Full Title

"Tragedy of Lincoln's Death Halted Feast of Rejoicing"

Description

In 1928, Robert Brown recounted his childhood as the son of White House butler and waiter Peter Brown. Peter Brown, a formerly enslaved man, worked in the Lincoln White House. In the interview, Robert Brown discussed his early childhood in Virginia, his family's move to Washington, getting to know President Lincoln and his children, and learning of Lincoln's assassination. The newspaper page also includes other articles about Lincoln.

Transcription

[interviewer:] "Where were you on the night of the assassination?"

[Brown:] "I was home on Twelfth street., between O and H. about three or four blocks from Ford's. It was about half past 10 and I was taking off my clothes to go to bed. My father had just left the house, saying he had orders to return to the Executive Mansion about 11 and help with a supper they intended to have, and he would be beck when he could, but he didn't say what time. He went out and I was just ready to crawl into bed when I heard a big commotion in the street, men running this way and that, people shouting, military giving orders, horses dashing by. When I stuck my head out the door some one ran up, saying Mr. Lincoln was shot at the theater. My mother pulled me back in the house and made me stay in bed. She said it was dangerous to be out, and we should stay in. We kept awake till my father returned and told us of the excitement over at the White House. He stayed over there trying to comfort Tad, but after putting him to bed there wasn't anything he could do, so he locked up after a while and came home. Then I fell asleep."

[interviewer:] "Who was to have made up the party over at the White House?"

[Brown:] "That I couldn't say. My father just said they were to have some kind of supper after the performance, and he was needed there."

[interviewer:] "How many were invited?"

[Brown:] "That I don't know, sir. You see, my father wasn't the steward, otherwise he would have known how many. He only helped wait on the table in emergencies, and I can't say whether he was to do table duty that night."

[interviewer:] "Were the guests coming from Ford's Theater with the Lincolns or from elsewhere?"

[Brown:] "That, sir, is beyond me."

Source

Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of Congress

Rights

This item is in the public domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

George M. Battey, Jr.. ""Tragedy of Lincoln's Death Halted Feast of Rejoicing"". The Washington Star. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 2, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1214

Creator

George M. Battey, Jr.

Publisher

The Washington Star

Date

February 12, 1928

Full Title

Letter from Lincoln's Cabinet to Andrew Johnson

Description

Lincoln's Cabinet wrote to Andrew Johnson the day of his assassination to inform him of the events and to inform him of the next move for the U.S. government.

Transcription

Washington City DC
April 15, 1865, -

Sir:
Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, was shot by an assassin last evening, at Ford's Theater in this city and died at the hour of 22 minutes of seven o'clock.
About the same time at which the President was shot, an assassin entered the back chamber of the house of Wm H. Seward, Secretary of State, and stabbed him in several places,
in the throat, neck, and face, severely if not mortally wounding him. Other members of the Secretary's family were dangerously wounded by the assassin while making his escape.
By the death of President Lincoln, the office of President has devolved under the Constitution upon you. The emergency of the government demands that you should immediately qualify, according to the requirements of the Constitution and enter upon the duties of President of the United States. If you will please make known your pleasure, such arrangements as you deem proper will be made.

Your Obedient Servants,
Hugh McCulloch Secretary of the Treasury
Edwin M Stanten Secretary of War
Gideon Welles Secretary of Navy
W. Dennison Postmaster General
J.P. Usher Secretary of the Interior
James Speed Attorney General

Source

U.S. National Archives, General Records of the Department of State

Rights

This item is in the public domain and may be reproduced and used for any purpose, including research, teaching, private study, publication, broadcast or commercial use, with proper citation and attribution.

Tags

Cite this Item

National Archives. "Letter from Lincoln's Cabinet to Andrew Johnson". General Records of the Department of State. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 2, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1198

Creator

National Archives

Publisher

General Records of the Department of State

Date

1865-04-15

Full Title

Dr. Charles A. Leale

Transcription

The Assassination and Death of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States

by Chl. A. Leale, Asst. Surgeon US Vol. Executive Officer, Armory Square U.S.A. Hosp[ita]l. Washington D. C.

Having been the first of our profession who arrived to the assistance of our late President, and having been requested by Mrs. Lincoln to do what I could for him I assumed the charge until the Surgeon General and Dr. Stone, his family physician arrived, which was about 20 minutes after we had placed him in bed in the house of Mr. Peterson opposite the theatre, and as I remained with him until his death, I humbly submit the following brief account.

I arrived at Ford's Theatre about 8 1/2 P.M. April 14/65 and procured a seat in the dress circle about 40 feet from the Presidents Box. The play was then progressing and in a few minutes I saw the President, Mrs. Lincoln, Major Rathbone and Miss Harris enter; while proceeding to the Box they were seen by the audience, ^[insert] who cheered [/insert] which was reciprocated by the President and Mrs. Lincoln by a smile and [strikethrough] a [/strikethrough] bow. The party was proceeded by an attendant who ofter opening the door of the box and closing it after they had all entered took a seat near by for himself.

The theatre was well filled and the play of "Our American Cousin" progressed very pleasantly until about half past ten, when the report of a pistol was distinctly heard and about a minute after a man of low stature with black hair and eyes, was seen leaping to the stage, beneath holding in his hand a drawn dagger. While descending his heel got entangled in the American flag, which was hung in front of the box, causing him to stumble when he struck the stage, but with a single bound he regained the use of his limbs and ran to the opposite ^[insert] side [/insert] of the stage, flourishing ^[insert] in his hand a drawn [/insert] [strikethrough] his [/strikethrough] dagger and disappearing behind the scene. I then heard cries that the "President has been murdered", which were followed by those of "Kill the murderer", "Shoot him" etc. which came from different parts of the audience. I immediately ran to the President's box and as soon as the door was opened was admitted and introduced to Mrs. Lincoln, where she exclaimed several times "O Doctor, do what you can for him, do what you can"! I told her we would do all ^[insert] that [/insert] we possibly could.

When I entered the box the ladies were very much excited. Mr. Lincoln was seated in a high backed arm-chair with his head leaning towards his right side supported by Mrs. Lincoln, who was weeping bitterly. Miss Harris was near her left and behind the President.

While approaching the President I sent a gentleman for brandy and another for water. When I reached the President he was in a state of general paralysis, his eyes were closed and he was in a profoundly comatose condition, while his breathing was intermittent and exceedingly stertorous. I placed my finger on his right radial pulse but could perceive no movement of the artery.

As two gentlemen now arrived, I requested them to assist me to place him in a recumbent position, and as I held his head and shoulders, while doing this my hand came in contact with a clot of blood near his left shoulder. Supposing that he had been stabbed there I asked a gentleman to cut his coat and shirt off from that part, to enable me if possible to check the haemorrhage, which I supposed took place from the subclavian artery or some of its branches.

Before they had proceeded as far as the elbow I commenced to examine his head (as no wound near the shoulder was found) and soon passed my finger over a large firm clot of blood, situated about one inch below the superior curved line of the occipital bone and an inch and a half to the left of the median line of the same bone. The coagula I easily removed and passed the little finger of my left hand through the perfectly smooth opening made by the ball and found that it had entered the encephalon. As soon as I removed my finger a slight oozing of blood followed and his breathing became more regular and less stertorous. The brandy and water now arrived and a small quantity was placed in his mouth, which passed into his stomach where it was retained.

Dr. C. S. Taft and Dr. A. F. A. King now arrived and after a moments consultation we agreed to have him removed to the nearest house, which we immediately did, the above named with others assisting. When we arrived at the door of the box, the passage was found to be densely crowded by those who were rushing toward that part of the theatre. I called out twice "Guards clear the passage," which was so soon done that we proceeded without a moments delay with the President and were not in the slightest interrupted until he was placed in bed in the house of Mr. Peterson, opposite the theatre, in less than 20 minutes from the time that he was assassinated. The street in front of the theatre before we had left it was filled with the excited populace, a large number of whom followed us into the house. As soon as we arrived in the room offered to us, we placed the President in bed in a diagonal position; as the bed was too short a part of the foot was removed to enable us to place him in a comfortable position. The windows were opened and at my request a Captain, present made all leave the room except the medical gentlemen and friends. As soon as we placed him in bed we removed his clothes and covered him with blankets. While covering him I found his lower extremities of the ecchymosis until it encircled the orbit extending above the supra orbital ridge and below the infra orbital foramen. The wound was kept open by the Surgeon General by means of ^[insert] a [/insert] silver probe, and as the President was placed diagonally on the bed, his head was supported in its position by Surgeon Crane and Dr. Taft ^[insert] (relieving each other) [/insert]

About 2 A. M. the Hospital Steward, who had been sent for a Nelatons probe, arrived and an examination was made by the Surgeon General, who introduced it to a distance of about 2 1/2 inches, when it came into contact with a foreign substance, which laid across the track of the ball. This being easily passed the probe was introduced several inches further, where it again touched a hard substance, which was at first supposed to be the ball, but as the bulb of the probe on its withdrawal did not indicate the mark of lead, it was generally thought to be another piece of loose bone. The probe was introduced a second time and the ball was supposed to be distinctly felt by the Surgeon General, Surgeon Crane and Dr. Stone. After this second exploration nothing further was done with the wound except to keep the opening free from cogula, which if allowed to form and remain for a very short time, would produce signs of increased compression; the breathing becoming profoundly stertorous and intermittent and the pulse to be more feeble and irregular. His pulse which was several times counted by Dr. Ford and noted by Dr. King, ranged until 12 P. M. from between 40 to 64 beats per minutes, and his respiration about 24 per minute, were loud and stertorous. At 1 A. M. his pulse suddenly increased in frequency to 100 per minute, but soon diminished gradually becoming less feeble until 2:54 A. M. when it was 48 and hardly perceptible. At 6:40 A. M. ^[insert] his [/insert] pulse could not be counted, it being very intermittent, two or three pulsations being felt and followed by an intermission, when not the slightest movement of the artery could be felt. The inspirations now became very short and the expirations very prolonged and labored accompanied by a guttural sound. 6.50 A.M. The respirations cease for some time and all eagerly look at their watches until the profound silence is disturbed by a prolonged inspiration which was soon followed by a sonorous expiration. The Surgeon General now held his finger to the carotid artery, Col. Crane held his head, Dr. Stone, who was sitting on the bed, held his left pulse, and his right pulse was held by myself. At 7.20 A.M. he breathed his last and "the spirit fled to God who gave it."

During the course of the night the room was visited by many of his friends. Mrs. Lincoln with Mrs. Senator Dixon came into the room three of four times during the night. The Presidents son, Captn R. Lincoln, remained with his father during the greater part of the night. Immediately after death had taken place, we all bowed and the Rev Dr. Gurley supplicated to God in behalf of the bereaved family and our afflicted country.

[Stamped: The National Archives of The United States] [Right Margin Vertical Text: D No 776]

True Copy

Chas. A. Leale M.D.

Source

”>U.S. National Archives, War Department

Rights

This item is in the public domain and may be reproduced and used for any purpose, including research, teaching, private study, publication, broadcast or commercial use, with proper citation and attribution.

Tags

Cite this Item

National Archives. "Dr. Charles A. Leale". War Department. The Adjutant General's Office. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 2, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1197

Creator

National Archives

Publisher

War Department. The Adjutant General's Office

Date

1865

Full Title

Dr. Robert King Stone Testimony

Description

Dr. Robert King Stone was the Lincoln family doctor and one of 350 witnesses to give an account of the events of April 14, 1865. Dr. Stone recounts his experience with the dying Lincoln on the night of the assassination. Stone includes a description of Lincoln's fate and the care he received in his final hours.

Transcription

Dr. Robert King Stone,

a witness called for the prosecution, being duly sworn, testified as follows:

By the Judge Advocate

Q. State to the Court if you are a practicing physician in this city?
A. I am.
Q. Were you, or not, the physician of the late President of the United States?
A. I was his family physician.
Q. State whether or not you were called to see him on the evening of his assassination, and the examination which you made and the result?
A. I was sent for by Mrs Lincoln immediately after the assassination. I arrived there in a very few moments and found that the President had been removed form the theatre to the house of a gentleman living directly opposite the theatre, had been carried into the back room of the residence, and was there placed upon a bed. I found a number of gentlemen, citizens, around him, and among others two assistant surgeons of the army who had brought him over from the theatre and had attended to him. They immediately gave over the case to my care, knowing my relations to the family. I proceeded then to examine him, and instantly found that the President had received a gunshot wound in the back part of the left side of his head, into which I carried immediately my finger. I at once informed those around that the case was a hopeless one; that the President would die; that there was no positive limit to the duration of his life; that his vital tenacity was very strong, and he would resist as long as any man could, but that death certainly would soon close the scene. I remained with him doing whatever was in my power, assisted by my friends, to aid him, but of course, nothing could be done, and he died the next morning at about half past seven o'clock. It was about a quarter past ten that I reached him.
Q. He died from that wound?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you extract the ball?
A. Yes, sir. The next day, previous to the process of embalmment, with some medical friends, Dr. Curtis and Dr. Woodward of the Army, and in the presence also of Surgeon General, Dr. Barnes, the examination was made. We traced the wound through the brain, and the ball was found in the anterior part of the same side of the brain, the left side, - a large ball resembling those balls which are shot from the pistol known as the Derringer; an unusually large ball; that is, a larger ball than those used in the ordinary pocket revolvers.
Q. Was is a leaden ball?
A. Yes, sir, a hand made ball, from which the tag on the little end had been cut by hand. The ball was flattened somewhat, impressed in its passage through the skull, and a portion had been cut off in going through the bone. I marked the ball with the initials of the late President, and sealed it in the presence of the Secretary of War in his office, - sealed it with my private seal and endorsed it with my name. The Secretary enclosed it in another envelope which he endorsed in like manner and sealed with his private seal. It is still in his custody, and he ordered it to be placed among the archive of his department.
Q. Was the ball slightly flattened?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Did you see the pistol?
A. No, sir, I did not. I may state that I marked the ball with the initials of the President, "A, L", so that I could recognize it instantly.
Q. [Exhibiting a ball to the witness.] Look at that ball and tell the Court whether it is the one which you extracted from the head of the President?
A. It is. I recognize the mark I put upon it with my penknife, "A. L", and the shape of the ball. This is the fragment of which I spoke, which was cut off in its passage through the skull. The ball was flattened as I described it to the Court.

[The ball was offered in evidence without objection, and is marked Exhibit No. 30.]

Q. You know nothing in regard to the pistol?
A. No, sir, I never saw it.

Source

U.S. National Archives, Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Army)

Rights

This item is in the public domain and may be reproduced and used for any purpose, including research, teaching, private study, publication, broadcast or commercial use, with proper citation and attribution.

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National Archives. "Dr. Robert King Stone Testimony". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 2, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1196

Creator

National Archives

Date

May 16, 1865

Full Title

The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Late President of the United States of America…Expressions of Condolence and Sympathy Inspired by These Events

Description

The U.S. State Department compiled and published a collection of condolences it had received following the Abraham Lincoln's assassination.

Source

Pennsylvania State University, and Google Books

Rights

This item is in the public domain and may be reproduced and used for any purpose, including research, teaching, private study, publication, broadcast or commercial use, with proper citation and attribution.

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Cite this Item

United States Department of State. "The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Late President of the United States of America…Expressions of Condolence and Sympathy Inspired by These Events". U.S. Government Printing Office, . Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 2, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1191

Creator

United States Department of State

Publisher

U.S. Government Printing Office,

Date

1867

Full Title

Lace curtain fragment and letter of authentication

Description

Said to be a fragment of the curtain hung in the Presidential box at Ford's Theatre on the night of Lincoln's assassination.

Source

Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Rights

This item is in the public domain and may be reproduced and used for any purpose, including research, teaching, private study, publication, broadcast or commercial use, with proper citation and attribution.

Tags

Cite this Item

Ford's Theatre. "Lace curtain fragment and letter of authentication". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 2, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1184

Creator

Ford's Theatre

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

Edwin Stanton to William Tecumseh Sherman

Description

A letter from Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, to General William Tecumseh Sherman detailing the assassination of Lincoln and the attack on Seward.

Transcription

^[[$100]]

The following dispatch was received by Gen’l Sherman from Sec’y Sherman. [[?]] is furnished for the information of Brig’d Gen’l E.W. Rice.

“President Lincoln was murdered at 10-o’clock last night in the private box at Ford’s Theatre in this city by an assassin who shot him through the head with a pistol ball. About the same time the Seward’s house was entered by another assassin, who stabbed the secretary ^[[in]] several places, but it is thought he may possibly recover; but his son Fred will probably die of wounds received from the assassin. The assassin of the President, leapt from the box, brandishing a dagger, exclaiming “Sic semper tyrannis” and that “Virginia was revenged”. Mr. Lincoln fell senseless from his seat and continued in that state until 22 after 1’ o clock, at which time he breathed his last. Gen’l Grant was published to be at the theatre, but he did not go. Vice President Johnson now becomes President and will take the oath of office and assume the duties today. I have no time to add more except to say that I find evidence that an assassin is also on your track and I beseech you to be more heedful than Mr. Lincoln was of such knowledge.

(over)

(Sgd.) Edwin Stanton
Sec'y of War

Washington April 17 - 17 D.C.

By order of Brevet Major General Jas. M. Corse
L.H. Everts
Asst. Adjt. Genl.

[transcription by Alli Hartley-Kong]

Source

Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Rights

This item is in the public domain and may be reproduced and used for any purpose, including research, teaching, private study, publication, broadcast or commercial use, with proper citation and attribution.

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Edwin Stanton. "Edwin Stanton to William Tecumseh Sherman". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 2, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1182

Creator

Edwin Stanton

Date

April 17, 1865

Full Title

A Letter from Dr. Anson G. Henry to his wife

Description

Dr. Anson G. Henry was a friend of Abraham Lincoln from Springfield who he had appointed as Surveyor General of Washington Territory during his presidency. He was in Washington following the assassination and wrote his wife about his grief and that of Mary Lincoln

Source

Special Collections Research Center, University of Chicago Library

Rights

This item is in the public domain and may be reproduced and used for any purpose, including research, teaching, private study, publication, broadcast or commercial use, with proper citation and attribution.

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Anson G. Henry . "A Letter from Dr. Anson G. Henry to his wife". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 2, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1175

Creator

Anson G. Henry

Date

April 19, 1865

Full Title

When Lilacs Last in the Door-Yard Bloom'd in the Sequel to Drum-Taps

Description

In 1865, Walt Whitman published Drum-Taps, a collections of poems written during the war. A sequel was published the following year, which included Oh Captain! My Captain! and When Lilacs Last in the Door-Yard Bloom'd, both written in response to the Lincoln Assassination. When Lilacs Last in the Door-Yard Bloom'd was written in the form of an elegy during the summer of 1866.

Source

University of California Libraries via The Internet Archive

Rights

This item is in the public domain and may be reproduced and used for any purpose, including research, teaching, private study, publication, broadcast or commercial use, with proper citation and attribution.

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Cite this Item

Walt Whitman. "When Lilacs Last in the Door-Yard Bloom'd in the Sequel to Drum-Taps". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 2, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1172

Creator

Walt Whitman

Date

Summer 1865

Full Title

Excerpt from The Diary of Michael Shiner

Description

Diarist, Michael Shiner, was an African-American Navy Yard worker who chronicled events in Washington D.C over 60 years.

Transcription

and the Hon Abraham Lincoln with them.

and 1865

The Hon abraham Lincoln was assinated assanated on the 14 of April on good friday knight at fords theater in washing

and he died on the 15 of april 1865 on Satturday

and on friday evening before he was assanated Mr Licoln and his Lady whear Both down at the washington navy on good friday the 14 1865

Source

Naval History and Heritage Command

Rights

This item is in the public domain and may be reproduced and used for any purpose, including research, teaching, private study, publication, broadcast or commercial use, with proper citation and attribution.

Tags

Cite this Item

Michael Shiner. "Excerpt from The Diary of Michael Shiner ". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 2, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1170

Creator

Michael Shiner

Date

April 1865