Full Title

Contemporary copy of telegram of J. B. Montgomery, Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., to Joseph Smith, Rear Admiral, Chief of Bureau Yards, Navy Department, April 15, 1865

Description

Inquires if the yard bell should be rung on Monday morning [for Abraham Lincoln's funeral service].

Source

Missouri History Museum

Rights

This item is in the public domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

Montgomery, John Berrien, 1794-. "Contemporary copy of telegram of J. B. Montgomery, Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., to Joseph Smith, Rear Admiral, Chief of Bureau Yards, Navy Department, April 15, 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 3, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/325

Creator

Montgomery, John Berrien, 1794-

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

General Orders, No. 69, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, April 17, 1865

Description

Gives notice of the closing of the War Department on the day of the funeral of the late President and the suspension of labor at all military posts and all public works under the direction of the War Department, and orders flags to be flown at half-staff.

Source

Missouri History Museum

Rights

This item is in the public domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

Nichols, W. A.. "General Orders, No. 69, War Department, Adjutant General's Office, Washington, April 17, 1865". United States. War Department. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 3, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/324

Creator

Nichols, W. A.

Publisher

United States. War Department

Date

April 17, 1865

Full Title

Account of Lincoln's Funeral in Washington, D.C.[Detail]

Description

Detail from Thursday April 20, 1865 Evening Star, describing the Lincoln funeral procession in Washington, D.C. Local establishments whose Pennsylvania Avenue storefronts are described in this detail of local reactions to the assassination include Philp & Solomons; Hudson Taylor; L.F. Clark's; and Sweetser & Co.

Source

Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

Rights

This item is in the public domain. Publication or use of the item must be accompanied with credit Courtesy the Kiplinger Washington Collection, Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

Tags

Cite this Item

Evening star (Washington, D.C.). "Account of Lincoln's Funeral in Washington, D.C.[Detail]". Evening star (Washington, D.C.). Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 3, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/299

Creator

Evening star (Washington, D.C.)

Publisher

Evening star (Washington, D.C.)

Date

April 20, 1865

Full Title

$10,000 reward!

Description

Notice issued on April 15, 1865 by the Headquarters Department of Washington offering a reward for the arrest of the assassins of Abraham Lincoln and William H. Seward. Signed by C.C. [Christopher Columbus] Augur, Major General, Commanding Department.

Source

Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

Rights

This image is in the public domain. Use or display should be accompanied by the credit: Courtesy The Historical Society of Washington, D.C.

Tags

Cite this Item

Headquarters Department of Washington. "$10,000 reward!". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 3, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/298

Creator

Headquarters Department of Washington

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

Printed General Order no. 51 - Department of the Navy

Description

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

Source

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

Rights

This item is in the Public Domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

United States. Navy Department . "Printed General Order no. 51 - Department of the Navy". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 3, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/296

Creator

United States. Navy Department

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

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

Description

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

Source

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

Rights

This item is in the Public Domain

Tags

Cite this Item

McCulloch, Hugh, 1808-1895United States. Department of the Treasury. "Printed Treasury Department order to wear a crepe mourning band in honor of Lincoln". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 3, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/295

Creator

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

Date

April 17, 1865

Full Title

Senator Alexander Ramsey's Diary Entries, April 1865

Description

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

Transcription

April 14, 1865

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

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

The President died at 7 ½ a.m.

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

Cigar .30

Newspapers 5 & 16 .21

Boot(?) knife

Paid for use of above senators and myself for carriage 5.00

April 21, 1865

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

(?) Trunk .50

at Baltimore .30

Source

Alexander Ramsey and Family Papers, Minnesota Historical Society

Rights

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

Tags

Cite this Item

Alexander Ramsey. "Senator Alexander Ramsey's Diary Entries, April 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 3, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/292

Creator

Alexander Ramsey

Date

April 14, 1865

Full Title

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

Description

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

Transcription

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

Governor John A. Andrew

Sir

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

I am very Respectfully

Your Obt Servt,

Augustus Clark

Source

Massachusetts Historical Society, Special collections, manuscripts

Rights

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

Tags

Cite this Item

Clark, Augustus. "Letter from Augustus Clark to John A. Andrew, 5 May 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 3, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/288

Creator

Clark, Augustus

Date

May 5, 1865

Material

24.8 cm x 20 cm

Full Title

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

Description

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

Transcription

[Page 1]

Ordnance Office, War Department Washington, April 16 1865

Dear Uncle [S. M. Allen ]

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

[Page 2]

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

[Page 3]

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

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

I am as Ever Yours Truly

Gussie

Source

Massachusetts Historical Society, Special collections, manuscripts

Rights

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

Tags

Cite this Item

Clark, Augustus. "Letter from Augustus Clark to S. M. Allen, 16 April 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 3, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/287

Creator

Clark, Augustus

Date

April 16, 1865

Material

25 cm x 20 cm

Full Title

"War Department, Washington, April 20, 1865. $100,000 Reward! The Murderer of Our Late Beloved President, Abraham Lincoln, Is Still at Large"

Description

Large broadside with a proclamation (signed in type) by Edwain M. Stanton, Secretary of War, describing the rewards offered for the capture of the assassins. The broadside also includes a description of the fugitives and notes that Booth might have shaved off his mustache.

Source

Massachusetts Historical Society, Bdses 1865 Apr. 20

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

United States. War Department.. " "War Department, Washington, April 20, 1865. $100,000 Reward! The Murderer of Our Late Beloved President, Abraham Lincoln, Is Still at Large"". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 3, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/284

Creator

United States. War Department.

Date

April 20, 1865

Material

61.3 cm x 32.7 cm