Full Title

Our Martyred President

Description

A poem composed by Samuel Whiting of Dorsey, Illinois. In a letter to Rev. William Salter, he states that he was inspired to write the poem after reading the Reverend’s sermon on Lincoln published in the Burlington Hawk-Eye, April 19, 1865.

Transcription

Our Martyr’d President

Avail from wild Atlantics [[?]] to far Pacifics shore,
Is heard above the battle-din, for one all hearts deplore,
the pilot of our Ship of State, the patriot good and just,
has by a foul assassin’s,hand been stricken to the dust.

And while with hearts-by sorrow guard, above thy, tomb we feud,
we realize the union, [[?]] of its more steadfast friend,
we feel that [[?]] and Liberty- that's Justice, Mercy, Love
were all implanted in thy heart, by the good God above.

The annals of the world can show no purer name than thine
a name which though the coming years, more [[?]] you shall shine,
Bright freedom’s champion, friend of all down trodden and oppress’d,
thy memory throughout the earth shall be forever clip'd.

Thy vile assassin little thought when his foul, murd'ous hand,
Took Abraham Lincoln cherish'd life, and fill'd with woe the [[?]],
that the same bullet which consigned the martyrs to the tomb,
Bequeathed his virtues to all time clothed in immortal bloom.

[[end page]]

[[start page]]

Thy grave is consecrated ground, and pilgrims shall repair
from earth's mortal boundaries, to weep in sadness there;
in sadness, that such fate should be reserved for such a man
In joy, that then went spared to us to work our Freedom plan.

Gods noblest work – ”an honest man” - especially was he
who to the scourged and tortured slave proclaimed " hence forth be free!"
that he, his glorious epitaph, inscribed upon his tomb-
and that the sacred memory to soften all our gloom.

Sam Whiting
Dorsey Lee, April 25th 1865
My dear Mrs Sallee.
The hawk-eye, containing your
excellent remarks on the death of our beloved President.
came [[?]] be heard. Your sermon and the sad event have
suggested the above lines, which, [[?]] as they are, I
beg leave to dedicate to you. I am hard at work, ploughing
and planting, beef in my good health. My wife joins me in Round regards to all.

Truly Yours Sam Whiting.

[Transcription Team: Lola L., Jarett F., Henry W., Addilyne S.]
[New Hampton Middle School]

Source

Letter from Samuel Whiting (Dorsey, IL) to Rev. William Salter (Burlington, Iowa), April 25, 1865 William Salter Papers, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines

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 State Historical Society of Iowa

Tags

Cite this Item

Samuel Whiting . "Our Martyred President". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed June 6, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/921

Creator

Samuel Whiting

Date

April 1, 1865

Full Title

La Crosse Reactions

Description

With the news of President Lincoln's death, the people of La Crosse, Wisconsin, reacted in a similar manner as thousands throughout the country did. Business were closed, and the rest of the buildings of this Mississippi River town were in mourning.The article addresses that although Secretary of State William Seward was attacked he was not in fact killed, although it speculates that his attendant was. Further down, under "Solemn Services," the newspaper informs its readers that a prayer service will be held in one of the town's churches. Although Ford's Theatre is over a thousand miles from this town, the vast majority of the citizens of La Crosse took the news almost personally, and mourned accordingly.

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

La Crosse Daily Republican . "La Crosse Reactions". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed June 6, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/919

Creator

La Crosse Daily Republican

Date

1865

Full Title

“The Great Crime in Washington- Proclamation by the Mayor”

Description

Editorial published in the Daily Wisconsin News on April 15, 1865, discussing the recommended stopping of all city activities by Major of Milwaukee, Abner Kirby. His proclamation states that “all the dwellings and business places of our city forthwith be clad with mourning, as a token of the deep and common sorrow that prevails...”

Transcription

The Great Crime at Washington-- Proclamation by the Mayor.
MAYOR’S OFFICE,
Saturday Morning, April 15th
The joy of the nation is turned to mourning! The Chief Magistrate of our Country is reported to have been villainously slain at the hands of an assassin, and the life of our Secretary of State taken by a still more infamous hand.
Therefore, I, Abner Kirby, Mayor of Milwaukee, do hereby recommend that all the dwellings and business places of our city forthwith be clad in mourning, as a token of the deep and common sorrow that prevails; and that the people, abstaining from all excitement improper for such solemn occasion, postpone their ordinary business duties today, and that in all the churches tomorrow such services be performed as will duly express the great and general grief.
Abner Kirby, Mayor.



[Transcription by: Kyra S., Dr. Susan Corbesero’s Class, Ellis School, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]

Source

Milwaukee Public 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

Daily Wisconsin News. "“The Great Crime in Washington- Proclamation by the Mayor”". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed June 6, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/917

Creator

Daily Wisconsin News

Date

April 15, 1865

Full Title

Broadcloth Fragment from Lincoln's Casket Covering

Description

This cloth fragment may have been cut from the black broadcloth that covered President Lincoln's casket during the funeral procession through Philadelphia in 1865. The train carrying Lincoln's body arrived in Philadelphia on April 22 and the body was open for public viewing at Independence Hall on April 23.

Source

The Abraham Lincoln Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia (Object ID: 2001.34.1)

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as “Courtesy of The Abraham Lincoln Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia.” Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please contact The Abraham Lincoln Foundation.

Tags

Cite this Item

Unknown. "Broadcloth Fragment from Lincoln's Casket Covering". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed June 6, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/915

Creator

Unknown

Date

April 22-23 1865

Material

Cloth

Dimensions

5.0 x 8.0

Full Title

Dried Flower From Lincoln's Tomb

Description

This pressed flower was taken from President Lincoln's tomb in Springfield, Illinois. Text written on the envelope included with the flower reads: "FLOWERS OFF THE TOMB OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN APRIL 1865."

Source

The Abraham Lincoln Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia (Object ID: 2002.10.1)

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as “Courtesy of The Abraham Lincoln Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia.” Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please contact The Abraham Lincoln Foundation.

Tags

Cite this Item

Unknown. "Dried Flower From Lincoln's Tomb". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed June 6, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/914

Creator

Unknown

Date

April 22-23 1865

Dimensions

5.25 x 1.0

Full Title

Alfred R. Potter Union League Mouring Ribbon

Description

After Lincoln’s assassination, the Union League of Philadelphia issued mourning ribbons for its members to wear and grieve the fallen President. The ribbons were worn during Lincoln’s funeral procession in Philadelphia, where the President’s body was open for public viewing at Independence Hall. This ribbon is a blue, white, and red silk ribbon with metal “U” and “L” letters and a black gauze flower in the center. A black button is attached to the back. This ribbon was worn by Union League member Alfred R. Potter.

Source

The Abraham Lincoln Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia (Object ID: 1968.1.1)

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as “Courtesy of The Abraham Lincoln Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia.” Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please contact The Abraham Lincoln Foundation.

Tags

Cite this Item

The Union League of Philadelphia. "Alfred R. Potter Union League Mouring Ribbon". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed June 6, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/913

Creator

The Union League of Philadelphia

Date

April 22-23 1865

Material

Silk, metal, gauze

Dimensions

3.5 x 1.0

Full Title

Lewis Ralston Union League Mourning Ribbon

Description

After Lincoln’s assassination, the Union League of Philadelphia issued mourning ribbons for its members to wear and grieve the fallen President. The ribbons were worn during Lincoln’s funeral procession in Philadelphia, where the President’s body was open for public viewing at Independence Hall on April 23, 1865. The ribbon is a blue, white, and red silk ribbon with metal “U” and “L” letters and a black gauze flower in the center. This ribbon was worn by Union League member Lewis Ralston.

Source

The Abraham Lincoln Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia (Object ID: 2014.108.1)

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as “Courtesy of The Abraham Lincoln Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia.” Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please contact The Abraham Lincoln Foundation.

Tags

Cite this Item

The Union League of Philadelphia. "Lewis Ralston Union League Mourning Ribbon". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed June 6, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/912

Creator

The Union League of Philadelphia

Date

April 22-23 1865

Material

Silk, metal, gauze

Dimensions

3.625 x 1.0

Full Title

"We Mourn a Father Slain" Mourning Ribbon

Description

This mourning ribbon, owned by Union League member John C. Browne, was worn during President Lincoln's funeral procession in Philadelphia on April 22-23, 1865. The white silk ribbon includes a printed oval picture of Lincoln. Notice the incorrect birth year listed on the ribbon.

Transcription

WE MOURN

Abraham Lincoln,

Born February 12, 1808 Died April 15, 1865

A FATHER SLAIN.

Source

The Abraham Lincoln Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia (Object ID: 2008.22.3)

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as “Courtesy of The Abraham Lincoln Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia.” Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please contact The Abraham Lincoln Foundation.

Tags

Cite this Item

Unknown. ""We Mourn a Father Slain" Mourning Ribbon". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed June 6, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/911

Creator

Unknown

Date

April 22-23 1865

Material

Silk

Dimensions

8.5 x 3.5

Full Title

John C. Browne Union League Mourning Ribbon

Description

After Lincoln’s assassination, the Union League of Philadelphia issued mourning ribbons for its members to wear and grieve the fallen President. The ribbons were worn during Lincoln’s funeral procession in Philadelphia, where the President’s body was open for public viewing at Independence Hall. This ribbon is a blue, white, and red silk ribbon with metal “U” and “L” letters and a black gauze flower in the center. This ribbon was worn by Union League Member John C. Browne.

Transcription

This badge was worn

by John C Browne

a member of the

Union League

at the funeral

of

Abraham Lincoln

Philadelphia

April 22 1865

Source

The Abraham Lincoln Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia (Object ID: 2008.22.1)

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as “Courtesy of The Abraham Lincoln Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia.” Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please contact The Abraham Lincoln Foundation.

Tags

Cite this Item

Union League of Philadelphia. "John C. Browne Union League Mourning Ribbon". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed June 6, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/910

Creator

Union League of Philadelphia

Date

April 22-23 1865

Material

Silk, metal, gauze

Dimensions

3.75 x 1.00

Full Title

Photographic Portait of Lincoln Badge

Description

This copper framed, photographic portrait of Lincoln was worn by supporters during the President's visits to Philadelphia and by mourners attending the funeral in April 1865. W.B. Goodall donated this badge to the Union League of Philadelphia in 1948.

Source

The Abraham Lincoln Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia (Object ID: 2002.12.1)

Rights

Use of this item for research, teaching and private study is permitted with proper citation and attribution, as “Courtesy of The Abraham Lincoln Foundation of The Union League of Philadelphia.” Reproduction of this item for publication, broadcast or commercial use requires written permission. For permission, please contact The Abraham Lincoln Foundation.

Tags

Cite this Item

Unknown. "Photographic Portait of Lincoln Badge". Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed June 6, 2026. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/908

Creator

Unknown

Date

1865

Material

Copper, paper

Dimensions

1.0 x 0.75