son Frederick and the male servant of the Secretary were attacked (?) at the same time by an accomplice of B. with a knife – and is lingering with little hope of their recovery.

The President died at 7 ½ a.m.

Was present with Hon. Senators Foote of Vt. Gates of Ill. And Steward of Nevada at the inauguration of V. Pres. Johnson as Presd. about 10 in all witnessed the administration of the oath at 11 am by Chf. Justice Chase.

Cigar .30

Newspapers 5 & 16 .21

Boot(?) knife

Paid for use of above senators and myself for carriage 5.00

April 21, 1865

Left Washington as one of a congressional escort in conveying the body of Abm. Lincoln late Presid. of U.S. from Washington to Springfield. Left at 8 a.m. reached Baltimore at 10 and left at 5 PM and reached Harrisburg at 8 pm

(?) Trunk .50

at Baltimore .30

Source

Alexander Ramsey and Family Papers, Minnesota Historical Society

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching, and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as Alexander Ramsey and Family Papers, Minnesota Historical Society, Minnesota Historical Society. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast, or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please see this web page.

Tags

Cite this Item

Alexander Ramsey. "Senator Alexander Ramsey's Diary Entries, April 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 3, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/292

Creator

Alexander Ramsey

Date

April 14, 1865

Full Title

Fragment of towel stained with blood of Abraham Lincoln

Description

This piece of fabric is from a woven white linen towel and has a faded brown stain, the blood of Abraham Lincoln. This small artifact was sent as an enclosure in a letter dated 5 May 1865 from Augustus Clark, a War Department employee, to Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew. Clark was one of the men who moved Lincoln, after he was shot, from Ford's Theatre to Petersen's boarding house.

Source

Massachusetts Historical Society, Artifact #475

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching, and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as: From the Collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast, or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please see this web page.

Tags

Cite this Item

Augustus Clark. "Fragment of towel stained with blood of Abraham Lincoln". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 3, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/289

Creator

Augustus Clark

Date

1865

Dimensions

7.5 cm x 8 cm

Full Title

Letter from Augustus Clark to John A. Andrew, 5 May 1865

Description

Augustus Clark, a War Department employee,sent this letter to the Governor of Massachusetts, John A. Andrew along with a small piece of cloth that was stained with the blood of Abraham Lincoln. Clark was one of the people who moved Lincoln from Ford's Theatre to Petersen's boardinghouse.

Transcription

Ordnance Office, War Department. Washington, May 5th 1865

Governor John A. Andrew

Sir

Enclosed please find a piece of
cloth that is stained with the blood of our lamented
President, Abraham Lincoln.
I was one of several who helped to
convey him over from the theatre to the house where he
died and remained there all night. I also have a
lock of his hair: and have already had several offers from
different parties, who are desirous of obtaining it for a relic.
Being a Bostonian I thought I would mention the fact
to you thinking perhaps the state might wish to secure it.

I am very Respectfully

Your Obt Servt,

Augustus Clark

Source

Massachusetts Historical Society, Special collections, manuscripts

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching, and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as: From the Collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast, or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please see this web page

Tags

Cite this Item

Clark, Augustus. "Letter from Augustus Clark to John A. Andrew, 5 May 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 3, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/288

Creator

Clark, Augustus

Date

May 5, 1865

Material

24.8 cm x 20 cm

Full Title

Letter from Augustus Clark to S. M. Allen, 16 April 1865

Description

This letter, written by Augustus Clark, a War Department employee, to his uncle, Stephen M. Allen of Woburn, Massachusetts, includes a firsthand account of the awful scenes at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. after John Wilkes Booth had shot Abraham Lincoln. Clark also describes what he witnessed at Petersen's boardinghouse across the street from the theatre, where Lincoln died.

Transcription

[Page 1]

Ordnance Office, War Department Washington, April 16 1865

Dear Uncle [S. M. Allen ]

You have of course heard all the particulars of the
dreadful death of the President on the 14th inst But as
I was an eye Witness of the latter part I will endeavor to explain
matters. At 10¼ Oclock I was looking out of a window of
a house opposite the theatre and seeing a large excited crowd
rush from it I thinking some one might have been robbed
ran down stairs and across the street into the theatre and then
heard the awful words, "Lincoln is shot"—I sprang off towards
the stage over the seats every one being in the wildest commotion
and on reaching it saw a lady reaching over the right
hand box second tier it was the daughter of Senator Harris of
N.Y. I clambered up seized her hand and drew myself into
the box and there on the floor lay Abraham Lincoln dying:—
his wife near him shrieking and moaning, Major Rathburn
and a few others near by. Several of us lifted him and
carried him out to the street and finding his carriage gone
I said "take him across the street" he was carried into the
house I had just left, and deposited on a bed, his clothes

[Page 2]

stripped off:— he was shot in the head on a line with the
left ear about 2 inches towards the back of the head,
the Ball was round and entered about three inches in a
line towards his right eye—he was breathing very heavily
and his pulse fluctuated from 105 to 42 in about three hours.
The blood soon begun to settle under his left eye and blackened
the whole side of his face. Mrs Lincoln soon came over and
was hardly sane all night and is now quite low, Laura
Keene came over with her but did not stop—his [son] came in
about Eleven and was much agitated. Soon all the members
of the Cabinet rushed in with grief and terror depicted on
their faces: many Senators and members arrived during the
night—the street was cleared of all strangers and a great
military force stationed around the square. Stanton was there
issuing orders to all parts of the union and seemed to
do most of the business. news came about eleven that Seward
was fearfully stabbed and it seemed to strike terror into the
hearts of all. Maj. Rathburn was wounded badly in the arm and
fainted twice before his wound was dressed and he got home.
Mrs Lincoln came into the room seven times during the
night and felt dreadfully she fainted twice and fell over onto
the floor. I remained in the room all night long and did
all I could to help. The best surgeons were there but no

[Page 3]

attempt was made to extricate the Ball as he was pronounced
fatally wounded at first examination he lingered
on 'till seven twenty "AM" when he breathed his last in
presence of the members of the Cabinet several senators
and others. Mrs Lincoln was not in the room at the time of
his death. The body at nine oclock was taken to the White
House and has been embalmed. I got a lock of his
hair and a towel saturated with the blood of the best
man that ever was President and a friend of the south.
They now have a President that will show them no mercy
and they deserve none. I will enclose a piece of the towel
for you as a relic.

The folks are all well and hope this
will find you family the same. Give my love to all
and excuse this writing as it is quite late and I am
very nervous.

I am as Ever Yours Truly

Gussie

Source

Massachusetts Historical Society, Special collections, manuscripts

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching, and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as: From the Collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast, or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please see this web page.

Tags

Cite this Item

Clark, Augustus. "Letter from Augustus Clark to S. M. Allen, 16 April 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 3, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/287

Creator

Clark, Augustus

Date

April 16, 1865

Material

25 cm x 20 cm

Full Title

Letter from Edwin Bynner to his sister, 23 April 1865

Description

In this letter written by Edwin Bynner, an agent of the Commercial Steam Boat Company in New York, to his sister, Bynner describes his reaction and thoughts about Abraham Lincoln and the assassination. Bynner comments that he is more shocked than surprised at the assassination and recalls the greatness and humanity of Abraham Lincoln. Bynner states that during his three interactions with Lincoln he observed firsthand Lincoln's intellect and perceptiveness. Bynner was impressed with Lincoln's strong mind.

Source

Massachusetts Historical Society, Miscellaneous manuscripts collection

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching, and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as: From the Collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast, or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please see this web page.

Tags

Cite this Item

Bynner, Edwin. "Letter from Edwin Bynner to his sister, 23 April 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 3, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/286

Creator

Bynner, Edwin

Date

April 23, 1865

Material

25 cm x 19.7 cm