Full Title

An account of the assassination of Mr. Lincoln

Description

A short account of the assassination of President Lincoln. Details are given as to the sequence of events and the actions of the shooter, who is named as J.W. Booth.

Transcription

We obtain from Quartermaster Meig the following account of the assassination of Mr. Lincoln. About half past ten o'clock a man dressed in a dark suit entered the private box in which Lincoln and his party consisting of Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Harris, daughter of Senator Harris and Captain Rathbone of Albany were seated. Immediately upon opening the door he advanced towards Mr. Lincoln with a six barrel revolver in his right hand and a bowie knife in his left. The President who was intent upon the play did not notice his interruption, and the gentleman who was seated beside him rose to inquire the reason of his entry. Before he had time to ask the assassin what he wanted, he fired on charge from his revolver, which took effect in the back of the President's head. The ball passed through and came out at the right temple. Capt. Rathbone, who was in the box with Mr. Lincoln attempted to arrest the murderer and on doing so received a shot in his arm. The assassin then leapt from the box on the stage. Before he disappeared behind the curtain, he turned and with a [illegible] flourish and tone waved his knife and shouted [si semper tyrannia]. So sudden was the affair that for some moments after its occurring the audience supposed that it was part of the play, and were only [illegible] by the manager announcing rom the stage that the President of the U.S. had been shot. The shock fell upon the audience like a thunderbolt, and loud cries were made to kill or capture the assassin, the murderous [illegible] of the slave power escaped easily and rapidly from the theatre and mounted a horse and rode off. The mass of evidence tonight is that J.W. Booth committed the crime, whoever it is there are reasons for thinking that same bold and bloody hand, attempted the life of Mr. Seward.

War Department

Source

Austin History Center, Texas State Gazette microfilm

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please contact The Austin History Center at ahc_reference@austintexas.gov. For reproduction information please visit http://library.austintexas.gov/ahc/ordering-photos.

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War Department. "An account of the assassination of Mr. Lincoln". Texas State Gazette. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/478

Creator

War Department

Publisher

Texas State Gazette

Date

April 26, 1865

Full Title

"Murder Most Foul!"

Description

The Daily Intelligencer from Wheeling, VA offers a full page spread with details linked to the assassination, Lincoln's funeral, his autopsy, and more.

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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Daily Intelligencer. ""Murder Most Foul!"". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/473

Creator

Daily Intelligencer

Date

April 17, 1865

Full Title

"Abraham Lincoln died this morning"

Description

Published in the Texas State Gazette on April 26, 1865, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton sent this short account to Major General Dix chronicling the events of the assassination and naming John Wilkes Booth as the shooter.

Transcription

Washington, April 14, 10 a.m.

To Major Gen. Dix:

Abraham Lincoln died this morning at 27 minutes after seven o'clock. Frederick Seward's skull is fractured in two places, besides a severe cut on the head. He is still alive but hopeless. Major Seward's wounds are not dangerous.

It is now ascertained with reasonable certainty that two suspects were engaged in the horrible crime-Wilkes Booth being the one who shot the President, and the other a [?] of his whose description is so clear that he cannot escape.

It appears from a letter found in Booth's trunk that the murder was planned before the 4th of March but fell through then because the accomplice backed out until Richmond could be heard from. Booth and his accomplice were at the livery stable before six o'clock last evening and left there with their horses about 10 o'clock or shortly before that hour. It would seem that they had been seeking their chance, but for some unknown reason it was not carried into effect until last night. One of them has evidently made his way to Baltimore, the other has not been traced since. Secretary Seward is dead. Booth is arrested.

[signed] E.M. Stanton

Source

Austin History Center, Texas State Gazette microfilm

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please contact The Austin History Center at ahc_reference@austintexas.gov. For reproduction information please visit

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E.M. Stanton. ""Abraham Lincoln died this morning"". Texas State Gazette. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/471

Creator

E.M. Stanton

Publisher

Texas State Gazette

Date

April 26, 1865

Full Title

"Assassination! of President Lincoln!!! [...] Secretary Seward Also Assassinated"

Description

The Cleveland Morning Leader reports the details of Abraham Lincoln's assassination, but also, incorrectly, states that Secretary Seward was assassinated.

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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Cleveland Morning Leader. ""Assassination! of President Lincoln!!! [...] Secretary Seward Also Assassinated"". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/464

Creator

Cleveland Morning Leader

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

"Death of President Lincoln"

Description

An account of the death of Abraham Lincoln, which includes a suspicion that the assassination was part of a "political plot."

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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Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. ""Death of President Lincoln"". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/452

Creator

Brownlow's Knoxville Whig

Date

April 19, 1865

Full Title

Newspaper – Le National pt 1

Description

A paper in French, from San Francisco, discusses the assassination of President Lincoln.

Source

Tucker Collection care of Museum of the Grand Prairie

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution to the Museum of the Grand Prairie, Champaign County Forest Preserve District. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast, or commercial use requires written permission. For permission please contact Museum of the Grand Prairie, Champaign County Forest Preserve District.

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Le National. "Newspaper – Le National pt 1". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/441

Creator

Le National

Date

April 17, 1865

Full Title

Letter To Brother David from Rufus

Description

A personal letter, recounting the illumination of the city the night before the assassination of Lincoln. The letter goes on to detail that the author heard that “President Lincoln, Seward, Capt Robert Lincoln, and Secretary Seward’s son were all murdered last night”. The author states they can “hardly believe it but still it may be so”.

Transcription

Martinsburg Va

Apr 14th 1865
Brother David
I received your leter [letter] last night and was going to answer it but had to go to town on a grand review
I tell you you ought to have sean [seen] us
we went through all of the principal streets of the town.
the was a grand illumination last night
the whole force was out on review.
first came our Regt [Regiment] then the first Vet. [Veteran] Md. Infantry then a batery of 32 lb parot [Parrott] guns.
then a brigade of cavalry.
it all passed of in good order
after the perade [parade] was over we went to camp
left our arms and went back to town to have a good time with the rest
I went to call on an aquaintance [acquaintance] of mine.
found him at home and his niece was there
his wife wanted him to go out on the street to the speakers stand with her and the house was all of a blaze with spermacitie candles
so it was not proper to leave it alone.
so you see that someone must be be left in charge and after a while I was prevailed on to stay with the niece and keep everything strate [straight] and in place.
wel by the way the lady was young and hansom [handsome]
her name is Ann Snyder.
she is nineteen years of age and can and does help her mother do the housework
she can get as good meal of victuals as any of our New England girls and can play Yankey doodle Star Spangled baner Hail Columbia and any other tune to perfection.
Apr 15th we herd [heard] this morning that President Lincoln Seward Capt Robert Lincoln and Secretary Sewards son was all murdered last night
we dont [don't] hardly believe it but still it may be so.
we shall hear for sertin [certain] this afternoon.
well now about the cymbols we dont want any
Anderson the man that wanted them herd that a n----r had som that he stowl [stole] from a rebel band so he went to see them and bought them for five dolars [dollars]
they ar [are] the best ones I ever saw
they are 14 inch and cost not less than fifty dolars.
wel [well] cant [can't] think of anything more so I will close
write soon
from your Brother
Rufus Merryan

[Transcription by: Mary Cotterman]

Source

Tucker Collection care of Museum of the Grand Prairie

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution to the Museum of the Grand Prairie, Champaign County Forest Preserve District. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast, or commercial use requires written permission. For permission please contact Museum of the Grand Prairie, Champaign County Forest Preserve District.

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Rufus Merryan. "Letter To Brother David from Rufus". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/436

Creator

Rufus Merryan

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

Contemporary copy of telegram of W. Whelan, Chf. Bureau, Navy Department, Bur. Med and Surg., to Surgeon B. F. Bache, U.S. Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, N. York, April 15, 1865

Description

States, "Mr. Seward desires to see without delay the Dentist you have named with his Rubber splints prepared as fas as can be to advance. . . ." This refers to the injuries that Secretary of State William Seward suffered at the hands of Lewis Powell, a fellow conspirator of John Wilkes Booth.

Source

Missouri History Museum

Rights

This item is in the public domain.

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Whelan, W.. "Contemporary copy of telegram of W. Whelan, Chf. Bureau, Navy Department, Bur. Med and Surg., to Surgeon B. F. Bache, U.S. Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, N. York, April 15, 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/340

Creator

Whelan, W.

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

Idaho Statesman, April 25, 1865.

Description

This is an extra evening edition of the Idaho Statesmen published as soon as reports of the assassination reached the state. Reads, "The details, which we present to our readers in this extra, constitute a chapter of horrors that neither history nor fiction can parallel. The murder of Caesar by Brutus, the assassination of Henry the Fourth by Ravaignac, sink into insignificance when compared with the terrible daring and fearful coolness which characterizes the perpetration of these deeds."

Source

Idaho Historical Society

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.

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Idaho Statesman. "Idaho Statesman, April 25, 1865. ". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/318

Creator

Idaho Statesman

Date

April 25, 1865

Full Title

Tri-Weekly Constitutionalist, April 23, 1865

Description

Interior page report of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in a Confederate newspaper. The article is titled "Particulars of the Killing of Lincoln and Seward" and it claims the attack resulted "in the death of the two arch-fiends of the revolution." False report of the death of Secretary William H. Seward.

Source

HN-1865-011123B

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching, and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution as follows: Courtesy, Newseum Collection. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast, or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please contact us.

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Stockton & Co.. "Tri-Weekly Constitutionalist, April 23, 1865". Stockton & Co.. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 30, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/351

Creator

Stockton & Co.

Publisher

Stockton & Co.

Date

April 23, 1865

Material

Newspaper