Full Title

Letter of A. M. Black, Springfield, to Sister [Jane Black], May 21, 1865

Description

Describes a wreath he obtained from Abraham Lincoln's funeral for her. States, ". . . .I have got the Lincoln Wreath for you. Josephine got it from her mother Mrs. Edwards. It was made and placed on the Coffin in Chicago by Miss Arnold of that place she is a daughter of Congressman Arnold. . . .Strangers are making great efforts to get relics. . . .Josephine is to have enough of Mr. Lincoln's hair to fill a small locket. . . ."

Source

Missouri History Museum

Rights

This item is in the public domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

Black, Alexander M.. "Letter of A. M. Black, Springfield, to Sister [Jane Black], May 21, 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/312

Creator

Black, Alexander M.

Date

May 21, 1865

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 27, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/287

Creator

Clark, Augustus

Date

April 16, 1865

Material

25 cm x 20 cm

Full Title

United States Military Telegraph of S. Nickerson, St. Inigoes, Md., to Comdg. Officer Anacostia, Point Lookout, April 15, 1865

Description

States, "Cruise off your station. Stop every steamer bound down and if any pass the guard vessel if you stop any send them to Point Lookout where they will be thoroughly searched if any attempt to escape sink them if possible. . . ." Refers to the search for John Wilkes Booth after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Source

Missouri History Museum

Rights

This item is in the public domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

Nickerson, S.. "United States Military Telegraph of S. Nickerson, St. Inigoes, Md., to Comdg. Officer Anacostia, Point Lookout, April 15, 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/328

Creator

Nickerson, S.

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

Contemporary copy of telegram of H. H. Wells, Headquarters Provost Marshal General, Defences South of Potomac, Alexandria, Va., to Cole Taylor, Chf. of Staff and A.A.G., April 15, 1865

Description

States, "I have Cav [cavalry] along the river toward Occoquan and have notified the fishermen and home guards to arrest anyone not known to them found in their neighborhood. The pickets report all quiet today. . . ." Refers to the hunt for John Wilkes Booth after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Source

Missouri History Museum

Rights

This item is in the public domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

Wells, H. H.. "Contemporary copy of telegram of H. H. Wells, Headquarters Provost Marshal General, Defences South of Potomac, Alexandria, Va., to Cole Taylor, Chf. of Staff and A.A.G., April 15, 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/329

Creator

Wells, H. H.

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

Letter of E. Rothesay Miller, "The Monastery," Princeton, to Free [Theodore Freeley Gale], May 4, 1865

Description

Regarding his education at Princeton and Abraham Lincoln's body passing through Philadelphia after the assassination. States, ". . . .I was at home for about a week's vacation at the time that our President's body was taken through Philadelphia. I went down Friday afternoon: there was to have been a grand illumination — procession on Monday. The first thing that I heard Saturday Morning before I was dressed was that Lincoln had been murdered. It could hardly be believed. I expected to go see the body Sunday afternoon but my brother — Mr. Hall. . . .started right after breakfast — after three hours hard work got as far as 6th — Chestnut (It was in the State House on Chestnut below 5th.) They were on the corner for an hour — then concluded that they might as well give up. The crowd was so dense that the crystal of my brother's watch was broken (a heavy hunting case). He said every once in a while some woman would faint — she would be passed out over the heads of the crowd. . . ."

Source

Missouri History Museum

Rights

This item is in the public domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

Miller, Edward Rothesay. "Letter of E. Rothesay Miller, "The Monastery," Princeton, to Free [Theodore Freeley Gale], May 4, 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/311

Creator

Miller, Edward Rothesay

Date

May 4, 1865

Full Title

Contemporary copy of telegraph of S. Nickerson, at Inigoes, to Comdr. F. A. Parker, Yorktown, Va., [April 15, 1865]

Description

States, "President Lincoln was assassinated this AM. The assinaters [assassins] are expected to escape down the Potomac, please return. I am on board the guard schooner. . . ."

Source

Missouri History Museum

Rights

This item is in the public domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

Nickerson, S.. "Contemporary copy of telegraph of S. Nickerson, at Inigoes, to Comdr. F. A. Parker, Yorktown, Va., [April 15, 1865]". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/330

Creator

Nickerson, S.

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

U. S. Military Telegraph of S. Nickerson, Actg. Vol. Master, to Comdr. F. A. Parker, April 15, 1865

Description

States, "President Lincoln was assassinated last night. The assassins are expected to escape down the Potomac please return. I am on board the guard vessel. . . ."

Source

Missouri History Museum

Rights

This item is in the public domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

Nickerson, S.. "U. S. Military Telegraph of S. Nickerson, Actg. Vol. Master, to Comdr. F. A. Parker, April 15, 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/331

Creator

Nickerson, S.

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

Telegram of Gideon Welles, Navy Department, Washington, to Col. Jacob Teilan, Comdr. Marine Corps, Head Quarters, Washington via Navy Yard, April 15, 1865

Description

States, "Have extra strong and careful guard ready for special service if called for by Com. Montgomery. . . ." Refers to the hunt for John Wilkes Booth after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

Source

Missouri History Museum

Rights

This item is in the public domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878. "Telegram of Gideon Welles, Navy Department, Washington, to Col. Jacob Teilan, Comdr. Marine Corps, Head Quarters, Washington via Navy Yard, April 15, 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/332

Creator

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

Contemporary copy of telegram of E. B. Alexander, Saint Louis, to Capt. Peck, Ironton, April 15, 1865

Description

States, "Arrest J. Wilkes Booth the Murderer of the President wherever he may be found and send him here in irons. . . ."

Source

Missouri History Museum

Rights

This item is in the public domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

Alexander, Edmund B.. "Contemporary copy of telegram of E. B. Alexander, Saint Louis, to Capt. Peck, Ironton, April 15, 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/333

Creator

Alexander, Edmund B.

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

Contemporary copy of telegram of E. B. Alexander, Saint Louis, to Capt. Adams, St. Charles, Mo., April 15, 1865

Description

States, "Arrest J. Wilkes Booth the Murderer of the President wherever he may be found and send him here in irons. . . ."

Source

Missouri History Museum

Rights

This item is in the public domain.

Tags

Cite this Item

Alexander, Edmund B.. "Contemporary copy of telegram of E. B. Alexander, Saint Louis, to Capt. Adams, St. Charles, Mo., April 15, 1865". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/334

Creator

Alexander, Edmund B.

Date

April 15, 1865