Full Title

The Sad Rites of Yesterday

Description

The Cleveland Morning Leader newspaper issued this editorial in its April 29, 1865 edition, the day after Lincoln's funeral train had stopped in the city and the body of the slain President was on display for the citizens of the city and surrounding towns to view the President and pay their respect. The editorial paints a clear picture of the mood of the citizenry of one of the Northern states after losing the man who guided the nation through the trauma of the Civil War. Lincoln had won the Presidency with the strong support of Cleveland and the State of Ohio both in 1860 and again in 1864. Cleveland was the largest city in the old Western Reserve area of Ohio, with strong abolitionist feelings dating back to the ordinances of the old Northwest Territory that prohibited slavery. The new Republican Party was especially strong in Cleveland.

Transcription

The Sad Rites of Yesterday

Friday, Feb. 15th, 1861, the newly elected President, Abraham Lincoln, passed through Cleveland, on his way from his modest home in Springfield, Illinois, to assume control of the national government. Friday, April 28th, 1865, his dead body is brought back to us, over the same route which he traversed in his former journey, followed by mourners to the home which he left four years ago. What a chasm lies between two days! What volumes of history are embraced in the years which seperate them! What convulsions, what changes, what growth, what enlightenment have they wrought in the heart of the nation! A most striking illustration is found in the contrast which exists between this funeral procession and the triumphal progress. When Abraham Lincoln first visited Cleveland he was personally a stranger to us. We had known him only briefly and imperfectly, and though the sanctity of the great office to which he had been elected invested him with dignity and interest, he was still looked upon as a party candidate, place in the Presidential chair by a singular succession of chances, and possessing no remarkable ability or attainments. Now his murdered corpse comes back to us, followed by a nation of mourners, and city after city, along the line of the grand funeral procession, join, with a unanimity as remarkable as it is unprecedented, in demonstrations of affection and grief for the dead. After four years of toil and suffering and sacrifice in the cause of the nation, he had earned so fully the confidence and esteem of the entire people that they mourn for him with one accord as for a father murdered. He has fallen in the summit and culmination of his glory. But one thing was wanting to make his memory something hallowed and immortal. That was martyrdom, and the bullet of the assassin has rounded and perfected his career, while apparently leaving it incomplete and blank.

The grand funeral pageant, of whose progress through the East we have read with a sad interest, has passed through Cleveland. In another column we give a full description of the ceremonies of the day. We merely desire in this place to call attention to the general - the universal-display of sympathy with the character of the day. The whole city, aye and the whole people of Northern Ohio, united in this our last and most palpable demonstration of mourning. This fact was legible everywhere, not more in crape-shrouded blocks, the draped and decorated catafalque, and the imposing procession, than in the quiet sadness and solemnity of every face, the good-order and decorum everywhere prevalent, and the unanimous suspension of other pursuits to join more fully in the general mourning. The day will live to the end of life in the memory of the people who witnessed it, and fifty years from now the children of today will tell their grandchildren how they looked upon the dead face of the Good President, and how they saw him borne upon his funeral way amid the tears of sorrowing millions, while the world looked on in reverent awe!

Source

www.wrhs.org

Rights

Permission for personal or research use; publication or reproduction requires written permission from the Western Reserve Historical Society.

Tags

Cite this Item

Cleveland Morning Leader. "The Sad Rites of Yesterday". Cleveland Morning Leader. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/226

Creator

Cleveland Morning Leader

Publisher

Cleveland Morning Leader

Date

April 29, 1865

Full Title

Mayor's Office, April 15th, 1865 Whereas, We are informed of the death of Abraham Lincoln.

Description

This broadside distributed by the Mayor of Gardiner, Maine, (N. O. Mitchell) focuses on the death of President Lincoln. The broadside asks citizens of the town to gather at their places of worship on April 16, 1865, and pray to God, "imploring his Divine assistance at this time of our great country's peril."

Source

Bdses 1865 Apr. 15; Massachusetts Historical Society

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

Gardiner (Me.). Mayor.. "Mayor's Office, April 15th, 1865 Whereas, We are informed of the death of Abraham Lincoln.". [Gardiner, ME.: s.n., 1865]. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/227

Creator

Gardiner (Me.). Mayor.

Publisher

[Gardiner, ME.: s.n., 1865]

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

Parlor Monuments, to the Illustrious Dead

Description

This child's block set was most likely produced in August 1865 and was manufactured by the firm of Oakley and Mason of New York. The storage box is made of wood, is painted green, and has a sliding cover decorated with a lithograph image of Justice above a pair of oval portraits of Lincoln and George Washington. The set contains 24 wooden blocks decorated with patriotic images and words. The blocks can be assembled into three different "monuments" using an accompanying guide-sheet: the Children's Monument to Abraham Lincoln, the Freedman's Monument to Abraham Lincoln, and the National Monument to Abraham Lincoln. Each block is 2.25 inches high, 1 inch wide, and 1 inch deep. Only two sets are known to exist anywhere, and it is likely that only a small number were made. Copyright searches in New York for the period 1865-1880 have not revealed any information on this item.

Source

80.0413

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as defined here. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please contact the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum of Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, TN.

Tags

Cite this Item

Manufactured by the firm of Oakley and Mason of New York. "Parlor Monuments, to the Illustrious Dead". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/228

Creator

Manufactured by the firm of Oakley and Mason of New York

Date

1865

Full Title

Lincoln Catafalque on Cleveland's Public Square

Description

View of Cleveland Public Square looking west from Superior Avenue, April, 1865. The catafalque for President Lincoln's casket can be seen in the left background, with the statue of Oliver Perry immediately in front of the catafalque. Horse car tracks along Superior Avenue are in right foreground with line of horse cars in right background. Public Square was and remains the ceremonial center of the city of Cleveland. On April 28, 1865 over 60,000 people lined up, surrounding Public Square, to view the body of the assassinated President since the casket was displayed open.

Source

Western Reserve Historical Society. portrait files, Abraham Lincoln, Obsequies

www.wrhs.org

Rights

Permission for personal or research use; publication or reproduction requires written permission from the Western Reserve Historical Society.

Tags

Cite this Item

Photographer unknown, but likely Thomas Sweeney. "Lincoln Catafalque on Cleveland's Public Square". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/214

Creator

Photographer unknown, but likely Thomas Sweeney

Date

April 27, 1865

Full Title

Lincoln Funeral Train in Public Square, April 28, 1865

Description

B&W photograph of Lincoln catafalque and horse-draw hearse on Public Square in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 28, 1865. The view is looking east with Superior Avenue in the background. The slain President's was on view for the public all day. Mourners waited in line, surrounding Public Square, for hours to view the open casket. It was estimated that over 60,000 people viewed Lincoln's body that day.

Source

www.wrhs.org; portrait files for Lincoln, Abraham, folder Obsequies.

Rights

For personal and research reference only; republication or reproduction requires written permission from the Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, OH.

Tags

Cite this Item

Photography by Thomas Sweeney. "Lincoln Funeral Train in Public Square, April 28, 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/213

Creator

Photography by Thomas Sweeney

Date

April 28, 1865

Full Title

Abraham Lincoln funeral obsequies

Description

Carte de visite of the funeral obsequies of Abraham Lincoln in Columbus, Ohio, April 29, 1865. Lincoln's body began the trip from Washington D. C. back to his hometown of Springfield, Illinois, on April 21, 1865. The funeral train generally followed the route that Lincoln took when he traveled to Washington as President-elect in 1861. On Saturday, April 29, 1865, the train arrived in Columbus at 7:30 A.M. Lincoln's casket was taken to the Ohio Statehouse where he laid in state in the rotunda. The Statehouse was draped in black crepe for the occasion. Thousands of visitors came throughout the day to honor the fallen President.

Source

Ohio History Connection

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching, and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as Courtesy of the Ohio History Connection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Collection . Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast, or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please see this web page

Tags

Cite this Item

Witt, M.. "Abraham Lincoln funeral obsequies". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/191

Creator

Witt, M.

Date

April 29, 1865

Full Title

Traitors at Home

Description

Article on page 2 of the Monday April 17, 1865 edition of the Cleveland Morning Leader newspaper describing an incident that occurred the previous Saturday afternoon when citizens gathered on Public Square at 3PM to publicly mourn the death of the President by an assassin. J.J. Husband, the architect of the county courthouse on the NW corner of Public Square at that time and likely a Democrat, was heard to say that Lincoln's death was "no great loss." The crown turned on him and ran him out town. A group then chiseled his name off the cornerstone of the courthouse, vowing that his name would never be heard or read again in the city. The article provides details of this infamous event in Cleveland history.

Transcription

Cleveland Morning Leader
Monday April 17, 1867 p.2

TRAITORS AT HOME
___
Eulogists of Murder in Cleveland – How
they were treated.
___

It seems providentially provided for that some villains are fools—so great fools that they parade their villainy before the world. Such was the case of certain traitors in Cleveland Saturday, who were crazy enough to express their joy at the murder of the President, and received therefore some very rough treatment, no more, however, than their just deserts.

The case of J. J. Husband, the well-known architect, who occupies an office and rooms over Fogg’s store, was most prominent. He was in high glee over the news, remarking to one man: “You have had your day of rejoicing, now I have mine;” to another: “This is a good day for me,” and to a third that “Lincoln’s death was a d____d small loss.” It seems that afterward he became sensible of the danger he had incurred by these remarks, for he came sneaking to the newspaper offices to deny that he had made them. We have, however, the authority of half a dozen reliable gentleman, who heard his remarks, against his unsupported assertion.

On his way back to his office he was assaulted by the crowd, but escaped from them. His words were repeated from mouth to mouth, and the indignation of the multitude knew no bounds. The crowd searched the building for him, at last finding him on the roof of the building. He was caught, thrown through the skylight into his room, and knocked and kicked down stairs. The mob then set upon him and would perhaps have pounded him to death had he not been rescued by prominent citizens. He was taken to the courthouse and locked up in a room for safekeeping. He broke out and sneaked off during the day, and, we understand, has since left town. He can never show his face again in Cleveland. His name has already been chipped from the place on the court-house where it was cut as architect.

Another man, named James Griffith, from Hamilton, Butler county, in this State, arrived in town Saturday morning, and on hearing of the news, said to a barber who was shaving him in the Weddell House barber shop, that “Lincoln was a d__d son of a b___h, and ought to have been shot long ago.” Hearing of this the mob started after him. He was taken charge of by Clark Warren and others who carried him to the jail. On the way there, however, the mob got at him and pounded him badly. He is now in jail and ought to stay there for a term of months.

Another traitor, expressing his joy on Ontario street, Saturday morning, was knocked stiff by a little fellow half his size. Other men of Southern sympathies knew enough to keep closely at home Saturday. Cleveland is an unhealthy place for rebels.

[Transcription by Deborah Taylor.]

Source

www.wrhs.org

Rights

Permission for personal and research use; publication and reproduction requires permission from the Western Reserve Historical Society.

Tags

Cite this Item

Cleveland Morning Leader. "Traitors at Home". Cleveland Morning Leader. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/223

Creator

Cleveland Morning Leader

Publisher

Cleveland Morning Leader

Date

April 17, 1865

Full Title

Phoenix Steam Fire Engine No. 3 of Detroit as it appeared in the funeral procession of the late President Lincoln, April, 25th 1865. Presented by Robert Meginity

Description

Color lithograph by Sage Sons and Company of Buffalo, New York of nine members of Detroit's Phoenix Steam Fire Engine Company No. 3--from left to right, Patrick Flattery, George W. Lyon, William Hopkin, Captain Benjamin Guiney, James King, Michael Sawney, John McCurran, Anthony Logan, Frank Sweeney--with their engine which is decorated for Abraham Lincoln's funeral procession, depicted in front of their fire station. The men wear red shirts, black pants, belts stamped with either "Phoenix" or their rank, and helmets or caps.

Source

1957.268.001

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as defined here. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please contact The Detroit Historical Society.

Tags

Cite this Item

Sage Sons and Company. "Phoenix Steam Fire Engine No. 3 of Detroit as it appeared in the funeral procession of the late President Lincoln, April, 25th 1865. Presented by Robert Meginity". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/181

Creator

Sage Sons and Company

Date

April 25, 1865

Material

lithograph

Dimensions

14.25" x 14.25"

Full Title

Abraham Lincoln's Funeral March

Description

Sheet music booklet containing "Abraham Lincoln's Funeral March", composed by C.H. Bach, of Milwaukee, and published by H.N. Hempsted. A lithograph credited to L. Kurz of Chicago showing Lincoln surrounded by striped banners held by an eagle along with an "e pluribus unum" banner, and flanked by braziers with the text, "victory," and "emancipation," is printed on the cover.

Source

1965.173.015

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as defined here. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please contact The Detroit Historical Society.

Tags

Cite this Item

C.H. Bach. "Abraham Lincoln's Funeral March". H.N. Hempsted. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/183

Creator

C.H. Bach

Publisher

H.N. Hempsted

Date

1865

Material

sheet music

Full Title

A City in Mourning

Description

Copy of a black and white photographic print showing a view of along Griswold Street in Detroit, with the old state capitol building in the background on the left draped in banners in memorial of Abraham Lincoln.

Source

2008.112.206

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as defined here. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please contact The Detroit Historical Society.

Tags

Cite this Item

anonymous. "A City in Mourning". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed May 15, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/184

Creator

anonymous

Date

1865

Material

photograph

Dimensions

10.375" x 11.875