The Most Dreadful Calamity That Ever Visited The American People

In today’s blog, I’m including a longer than usual excerpt from Philip’s diary. I decided to let Philip describe the events of April 1865 without additional exposition from his great-great granddaughter. 

April 1865 starts out hopeful with Philip looking forward to peace and mentioning some of the celebrations taking place after Lee surrenders his army to Grant. In the midst of the celebrations, Philip describes the horror and heartbreak of Lincoln’s assassination.

__________

APRIL 7^TH

Was on pickett. Rained very near all day. Suffered with cold a little during the night. Good news from the front. Grant is confident of Lee’s capture.

APRIL 8^TH

Grant and Lee have been corresponding on the subject of surrender. Lee wants peace and Grant wants him to surrender his forces to the Army of the United States. We are looking for to get the whole rebel army.

APRIL 9^TH

This morning, the Reb General Lee surrendered his army to Grant together…on the condition of paroling the Rebel officers and men. Allowing the officers to keep their side arms. I think that we will have peace in a short time.

APRIL 10^TH

This morning we was woke up by the sound of artillery. The bells were ringing and people were hollering in every direction over the news from the army. There is a salute of 500 guns to be fired from every fort and headquarters and arsenal, navy yard and city in the Union in honor of the victory. Raining here very hard all day. Cheering news.

APRIL 11-12-13

There is nothing of any importance come to hand. Yet the good news still in the city of Washington is illuminated. Splendid fireworks one evening.

APRIL 14^TH

Today, the flag that was surrendered four years ago by the gallant Major Anderson is to be hoisted once more over the wreck of Fort Sumter. The end of the war is near at hand. But the most dreadful calamity that ever visited the American people transpired at thirty minutes past 10 o’clock this PM at Ford’s Theater in Washington City, D.C. While the piece called “The American Cousin” being performed, the President of the U.S.A was murdered in cold blood by J. Wilkes Booth. The particulars as near as I could learn were as follows.

Mr. Abraham Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Harris and Major Rathbone were in a private box witnessing the play called “The American Cousin” at Ford’s Theater, Miss Laura Keene being the star. While the second scene of the third act was being played, a man entered the box of the President and shot Abraham Lincoln in the head with a small pocket pistol then jumped out of the box onto the stage and uttered these words, “Sic Semper Tyrannus and the south is revenged.” He ran to the back part of the theater and made his escape. The assassin was J. Wilkes Booth. The president is still alive yet but is lying in the arms of death fast. The bullet entered two inches below the left ear, penetrated three inches into the brain. About the same time, Secretary Seward was attacked by a man while he was laying in bed, helpless from wounds he received when he was thrown from his carriage. The fiend found the secretary, ran and stabbed him three times in the throat and face, cutting him badly. Also wounded his two sons who came to their father’s assistance. The secretary will recover but the son will not. (Both of Seward’s sons and six other people wounded during the attack did recover. Seward’s son Fredrick was in a coma for two months after the attack). The murderer has escaped. We was called up and made a chain guard to protect the country.

APRIL 15^TH

This morning at 22 minutes past seven o’clock, the President breathed his last. They took his brains out and weighed them. Andrew Johnson took the oath of office at 11 o’clock am. The President died at Mr. Peterson’s home. The body was taken to the White House this am. Seward is mending slowly. The guard has been kept on duty since the murder. The country is scoured in all directions. Several persons have been arrested on suspicion. Booth still at large. Was on duty all night. Flags at half mast. People much excited. Hard work to keep down a raid with the rebel sympathizers.

APRIL 16^TH

The excitement is still great. The assassin is still at large. The chain guard is still kept on duty. It is reported that the guerilla Mosby has surrendered. News good. Had inspection by Maror Wilhelm. Was complimented for our discipline.

APRIL 17^TH

This day four years ago I first enlisted into the army of the United States. What changes I see by looking back. The lives that have been lost during the four years of war is great and many poor orphans can tell with tearful eyes the tale of hardship and blood. The young widows of many a brave man can tell you the tale of suffering which has come upon this land in the last four years. But at last the dawn of peace is breaking on the land. A peace that will last forever. Never will the attempt to break the old Union in pieces be lived anymore. If our poor President had only been left to us to see the whole Union once more, a better country than ever. After he released eight million of poor souls from the bonds of slavery and smiled on the work which he had done, and done right. But with a soul of goodness, he was called away from among us to a better land. The President was laid out in state so that the public may look upon this face for the last time.

APRIL 18^TH

The doors of the late President’s mansion were thrown open to the public. It is said that the crowds were so great at day light this morning that it was impossible for one half of them to see the corpse. I could not get over as I was on duty.

This morning, the man who attempted (to take) the life of Secretery Seward was caught casing(?) the home of the secretary. He was disguised as a laborer with a pick axe on his shoulder. He was taken and cleaned up and taken to the home of the secretary with several others. But he was at once pointed out as the man by the servants who saw him. I was on chain guard. Booth is still at large yet. There was three men arrested in Georgetown with female clothing on them. They were sent to the central guard house. The mob came very near to taking them from the guard and hanging them to the lamp post on the street. The guard had to turn about and form for a charge several times.

APRIL 19^TH

The funeral of President Lincoln took place today. It was the largest funeral that ever took place in this country. The corpse was taken to the Capitol and laid out in state in the rotunda of the Capitol where it was again opened for the public.

APRIL 20^TH

I got a pass to go over to the city today. Went to the Capitol. Seen the President. He looks calm and peaceful as life. There is a smile hanging about his lips which seems to say “I died happy.” If there ever was a good man, Abraham Lincoln was the man. The coffin was the most beautiful thing I ever saw. It was covered with the finest of black cloth, lined with lead and white satin on the sides. There was six massive silver handles and … large silver plates on the lid. There was a shield made of silver tacked with a plate in the center with the inscription of “Abraham Lincoln, Born February 12^th 1809 in Hardin County, KY. Died in Washington City, D.C. on the 15^th day of April 1865 at 22 minutes past 7 o’clock am.”

I remained in the city during the night. Put up at the European Hotel (opened in 1860. Located at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue & 11^th Street).