Full Title

Roland G.Smith to Cousin Nettie

Description

Roland G. Smith, a resident of Burlington, CT, served in the 12th Connecticut Regiment during the Civil War. Over the course of the spring of 1865, Roland wrote several letters to his cousin Nettie from Savannah, Georgia and Summit Point, Virginia. Smith mentions the impact of Lincoln's death on the camp and general public.

Transcription

[Page 1]
Summit Point V.A.
April 17th 1865

Dear Cousin I received your kind letter the 14th and was glad to here from you once more and glad to here that you was well. there has been a good deal of exciting news since I wrote to you before and I have been in quite a martch to of about 80 miles. I sopose you don’t think 80 miles is very far but if you should come to walk it with a Gun and equipment to carry and a napsack on your back you would think it was a long walk. we left here the 4th went up the Valley about 40 miles to stop Genl. Lee from coming down the Valley case he should try to with what troop had left after leaving Richmond but after we

[Page 2]
Had got up the Valley about 40 miles we heard that Lee had surrendered to Grant with his whol Army so we turned back and are now at Summit Point again but I think we will move from here again soon but do not know. from the 2nd of this month up to the evening of the 19th we had Glorious news but the evening of the 14th we had very sad news you know what I mean of corse for you must of heard it and every body els in the United States. the murder of our President and Secretary Seward and Son seriously wounded we have not got the particulars of the news yet here but will tonight when the papers come I sopose you know more about it than I do, but I tell you it makes for sad times here all the Bands playing solemn airs and the flags at half mast and so I hope the scoundrels that done it will be cached and hanged at the first Tree they come too …

I have cached an awful cold and it has settled in to my eyes. and my right eye is swelled so I can not see out of it and I haf to keep it done up so you see I have not got but one eye to see to write with and that one is sore and it makes it ache to write so I guess this wont be a very long letter and it is wrotd so poor I guess you wont care but a short is better than none perhaps I am in hopes this war will soon be over so I can come and see you instead of having to write so much I think I shall be to home by fall if I live until that time every thing looks favorable now I think for a speedy Peace and I guess every body is longing to see it Sitzens as well as Soldiers…

I dont feel so as I could write much more this time pleas write to me after give me best respects to Uncle Chauncy and Aunt Caroline and Frankie and I send my best. Love to you so good bye for this time this from your Affectionate
Cousin
Roland G Smith
PS) pleas direct the same as before

[Page 3]
Savannah G.A.
June 22nd 1865

Dear Cousin I
received your kind ltr [letter] last night, I was glad to here [hear] from you once more and glad to here that you was well. I have not had a letter before since I left Washington 22 days ago until last night I got 3 last night one from you and one from Marie and one from a friend of mine in P.A. I have not heard from home yet since I left W. but I expect I shall soon when I wrote to you before I thought I should soon be home but the heacting of this letter dont look much like it nor

[Page 4]
does it the last day of May we thought we should be home in a few days and the first day of June we got orders to go to Savannah which nocked all our Home thoughts in the head June 1st in the after noon we got orders to pack up and be ready to move we got ready and started left our camp near Brightwood and matched down threw [through] the City to the Steamboat dock when we got Aboard of Steamer A. Harder and went to Alexandria there we got transfered [transferred] to an Ocean Steamer the Matanzas and started from Alexandria at daylight the 2nd got in to the Savannah River in the forenoon of the 5st and there we got transfered from the Mantanzas in to a River Steamer the U.S. Grant the Mantanzas drawing too much water to run up the River after we got on to the U.S. Grant we started go to Savannah at 6 Oclock [o’clock] P.M. the 5th got of [off] from the Steamer and matched threw [through] the City and went in to camp just out side of the City where the Regiment shift gunner’s but I dont remain there with them I am Fasining it the 9th of this month I was detailed as a safe guard out about a mile from camp most in a farmers place to keep the Soldiers from destroying his property he is a real nice man and good to the Soldiers to if they come and ask him to any thing he give it to them so they dont try to steal from him they dont bother me a tall I dont have any thing to do unless I am a ?nnd to any time I wan [want] to go to the City I can take his Horse and buggie [buggy] and go and if I am hungry I can get something to eat and that that is good to they live life tof here I tell you I shoudt [shouldn’t] complain of my duty here while I am in Savannah if I have the same duty all the while that I have got

[Page 5]
nice but still I had rather be discharged and to home than here after all but I dont think we shall get home nor ride away I think we are good for 6 months here in Savannah if not more it is a very prety [pretty] place here by prety sickley [sickly] we can get most any thing we want here Vegetables of all kinds most are in there prime now. and also Blackberry and Whistleberry are ripe now and a plenty of them at that so you see there is a plenty of every thing here now I dont know as I have got much more news to write this time pleas [please] write to me again soon for I like to here from you after I am well and hope this will find you and all your folks the same give my best Love to Uncle Channey and Aunt Caroline and Frankie and all enquiring friends and I send best Love to you so good bye for this time pleas accept these few lines from your affectionate Cousin
Roland G Smith

[Page 6]
Summit Point V.A.
March 25th 1865

Dear Cousin Nettie
I received your kind letter the 14th of this month and I should have answered it before but I have been on duty so much lately that I have not had much time to write. I was glad to here [hear] from you once more and glad to here that you was well and all the rest of your folks. have you heard from Father yet if you have let me know when you write again I have wrote three letters to him but have not got an answer from any of them if you have not

[Page 7]
heard from him lately I will write to his Captain and see what has become of him he may be a Prisoner as you say I guess he is if there aint [ain’t] any body heard from him lately for I am shure he would answer write to some one if he was not you said that you heard that Ida Hough was dead and wanted to know if I knew whether it was so I do not know whether it is or not but one of his Sons tents with me and he has not heard of it and if it was so I should thought he would heard of it. I havent [haven’t] got much news to write this time there is nothing new here the same thing left over and over day after day first Picket then Camp guard the Police and so on but I dont think we will hafto [have to] do a Soldiers duty much longer for I think this war is about over every thing looks like it was any way the South is whiped [whipped] now and they know it all the Private soldiers of the South say so and say there is no use of fighting any longer and they are deserting and coming in to our lines now as fast as they can there is a few leading men in the South that wanto [want to] hold out as long as they can now they know they are whiped but I dont think that can be very long now. but I am afraid that before or by the time that peace is declared between North and South that the United States will be at war with Foreign Naitions but I hope not but if it does we will hafto [have to] take it the best we can I suppose. the Bible says that all Naitions [Nations] shall be at war with each other and I think some times that this is the beginning of that war but I hope and Trust not though I hope the time will soon come when peace is restored

[Page 8]
To our land and that we Soldiers may go home once more and see our Friends and relatives and I trust God it will I dont [don’t] know as I have got much more to write this time please write to me again soon for I like to here from you often give my Love to Uncle Channey and Aunt Caroline and Frankie and all enquiring Friends and I send my best Love to you so good bye for this time this from your
Affectionate Cousin
Roland G Smith
PS) Please started the same as before

[Transcription by McCaela Michas]

Source

Ms 101789

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution to the Connecticut Historical Society. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires permission. For permission, please contact the Connecticut Historical Society. chs.org/research/digital-reproductions.

Tags

Cite this Item

Roland G. Smith . "Roland G.Smith to Cousin Nettie ". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/866

Creator

Roland G. Smith

Date

March 1865

Material

ink on paper

Dimensions

16.5cm x 10.5cm (folded)

Full Title

Scrapbook of Charles B. Andrus

Description

Excerpt of news-clippings from the scrapbook of Charles B. Andrus (1848-1937); member and commander of quasi-military organization Putnam phalanx in Hartford, CT. Contains descriptions of Abraham Lincoln's assassination along with juxtaposition of Lincoln and James Garfield's assassins. News-clippings attempt to draw conclusions about the motivations of the assassins based-upon a comparison of physical and emotional traits of each assassin.

Source

Ms 86281

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution to the Connecticut Historical Society. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires permission. For permission, please contact the Connecticut Historical Society. chs.org/research/digital-reproductions.

Tags

Cite this Item

Charles Andrus. "Scrapbook of Charles B. Andrus ". Daniel Slote & Co, New York (scrapbook). Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/865

Creator

Charles Andrus

Publisher

Daniel Slote & Co, New York (scrapbook)

Date

1889

Material

bound book containing newsprint clippings

Dimensions

28.5cm x 21cm

Full Title

A Sermon Preached in St. John's Church on the Occasion of the National Fast, following upon the Assasination of President Lincoln

Description

This sermon, by Rev. C.S. Leffingwell, remembers Lincoln as a religious man equipped with the mental power and wisdom to hold the United States together during a time of war and strife. The sermon further highlights the importance of a unified nation under God, and the divine role of providence in past civil strife. Leffingwell emphasizes the value of honoring the dead who fought patriotically to maintain the unity of the United States.

Transcription

STRENGTH IN SORROW.

A SERMON,

Preached in St. John’s Church, Canandaigua,

June 1st, 1865,

ON THE OCCASION OF THE NATIONAL FAST, FOLLOWING UPON THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
----------------------------------------------
BY THE
REV. C.S. LEFFINGWELL, M.A.,
RECTOR
----------------------------------------------
CANANDAIGUA:
Printed at C. Jobson’s office, Bemis Block, 2d story. 1865.

STRENGTH IN SORROW.

A SERMON,

Preached in St. John’s Church, Canandaigua,

June 1st, 1865,

ON THE OCCASION OF THE NATIONAL FAST, FOLLOWING UPON THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
-------------------------------------------------
BY THE
REV. C.S. LEFFINGWELL, M.A.,
RECTOR
--------------------------------------------------
CANANDAIGUA:
Printed at C. Jobson’s office, Bemis Block, 2d story. 1865.

CANANDAIGUA, }
Thursday, 1st June, 1865.}
Rev. C.S. LEFFINGWELL : --
DEAR SIR :
The undersigned respectfully solicit for publication, a copy of the excellent and interesting sermon delivered by you at St. John’s Church, this morning, on the occasion of the Fast day appointed in consequence of the assassination of President Lincoln
Respectfully yours,
JAMES C. SMITH,
EBENEZER HALE,
CHAS. B. MEEK,
SANDERS IRVING,
E. G. LAPHAM,
WILLIAM H. ADAMS,
W. FITCH CHENEY,
A. G. MURRAY.
-------

Hon. JAMES C. SMITH, EBENEZER HALE, Esq., and others :
GENTLEMEN :--
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your complimentary favor of the 1st inst. ; and in acting upon the subject matter of your note, rely upon your judgement rather than on my own, and so, I place at your disposal the Sermon delivered in St. John’s Church, on the memorable day of our National Fast.
Respectfully yours,
C. S. LEFFINGWELL
St. John’s Rectory,}
June 3, 1865 }

SERMON.
“What hath God wrought !” --(NUMBERS. XXIII : 23)

There is a duty laid upon me to-day from which I would almost willingly shrink ; the task of addressing you upon a subject, concerning which, although our thoughts are all in unison, yet a subject upon which a number of my congregation could speak with fuller justice than myself. And for this reason, I had hoped, that one of our own number would address our citizens this evening, from whose wisdom, and large experience with dealing with legal and national topics, we might have gleaned more valuable lessons than it may be in my power to offer.
But, though I feel myself incompetent to the task of the hour, I shall gladly utter the honest conviction of my heart, and in doing this, I feel assured from the oneness of sentiment among us, that my words will meet a response in the breast of all.
A month and a half has passed by, since the murder of President Lincoln, but that brief period will not suffice to enable us fully to estimate the worth of his character, or rightly to judge of the influence which his official work and untimely death will have upon our national future.
Greater men, intellectually, doubtless our land could boost. There were those of a higher culture and refinement among us; there were men of more gracefulness and elegance of manner, and there may have been men of a deeper toned religious life. But he had that degree of religion which taught him to familiarize himself with the Holy Scriptures—to pray to the God of both princes and people,—to infuse into his writings the spirit of our common Christianity, and to make the rare acknowledgement in those public records and official papers, of our utter dependence, as a nation, upon the Supreme Being.
Had others a native exterior grace which he did not share, or an acquired outward refinement which he did not reach? He had the grace of honesty of purpose and singleness of heart, to do his duty well in that state of life whereunto he had been called.
Had others greater charms of manner, and acceptableness of person? He had that degree of attractiveness which has won for him a higher and more enduring place in the national esteem, — than has been gained by any man, since the noble form of Washington was laid down to is quiet rest in the hallowed shades of Mount Vernon.
Could others be found of stronger intellect or more vivid mental brilliance? He had that degree of mental power which enabled him, under God, to accomplish by his steady, persistent efforts, the great hope of a nation's agonising heart, that degree of mental energy which enabled him, as God’s instrument, to bring a brilliant success, the last the greatest experiment of modern history; as experiment whose momentous issues we shall never fully realize; an undertaking whose results only our children and our children’s children will appreciate; an experiment testing the strength , —and, thanks to our God, —proving the stability of our republican form of government.
The winds of division beat fiercely upon it; the waves of rebellion rolled with gigantic force against it, but it stood, —and stands to-day stronger than it stood before, —more firmly established than ever, by earnest hearts and patriotic hands, upon the great rock of eternal right.
Friends abroad withdrew their sympathy, and foes abroad gave aid to foes at home, but we think they would to-day gladly bury the remembrance of their ill-judged deeds, and join with us in rendering honor to the man who, under God, guided our nation through those perilous times; the man who is remembered and mourned all through the land to-day.
Again, it was an experiment which forged upon our government the final solution of the long vexing question, whether it would continue to nurse, to feed, and fattern, with the life blood of the nation, —that offspring of Satan, Human Slavery, or suffer it to die a suicidal death, its hands imbrued in its own blood.
For long and weary years the wisdom of our sagest counsellors had been baffled in every plan and effort, to lift that evil weight from the bowed head and aching shoulders of American civilization. For long and weary years, that curse had been brooding over the land, its ominous threats growing louder, its intimidating menaces growing wilder and fiercer, alarming the timorous and mocking the most confident and brave.
In an evil hour for itself, it gathered up its great resources, and, snatching every adventitious aid, came rushing with demoniac determination to give to the American Union the fel stroke of death.
And in that sad encounter, our quiet, peaceful nation reeled and tottered! Amazed and bewildered, is it strange that she should have reeled? Is it marvellous that she should have stumbled?
But she only stumbled. She did not fall. In her very stumbling she learned her footing. She planted her feet more firmly. She arose with caution, called in the strength hitherto expended upon her accustomed peaceful acts, and renewed the contest with valiant earnestness, while each successive struggle gave to her the valued power of experience.
She gained by continual victories and even by seeming defeat, until now, at last, before her erect, well-knit frame and stalwart form, the foe which sought her ruin lies lifeless at her feet.
The cloud, the veil is removed. The curse of human Slavery is lifted from the brow of American Freedom, while the world abroad looks on with wonder and amazaement, and we at home are filled with earnest gladness. For here, in the very home of Freedom, has Tyranny received her greatest shock! Here in our own land, in our own time and midst, has the greatest experiment of modern history been made. Tyranny has sought the very life of Liberty and has fallen in the act. Human Slavery has reached its possible limits, and has perished in its own eventuatings.
The reaction of this event, the influence of this great stride of Liberty will be felt upon the world at large from this of grace onward.
The rights of humanity have been asserted, defended and upheld. The privileges of the few have been weighed in the balance with the inalienable rights of the many, and, found wanting, have been condemned, and that condemnation has been sealed, —forever sealed, —on this continent, with the blood of the representative man of his age, —him whom we commemorate to-day.
His position as President, during the fearful ordeal of the Rebellion, drew upon him the steady earnest agze of every nation. He stood the foremost man of his time, the embodiment of the great American idea, —“Popular rights, Freedom for all, Oppression to none.” He caught the clarion echo which has rung through our forests, over our vallies and hills, which has resounded in our cities and hamlets, until it has stamped itself upon the American spirit —“Liberty or Death!” Both were reached. Liberty for the enslaved, Death for him. He fell, but his mission was accomplished, his work was done, —and he has now been laid down to his rest, sharing the long sleep of those other heroes, who poured out their life blood on the battle field, martyrs alike to the sacred work of advancing human civilization.
The first words transmitted over the Magnetic Telegraph, whose electric wires now encircle the land were these: “What hath God wrought!”
Man, then only discovered what God had made from the first. It was God’s doing, and in his own time, he permitted the mind of man to observe and apply the subtle element of Electricity to the purposed and wants of civilized life, and now that mystic cord runs in every direction over the world, and its varied uses have become a recognized, essential element, in the work of human progress.
But that first telegram, —“What hath God wrought!” has no more appropriate application to that one advance, than to any other great step of Civilization. The hand of God is to be recognized every where, and at all times.
Does any one ask, if I see the hand of God in the violent scenes which were lately enacted in the city of Washington? I answer, that I recognize the kind, overruling Providence of God in preserving the lives of our national counsellors in their great extremity, and looking further back, I acknowledge the providence of God’s overruling care, in continuing him, their chief, in life, and effective health, and strength, so long as he did, —in preserving him through all those imminent perils, until his work was done.
His life, to all human appearance, was in far greater danger many times before. He had incurred risks which called forth the fears of the nation.
The memorable night of his inhuman slaughter, was marked by no sign of evil. No danger appeared in view. The great jeopardies, the apparent hazards had all been ventured before, and in and through them a good providence had sheltered him; —and now, when the work assigned him to be accomplished in active life had been done, —the work assigned him to be accomplished in death was permitted to occur.
In that event, God has taught afresh, and with an emphasis never more thrilling, that any human arm, to which nations or individuals may cling for defence or safety, is frail as the bending reed, and fleeting as the passing hour.
That human aid, though given by God’s goodness, and sustained by God’s providence, is only human and is to be given up in God’s own time. That lesson we have been taught anew, which the Psalmist inculcated long centuries ago: “It is better to trust in the Lord that to put any confidence in princes.” Their power is feeble and limited. They are weak and finite. They must perish like ourselves, —for they are subject to the same unhesitating call. The highest form must bend. The strongest arm must yield. The wisest and most prudent, cannot foresee, and prevent, the inevitable lot of all. Death renders no homage to lofty place, or deference to highest worth. All earthly powers are tributary to the King of Terrors. He walks the palace floor,and climbs the very throne. He snatched the sceptre from the hand of power, and tramples on goodness,and mocks at greatness.
The worthiest princes, as was said of David must, after serving their generation for a time, fall asleep. For this reason we are to moderate our confidence in them, and make it subordinate to the trust we should ever repose in God. Theirs, may indeed, be wise designs, and generous purposes for the nation’s good, but when “their breath goeth forth, then all their thoughts perish!
What vain props are these, for nation’s security! What uncertain support, what unsafe reliance, is any thing short of God, upon whose direct guidance we all are freshly taught to lean.
In coming years, men will read the record of our late civil strife, with a truer understanding of God’s Providential guidings, and will be able to trace the steps of his wisdom and goodness and love, in many of the complicated and trying events of the time, which we from our nearer position, may be unable to decipher.
But even now, blind is the eye, and unbelieving the heart, which does not recognize the Providence of the Lord of Hosts, in leading this great people, through broad fields of blood toward the quiet valley of rest, guiding our perilous march, made with agonizing hearts, through the black night of war, and bidding us to celebrate the dawn of peace., while gathered as one great mourning nation, even around the new-made grave of our slaughtered leader.
That death occurred with the fore-knowledge, and permission of the omniscient God, and, as concerning our great gladness in victory and peace, so concerning our great grief in the loss of the President, —we may well exclaim with wondering awe: “What hath God wrought!” How he allied grief unto gladness! How he dashed our growing joy with sudden and weighty sorrow, —and made that unforeseen, abrupt commingling of smiles and tears, a nation’s emblem of human life! How he evidenced to all, that which every christian man should remember in his private individual life, that the hour of victory is the hour of danger!
And even in minor and more personal matters, the providence of God has been plainly apparent. How brief the victim’s suffering! How promptly the foul assassin was brought to bay, and how wisely was his evil disposed of! How quietly our government passed on, in its regular functions! How quickly was the great Rebellion ended! How rapid the events of those few days! Who can forget them!
There is such majesty, such a power in solemn universal grief, that in those dark hours of sorrow we felt within ourselves and in each other, a firm strength and a oneness, which gave to the American nation a presence and a mien approaching the sublime! In solemn quietness we stood, and looked calmly upward to our God, though vivid hopes and startling fears were pulsating in every vein! But God’s arm brought salvation. His providential care, bridged over the danger. And now, as we see those fears removed, and those hopes reaching fruition, is it too soon, in view of all that has been done, —in view of all that has been gained, and of all that has been lost, is it too soon to exclaim with reverence, —“What hath God wrought!”


Brethren, who of us hereafter will reckon upon any certain morrow? A few weeks since, —in that holy season, when we were reviewing the sad scenes of Calvary, —on the last morning of the week, when as it were we watched the holy sepulchre where our Lord was laid—there came sudden tidings! In whispered tones men told them to each other. “Impossible!” we each one cried, —but it was true.
Our President was dead! —dead, while almost countless armies, awaiting his bidding, —dead, while the great world was watching for his next movement.
Who then of us will count with certainty upon any to-morrow!
But while we do live, let us, as we now, led by the hand of God are merging upon better and brighter times, —let us cherish the memory of the patriotic dead, —the heroes who have gone forth in our stead—who have fought our battles for us, and have perished.
Let them still live, Let their names be always fresh, and their memory ever green, that in generations to come our children may cherish their worth, and honor their deeds, —as we have done honor to the heroes of revolutionary fame.
Wherever they lie buried, in prison vault or open field—there is a shrine for patriotic pilgrimage, —“there is a spot, at which, for ages to come, valor shall gain fresh life,and where freedom shall trim her torch.”
They have not died in vain, —their death procures for us a lasting peace, enlarges the area of human freedom, builds up in every corner of our land, a tower of strength impregnable to any foe abroad, and points forever to the bloody doom of treachery at home!
Shall we not then, as Christian Patriots, give unto God the glory due for his providential care, and in view of all that we have gained, as well as in view of all that we have lost, exclaim with reverence, —
“WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT!”



THE PRAYER FOR UNITY
______

Almighty God, we implore Thy mercy for all the people of this land, and more especially therein for all Christians; beseeching Thee to give us grace, seriously to lay to heart, the great dangers we are in, by our unhappy divisions. Take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one body and one Spirit, and one hope of our calling, on Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all; so may we henceforth be all of one heart and one soul, united in one holy bond of truth, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one month glorify Thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.




[Transcription by: Hannah A.B. and Dr. Susan Corbesero, Dr. Susan Corbesero’s Class, Ellis School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]

Source

Ms 100912

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution to the Connecticut Historical Society. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires permission. For permission, please contact the Connecticut Historical Society. chs.org/research/digital-reproductions/

Tags

Cite this Item

Rev. C.S. Leffingwell, M.A., Rector. "A Sermon Preached in St. John's Church on the Occasion of the National Fast, following upon the Assasination of President Lincoln". C. Jobson's Office (Canadaigua:Bemis Block, 2d story, 1865). Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/864

Creator

Rev. C.S. Leffingwell, M.A., Rector

Publisher

C. Jobson's Office (Canadaigua:Bemis Block, 2d story, 1865)

Date

June 1st, 1865

Material

type on paper

Dimensions

22.5cm x 14cm

Full Title

Record Book of James H. Sawyer, 1862-1865

Description

Excerpt from the diary of James H. Sawyer (b.1843), a resident of Woodstock, CT and a soldier in the 18th Regiment of Connecticut Infantry. This excerpt describes the somber mood in Sawyer's camp upon learning of Abraham Lincoln's death. It also describes how the camp was alerted of Lincoln's death.

Transcription

Record Book of James H. Sawyer:

About three o’clock in the morning of the 15th
of April I happened to be lying awake in my
tent. Away in the distance towards town I heard
the faint hoof beats of a horse on the hard mae-
adaized road. They gradually sounded louder and
louder. I was [[impeded]] with the thought that the
rider on that horse was bring important news
or [[?]] to our camp. Nearer and nearer came the
rider and the hoof beats suddenly sounded loud-
er as the horse rounded the corner from the main
street and turned towards our camp.

Clatter, clatter they went till they stopped at
the doors of Col. Peales shanty. Then silence a few
seconds, followed by a sharp rap, rap, as the rider
of that horse struck with the same hard substance
on the door. I soon heard the door open, and
a voice spoke in a low quick tone. This was fol-
lowed by an answer in a louder tone. Then silence
as probably our commander was reading the mes-
sage brought to him. Then there was a loud, em-
phatic, surprised tone, followed by quick
footsteps and knockings on other doors as the other
field offices were around. Then there was a new loud,
excited, anxious tones, all speaking together. This was
kept up some minutes when they all retired to their
tents and silence again fell over the camp.

Then Geo. Heath, “my pard,” who has heard
the voices, spoke up.

“What’s that, [[corporal]]?”


“Something’s up,” I answered. “We’ll hear
something surprising in the morning. Marching
orders for home, I guess.”

Little did we think what we would
hear in the morning.

When the companies assembled at the
morning roll-call the news that was brought
by the orderly was read to them. They were ap-
palled by the announcement, and home which
had seemed so near, appeared to fade away
at the war seemed not yet to be ended.
[[end page]]

[[start page]]
Feelings of revenge and sadness took passion
of our minds. The men dispersed to their tents
talking in low tones and the camp was very
silent and funeral like all that day.

The astounding news that was read to us was
that President Lincoln, Gen Grant Secretary Seward
and other numbers of the Cabinet had been murdered
the night before. The real news were exaggerated in
that Gen. Grant-Sec Seward and the other members of
the Cabinet had been killed; it was sad enough
when we knew the real facts that our beloved
President was dead-so fouly murdered by the
assassin J. Wilkes Booth.

It was days before the men regained their
usual cheerfulness and saw that these things were
not going to retard the progress of the closing up of
the affairs of the Great Rebellion.

Our duties now were somewhat relaxed.
Picket duty was kept up but there was nothing
to look out for. A week or so after the surrender
I was on picket at the old brick house on the
Winchester road. All day long the [[?]] rebel
soldiers of [[Lu’s]] army kept coming along on their
way to their homes in this part of the country. They
came in [[?]], squads of half a dozen or so, and one
squad of about 20 came along in the afternoon. They
would stop and chat with us and pass more or
less chaff. They all measurably said that they were
glad the war was ended.

Drilling was suspended but we had to ap-
pear at [[?]] parade. This became to be the event
of the day, and [[?]] from the town came every
evening to witness the parade. We had become
so that we could execute the maneuver in great
style and to see the regiment go through the move-
ments at this parade like clockwork, was really quite
a sight.

[Transcription by: Karsen O'Rourkr, Rachel Engl’s class, Lehigh University.]

Source

Ms 96780

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution to the Connecticut Historical Society. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires permission. For permission, please contact the Connecticut Historical Society at chs.org/research/digital-reproductions.

Cite this Item

James H. Sawyer. "Record Book of James H. Sawyer, 1862-1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/863

Creator

James H. Sawyer

Date

1862-1865

Material

paper, pen on ink

Dimensions

32cm x 21cm

Full Title

Draft of resolutions adopted by the Union League of Hartford

Description

Draft of resolutions adopted in April, 1865 by the Union League of Hartford regarding the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Resolutions condemn the assassination and the individual who carried it out, along with avowing to support the republic and its endeavors.

Source

Union League of Hartford

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution to the Connecticut Historical Society. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires permission. For permission, please contact the Connecticut Historical Society at chs.org/research/digital-reproductions.

Tags

Cite this Item

Union League of Hartford. "Draft of resolutions adopted by the Union League of Hartford". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/862

Creator

Union League of Hartford

Date

April, 1865

Material

paper

Dimensions

32cm X 19.5cm

Full Title

Dunks Family Correspondence

Description

Near the end of the second page, Julius Dunks begins to briefly describe the funeral for Abraham Lincoln in Union City, a village in Southern Michigan that served as an important juncture in the Underground Railroad. He notes that the townspeople intended to hold a procession, but a hard rain forced them to cancel.

Transcription

JSDunks

Apr 23 / 65

Union City April 23, 1865

Brother Oliver.

Your kind & wel
comed letter was rec - last
Friday. was kind a glad to
hear from thee. We have been
pretty busy the past week
monday & Tues forenoon I plowed
Thursday forenoon have about
another days work to do yet
it has rained conciderable,
this week and been very cold
Wensday morn. Father & I
went up to Mr Coats and
Bought a tree for stakes and
gave him 1.00 then he gave
us six other cuts so we
have about six hundred
stakes in all they are all
split but one. yesterday fore
noon I sharpened Stakes and

in the after noon I drew them
home & spread them arround
we have got about half of them
home. Father is going to sharpen
the rest of them & split that
out tomorrow. Coats also gave
us annother tree that was dead
for rails it is alittle rotten on
the out side but guess that
it is sound at the heart It
is a large Black Ash, we are
going to use it for rails we
have also bought the timber for
one thousand rails for 5.00 we
are to cut & Split ourselfs.
Mary has got over the measles.
and is pretty well. Mat has also
got well Ed [Burten?] was taken
but has not been very sick
Lucy Leigh is pretty sick with
them now. they had quite a time
here last wensday they held Mr
Lincoln Funeral that day the

church was crouded as full as
it could be. the church was
all draped in mourning.
just about they same as they did
there. they were intending to
have a procession but it rained
very hard. William received
that package last night. they look
very well I have not tried any
of them. I am going to take a lode
of Read Wheat out out to
Coldwater to morrow & Wm
is going with me. We heard to
day that uncle Georges Baby was
Just alive. [illegible in original] [music?] looks pretty
well. We sold 26 Bushels of corn
last week pert of it - 1.00 1.25- ,80
we have about ten Bush. left
the Sheep all look well we have
not got any lambs yet but guess
that they will be gin to come
the last of this week.

Who did Lib Dunks merey

has She had those photograph
yet I think that her foot mus be
well by this time. where is she
going to live, I have had quite
a time with my arm it worked
first rate I only Stopped work
one day It Swelled up pretty
big how does yours get allong
mother wants you to send
the scab home in a letter
so that she can vaxinate
Mary & Wm what is there
about [illegible in original] Bills that
you do not under stand then
would be a tiptop place.

Pleas write Soon

Yours J S Dunks

___________________________________
April 25 dear Brother I will try & fill the
sheat I am going to [start?] on my expedition
tomorrow morn ing Think I shall be gone
about 2 weeks the first time I am very
much pleased with the Pens. Who did [herb?]
Dunks marry that is what is his name
& what is his Business you did not
tell what those ties cost apiece

You Brother W C Dunks

Source

c.00123 - Dunks Family Correspondence

Rights

Educational use only, no other permissions given. Copyright to this resource is held by Michigan State University and is provided here for educational purposes only. It may not be reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission of the University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Tags

Cite this Item

Julius S. Dunks. "Dunks Family Correspondence". Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/861

Creator

Julius S. Dunks

Publisher

Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections

Date

April 23, 1865

Material

Ink and Paper

Dimensions

5" x 8"

Full Title

Dunks Family Correspondence

Description

Oliver Dunks tells his brother, Tom, that he just attended the eulogy of President Lincoln at the Congregational Church in Detroit (most likely the church located at the corner of Fort St. and Wayne St.). He briefly describes the visual displays of mourning in the church and the city and concludes by observing that the country seems to be just as, if not more sorrowful for the death of Lincoln than they were for that of President George Washington.

Transcription

Detroit Apl 19 / 65

Dear Brother Tom

Your welcome
letter of the 17th just recd glad
to hear from you The loss
that you refer to that our
Nation has suffered is irreparable
shocking to think of but it
showes how he posesed the affections
of the hearts of the people I have
just been over to his funeral
at or eulogy at the Congrega
-tional Church the regular
funeral is to be next Tuesday
th City is draped in mourn
ing and has been from
the the time of hearing the
inteligence our Church was
draped clear around also and
all the front of the pulpet
I think that our country
mourned no more for
Washington than they have &
will for Father Abraham
I sent those pens this morn
and will enclose Bill
cost $66. you can sell them
in any shape that you can
holders or pens Chas had no
medium. Pens with Silver Holders
but will soon Sib is to be
married tomorrow morning
at Nine oClock I am invited
there is to be only the family
Henry has got back I have
just noticed that you say
that you will not go to
Coldwater until Monday
well all right I believe that
I would try awhile in
Coldwater I have not found
a Situation yet Please write soon

Your Brother

Oliver. S. Dunks

Source

c.00123 - Dunks Family Correspondence

Rights

Educational use only, no other permissions given. Copyright to this resource is held by Michigan State University and is provided here for educational purposes only. It may not be reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission of the University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Tags

Cite this Item

Oliver S. Dunks. "Dunks Family Correspondence ". Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/860

Creator

Oliver S. Dunks

Publisher

Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections

Date

April 19, 1865

Material

Ink and Paper

Dimensions

5" x 8"

Full Title

Grand Rapids Herald Articles

Description

In a retrospective, the Grand Rapids Herald sought the perspectives of local residents who remembered the day Lincoln was assassinated. Harvey J. Hollister recalled the intense grief felt by many in Grand Rapids and the ways in which they practiced collective, public mourning. Next, the article quoted extensively from two editorials by the Grand Rapids Eagle, one on the day the war ended on April 8, 1865, and one immediately after the assassination on the 15th. These were included to be representative of the broader shift in Northern public opinion from optimism to disillusionment in this short span of time. In the subsequent article, Big Rapids, Michigan, resident J. P. Huling described his memories of being an audience member at Ford’s Theater the night of the assassination. Furthermore, he remembered details of Lincoln’s funeral as well as the two times he saw Lincoln before the president’s death.

Transcription

[penciled in at top of page] [1899] The Grand Rapids H[cut off]

Was a Day of Great Sorrow

----------

The Assassination of
President Lincoln
Thirty-Four Years
Ago Still Fresh in
the Mind of the
People—How the
News of the Trag-
edy Was Received
in Grand Rapids,
April 15, 1865.

It was just 34 years ago yesterday that
the sad news swept over the country that
“Honest Old Abe,” the martyr president,
had died by the assassin’s knife. Doubly
sad was it because of the frame of mind
in which it found the people. The tidings
of the surrender of Lee’s entire army and
the probably downfall of the confederacy
had but the week before thrown the cou-
try into an ecstacy of joy, and the cele-
brations of that glad news were still go-
ing on and on the faces of all the smile of
great joy reflected the feeling of every
heart. Then like the bolt from the clear
sky fell the news that Lincoln had after
years of toil in behalf of his loved coun-
try at last made the supreme sacrifice
and had crossed the river to enter into
the welcome that surely awaited him on
the other side.

To those who were living at that time
the recollection of that dark 15th of April
is still as fresh as if the happening had
been but yesterday.

Harvey J. Hollister was at the time liv-
ing in the city and recalls most vividly
the scenes of what he terms the saddest
and strangest day he ever spent.

Said Mr. Hollister in describing how
the news was received here: “My wife
and I were walking down to the bank to-
gether about 9 o’clock in the morning
and the first thing which attracted our
attention was the strange actions of the
people on the street. On the face of
every one we met we notice a look of
the most abject sorrow. So remarkable
was it that we became most anxious to
know the reason. It was but a week be-
fore that we had helped to celebrate
when the news of Lee’s surrender reach-
ed us, and we thought that the war was
over and now the people looked more
somber than after the greatest defeats

[illustration of Ford’s Theater]

[Caption] [FORD’S THEATER, WASHINGTON]

which we had suffered. Men would stop
and look into each other’s faces and then
as they shook hands, tears would begin
to roll down their cheeks and they would
separate without a word.

“At last we reached the telegraph of-
fice and found it crowded with a lot of
silent men. Leaving my wife outside, I
crowded in and soon learned the sad
news. It is impossible to describe the
utter feeling of bewilderment which pos-
sessed us all. I felt as if the very
ground had been cut from under me. We
had by that time come to know and ap-
preciate the magnificent qualities and in-
finite wisdom of the president and each
man that morning wept as though he had
lost a dear friend or some member of his
own household.

“The grief at that time was different
from that which I ever saw before or
since in its personal character. The com-
on people had come to have implicit
confidence and trust in the wisdom of
the president and when the news reached
us that he was gone it was as though
we had suddenly been told that our last
and only hope had failed.

---------

“Business was stopped at once and all
places were closed and the mayor issued
a proclamation that all flags be hung at
half mast and that all business cease for
the day. The people crowded into the
streets and meetings were held which
were all pervaded by the same spirit of
absolute grief which was reflected in the
face of every passerby. Monroe street
was one mass of black from head to foot
and the residence portion of the city was
all draped: everything of a black color
being utilized to express in this only
available way the intense sorrow which
was in every one’s heart. The next day
which was Sunday, the services in every
church were of a memorial character
and Lincoln’s greatness was eulogized by
men who struggled with their emotions
and who utterly failed to find the words to
express the sorrow they felt. At first it
was thought that the work was that of
emissaries of the confederacy and the
wrath of the people found vent in the im-
precations against a power that would
avail its unholy purposes.

“I recall exactly the words which one
man said when he turned from the office
after hearing the news. They were:
‘Well, the south has lost the best friend
she ever had,’ and as he spoke the tears
ran down his cheeks in torrents.”

---------

Two editorials clipped from the Grand
Rapids Eagle of the issues of April 8 and
9 show the strong revulsion of feeling


which passed over the populace at the
time when the news of the death of the
president reached here. On April 8 the
editor wrote of Lee’s surrender thus:

[written in smaller font] [The end has come. The morning is so far
advanced that the sun of peace shows his edge
above the horizon, presaging a cloudless day—
a day that shall not go down again until time
shall be no more—a day that shall glow with
universal freedom and blossom with progress.

Last night the nation lay down divided, dis-
tracted, bleeding—a giant in battle-harness
matched against his brother. This morning we
wake, still in battle-harness, the greatest.
grandest, freest, most powerful nation on earth.
Today our kindly, generous, wise, great-hearted
president, Abraham Lincoln (whom nations at-
tempted to sneer down but yesterday), stands
the central figure of the nineteenth century.
“Honest Old Abe” stands at least one hundred
feet taller than any other ruler in Christen-
dom today.

There is but one fleet in all of the world
whose flag had been floated and been tried in
actual battle; and Vice Admiral Farragut
waits the order of President Lincoln wither to
direct its thunders.

There is but one army of veterans in the
world—privates and generals—and Lieutenant
General Grant directs that, with Sherman and
Sheridan, Thomas and Meade as his lieuten-
ants, and with Robert E. Lee and his host as
their captives.

And over this ruin and this triumph, this fall
and this glory, brothers strike hands again,
and the states unite in the old but grander fam-
ily circle as one nation, under one flag, with
one president. And freedom seals the compact
for all. The Declaration of Independence be-
longs now to all the states, and the souls of
the martyrs of liberty are marching on with
John Brown’s.

Let the bells ring, then, and the cannon
thunder. Let all our citizens join in the dem-
onstration of joy. Let us hold one grand, uni-
versal, enthusiastic joy meeting this evening at
some suitable place, either within or without
doors, and congratulate each other. Let every
building in the city blaze with light this even-
ing.]

How different sounds the words of the
same writer in the next issue, on the
15th:

[written in smaller font] [“Vale!” “Vale!”

The wine of life is spilled; the royal cup of
fine gold is broken. Domestic faction, with
horrible instruction, has taught the nation the
utter malignity of secession. Treason has done
its worst, and on our noblest. The bloody dag-
ger’s point has reached the nation’s soul, with
poison in its wound, to carry grief, horror and
consternation through our veins; and as the
numbness of the shock wears off, and the heal-
ing begins, it will wake a fever of fury whose
end and effect none can foretell.

The times are dark again. Sudden and dis-
astrous eclipse has rushed upon the morning
of peace and returning fraternity, but a mo-
ment since without a cloud upon its glory, or
a chill in its breath of balm.

All is again uncertainty; state policy and
chance, government and faction, law and an-
archy, freedom and slavery, battle and truce,
revenge and mercy, order and chaos, jostle each
other in the dark, and no man can see whther
the majestic ship of state (whose cable has
been cut in the night by the assassin’s knife,)
is drifting; whether out of this event shall
come evil or good to the nation and the world;
whether we shall again moor in the haven of
peace and union, or have but opened the har-
bor to be mocked with out last glimpse of na-
tional brotherhood.

The president is dead—the greatest, purest,
kindest soul Heaven and man ever conspired
to crowd with public honors—the surest, saf-
est, truest friend, leader and reflex of the peo-
ple. Great beyond his times, he was at once
the greatest, grandest hero of history and the
kindest and commonest of the crowd of men.
his last act was a benediction. Rather than
disappoint the populace who expected his pres-
ence at the theater, he went to his death,
though both he and his wife were ill; thus fall-
ing a sacrifice in this little, this homely, this
common and natural act, which his death has

[illustration of John Wilkes Booth]

[Caption] [J. WILKES BOOTH]

guilded with immortality. He was of the peo-
ple; he died in a sense for the common peo-
ple. He was the pattern of the common peo-
ple and the ripe fruit of American democracy;
at the same time the unchallenged peer of his-
tory, and the certain master of living great-
ness. Heaven’s evident and commissioned in-
strument he was crowned with success and
with immortality in the same week.

Secretary Seward dies with his master and
his friend. So two great souls—the greatest, in
all, that the world held in all its bounds—step
into glory abreast, both crowned with all that
makes life honorable, and both clothed with
that raiment that makes death glorious. Such
a pair, so matched and sustained in all good
graces, so loved and mourned, have never in
one hour knocked at the pearly gate nor met
such glorious welcomed within.]

Such was the spirit of the people ad-
mirably reflected in the columns of the
paper of the day which was heralded abroad
that the assassin had been run down and
shot the people only regretted that he
met with such an easy fate.

WAS PRESENT AT FORD’S THEATER.

---------------------

Big Rapids Merchant Talks of the National Horror

Enacted 34 Years Ago at Washington.

[written in smaller font] [Special to Grand Rapids Herald.]

Big Rapids, Mich., April 15.—J. P. Hul-
ing, one of our leading merchants, was
present at Ford’s theater, in Washington,
the evening that has since gone into his-
tory as marking one of the greatest trag-
edies of modern times. President Lincoln
was assassinated by J. Wilkes Booth,
April 14, 1865, 34 years ago today, and
Mr. Huling, in response to a request, told
his personal experience substantially as
follows:

“I served during the rebellion in Com-
pany C, Seventeenth United States in-
fantry, and after receiving my discharge,
I visited the city of Washington on bus-
iness, arriving there April 14, and that
evening, by invitation of James T. Hale,


the representative in congress from my
district, the Eighteenth Pennsylvania,
accompanied him to Ford’s theater, where
we expected to pass a pleasant hour or
two. As we strolled down to the theater,
we little thought that in a short time the
whole nation would be bowed in grief at
a tragedy which was to be enacted in
our presence. We passed to our seats and
soon the curtain rose and the play pro-
ceded. After Booth had committed his
shocking crime and leaped from the booth
to the stage, my friend and myself, who
were both familiar with the play, were
saying that we could not recall anything
like that when seeing the play at other
times. Then there was quite a stir
among the audience, and two or three
men leaped upon the stage and from
there into the president’s box, and in a


short time we knew what had happened.
The audience was all excitement at once,
and we didn’t know but what the plot
was to include part of these who sat in
the body of the house, for there were lots
of southern sympathizers in Washington
at the time.

[boldface] [Saw Lincoln Only Twice.]

The retails of that sad affair are fa-
miliar to everyone, and need not be re-
peated now. I saw Abraham Lincoln but
twice in my life; when he was on his
way to Washington to be inaugurated,
and once as he was driving down Penn-
Sylvania avenue. I did not see him at
Ford’s theater, as the curtains of the
box where he sat were drawn. A few
days after he was assassinated, from the
roof of a building, I watched the process-
sion as they escorted his remains to the
capitol. I looked upon his noble face for
the last time as he lay in state in the
great rotunda of the capitol. When Pres-
ident Lincoln was on his way to Wash-
ing he stopped at the Jones house, which
is now called the Commonwealth hotel,
in the city of Harrisburg, and which at
that time was run by my uncle, Wells
Coverly, and I was there the day that
Abraham Lincoln stopped there. I was
recently reading an article in one of the
magazines which seems to convey the
idea that when he left this hotel he went
out the back door and got into a hack.
The facts are that in order to avoid the
great crowd that had gathered in front
of the hotel to catch a glimpse of him,
he was taken from the hotel through a
hall to the private residence of my uncle
and from there took the hack. I stood on
the sidewalk when he came out, and saw
the people down the street watching for
him at the hotel entrance, and a great
many of them saw him when he got
into the hack, but none recognized him
and he was aboard cars and speeding
away before the crowd found that he had
gone.

Since that April night in Washington I
have traveled over this country of ours
a great deal, and although there was a
large crowd at the theater, I have never
met, to my knowledge, a single person
that was there. I had witnessed many
sad and exciting scenes on the battle-
fields in the war that was then going on,
but nothing that I ever experienced gave
me more of a shock than did that tragedy
when we realized what had happened.
That night, and the days immediately fol-
owing, were the most exciting times I
ever saw. Little did I think at that time
that I should live to see our people, who
were divided and embittered, reunited,
and the federal and confederate soldier
fighting side by side under the stars and
stripes.”

Source

c.00130 - John Edison Papers

Rights

Educational use only, no other permissions given. Copyright to this resource is held by Michigan State University and is provided here for educational purposes only. It may not be reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission of the University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Tags

Cite this Item

Grand Rapids Herald. "Grand Rapids Herald Articles". Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/859

Creator

Grand Rapids Herald

Publisher

Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections

Date

April 16, 1899

Material

Newspaper

Dimensions

6.75" x 22.25"

Full Title

The Burial of John Wilkes Booth and Trial of the Lincoln Conspirators

Description

This manuscript was typed by Paul S. Lucas from James Lucas' narration. In the manuscript, James Lucas describes the American political scene in the 1850's and the coming of the Civil War. He gives an eyewitness account of Washington in the war years, including a description of Lincoln in great detail. Lucas spent three years with the 12th Veteran Reserve Corps, who served as guards for the Old Capitol Prison, where the Lincoln conspirators were held. Lucas also served as a court messenger during the prisoners' trial, and he describes the conspirators as well as the trial itself. In addition, Lucas tells of guarding the body of John Wilkes Booth on the monitor "Montauk" and of the secret burial of the assassin's body in the Old Capitol prison.

Source

c.00086 - James L. Lucas Manuscript

Rights

Educational use only, no other permissions given. Copyright to this resource is held by Michigan State University and is provided here for educational purposes only. It may not be reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission of the University Archives & Historical Collections, Michigan State University.

Tags

Cite this Item

As Told by James L. Lucas to Paul S. Lucas. "The Burial of John Wilkes Booth and Trial of the Lincoln Conspirators". Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/855

Creator

As Told by James L. Lucas to Paul S. Lucas

Publisher

Michigan State University Archives & Historical Collections

Date

date unknown

Material

Typed on Paper

Dimensions

8" x 11"