Full Title

Letter to Abraham Lincoln from Joseph Medill

Description

Chicago Tribune newspaper editor and owner Joseph Medill's handwritten letter to Abraham Lincoln the day of Lincoln's assassination, April 14, 1865. With Union victory in sight, Medill advises Lincoln to "not deal too leniently" with the Confederate leaders. Lincoln would never receive this letter.

Transcription

Page one

Chicago, April 14, 1865

President Lincoln

Dr Sir. I am confident that the vast majority of the Republican party will sustain the views laid down in your recent speech now that the rebellion is in the condition of that fellow’s dog which swallowed the cake containing powder and punk. The people will feel desirous of admitting the seceded States as fast as it can safely be done. Your illustration of the egg and the fowl I think was very happy. If you have time to run your eye over the enclosed slip

Page two

you will perceive that we back you up stoutly. But while we all feel resolved to give you a hearty support we do hope that you will not deal too leniently with the cruel, vindictive millions who starved to death with devilish malice 25,000 of our brave patriotic sons and brothers. There can be no forgiveness for them on this side of the grave. At their head is the miscreant Jeff Davis. If it be deemed best not to hang many of the ringleaders, some at least ought to be executed and no seceder from congress should be allowed

Page three

to set foot in the halls of congress again. No West Pointer who resigned federal service to take up arms against his country should ever be allowed to hold a commission in our army again. It may not be advisable to confiscate the property of rebels or to hang many of them, but surely the leaders should all be disenfranchised and forbidden to hold office. I think this much of the loyal people will strenuously insist upon. The ignorant masses we can forgive. They have been well punished for their folly already, but the guilty leaders should be taught that there is just punishment often death.

Page four

We hope to have you here at the opening of our Great Fair – accompanied by Mrs. Lincoln. Our people count on it. You have staid (sic) in Washington long enough without a furlough and should now take one. The weather will be delightful, and everything will conspire to make your visit pleasant and agreeable. We will agree not to shake you to death but will not pledge to refrain from pretty loud cheering.

Yours Truly,

J. Medill

Source

Robert R. McCormick Research Center, VI-5 Eleanor Medill Patterson Papers

Rights

This item 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

Medill, Joseph, 1823-1899. "Letter to Abraham Lincoln from Joseph Medill ". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/267

Creator

Medill, Joseph, 1823-1899

Date

April 14, 1865

Material

Letter

Full Title

"Signifcant [sic] Letter."

Description

Excerpt of a letter from Ward Hill Lamon, former U.S. Marshal, to President Johnson. In it Lamon, a close friend of Abraham Lincoln, explains the late president’s plans for restoring the Union after the war: “I was made entirely certain by his own repeated declarations to me, that he would exert all his authority, power and influence to bring about an immediate reconciliation between the two sections of the country…All the energies of his nature were given to a vigorous prosecution of the war while the rebellion lasted, but he equally determined upon a vigorous prosecution of peace as soon as the armed hostility should end.” Published in The Selma Morning Times on April 14, 1866.

Source

Excerpt from the The Selma Morning Times, item number 24.0046. Catalog record for this title is available here.

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 Alabama Department of Archives and History.

Tags

Cite this Item

The Selma Morning Times. ""Signifcant [sic] Letter."". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/230

Creator

The Selma Morning Times

Date

April 14, 1866

Full Title

Horace Averill Crane letter

Description

Letter from Horace Averill Crane to his brother-in-law, Thomas Jackson Charlton regarding President Abraham Lincoln's assassination and the state of the nation.

Dr. Thomas J. Charlton, II (1833-1886) graduated from the Savannah Medical College in 1856. In 1857, he was appointed as a surgeon in the United States Navy. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Charlton resigned his commission and joined the Confederate States Navy, serving aboard the commerce raider Florida.

Source

Thomas J. Charlton Family Papers, MS 132

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 Georgia Historical Society Research Center at library@georgiahistory.com.

Tags

Cite this Item

Horace Averill Crane. "Horace Averill Crane letter". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/257

Creator

Horace Averill Crane

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

Note from Joseph A. Wheelock to his wife, Kate French Wheelock, upon hearing news of Lincoln's death

Description

A short, personal note from Joseph Albert Wheelock, a journalist in Saint Paul, to his wife Kate French Wheelock, commenting on the assassination of President Lincoln. It reads: "My darling, If you have tears prepare to shed them now Weep - Weep - Weep for the Slain of the daughters of my people." The envelope with it is just as interesting: "Father's note to Mother when Lincoln was assassinated. Mr. Colgrave told me that he was with Father when the news came - and that he staggered across the room sank down and burst into tears."

Transcription

My darling, If you have tears prepare to shed them now Weep - Weep - Weep for the Slain of the daughters of my people.

Source

Joseph A. Wheelock and Family Papers, 1719, 1756, 1803 - 1906. P334, box 4, Minnesota Historical Society

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching, and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as Joseph A. Wheelock and family papers, Minnesota Historical Society. Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast, or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please see this web page: http://bit.ly/1ml2lCd

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Cite this Item

Joseph Albert Wheelock. "Note from Joseph A. Wheelock to his wife, Kate French Wheelock, upon hearing news of Lincoln's death". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed April 27, 2025. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/189

Creator

Joseph Albert Wheelock

Date

April 15, 1865

Material

paper