Heart of Lincoln Land

Lincoln mourning badge (courtesy Library of Congress)

145 years ago today was Good Friday, April 14, 1865. Spring was in full swing in Washington, the Union had just won the war, and people were celebrating, wondering what President Lincoln would do now that the war was over.

The Lincolns decided that after all the stress of the war, they’d go to the theater tonight to watch a funny play called “Our American Cousin”. A famous actor at the time, John Wilkes Booth, had pro-Confederate sympathies and full access to Ford’s Theatre – and he was plotting revenge against the President on this day.

The following is a timeline of the events of Lincoln’s last day:

8 a.m.: Lincoln’s son Robert arrives in Washington from Appomattox for breakfast with his family.

9-11 a.m.: Lincoln receives members of Congress congratulating him on winning the war; conducts interviews with several prominent officials and citizens. He visits the War Department and tells General Thomas T. Eckert of his plans to attend the theater tonight, and invites him to come along.

11 a.m.-2 p.m.: Cabinet meets. Grant reports on the surrender of Lee’s forces at Appomattox; Stanton presents a plan for re-establishing authority in the South. There is discussion about what to do about Jefferson Davis and other Southern leaders. Lincoln tells of a recurring dream he is having, about a ship moving rapidly “towards a dark and indefinite shore”.

2-3 p.m.: Lincoln lunches privately with Mary.

3 p.m.: Lincoln interviews Vice President Johnson. He meets Nancy Bushrod, an African-American woman, regarding her husband’s pay.

4 p.m.: Congressman Shellabarger of Ohio calls on Lincoln to discuss appointments.

4:30 p.m: Lincoln’s assistant secretary reports that Jacob Thompson, a Confederate agent in Canada, is in the United States now, awaiting sail for Europe. Lincoln is asked whether he should be able to leave the country, and Lincoln allows him to leave.

5-7 p.m.: The Lincolns go for a leisurely drive in Washington. They stop at Navy Yard, and pass a house that reminds them of their home in Springfield. They talk of a time when they can both go back home and live peacefully.

7 p.m.: Lincoln meets with Governor Richard J. Ogelsby of Illinois and other Illinois friends at the White House. Lincoln has dinner, and interviews Senator Colfax of Indiana regarding a special session of Congress.

8 p.m.: Former congressman Ashmun of Massachusetts meets Lincoln regarding a cotton claim against the government; Lincoln gives him an appointment to come in at 9 a.m. the next day (April 15th).

8:30 p.m.: Lincoln and his wife Mary, along with Clara Harris and Major General Henry R. Rathbone, make their way to Ford’s Theatre for a performance of the comedy “Our American Cousin”.

9 p.m.: The play begins.

10 p.m.: The Lincolns had what would be the last discussion of their life. Mary put her arms around her husband and asked, “What will Miss Harris think of my hanging on to you so?” Lincoln replied, “She won’t think anything about it”.

10:13 p.m.: Booth leaps into the President’s box and shoots Lincoln, then jumps back down onto the stage, hurting his leg. Suddenly, chaos erupted. Some people in the audience thought it was an act of the play and did not immediately realize the President had been shot. Someone in the audience yelled “Booth!” and eventually the whole audience was yelling it. Mary cried “Help!”, and Harris yelled, “Stop that man!” Eventually, the whole audience was yelling “Hang him!”

Shortly after 10:13 p.m.: Lincoln is moved across the street to the Petersen House where he is treated by doctors. Mary stays near Lincoln’s bedside; Robert, his secretary John Hay come later from the White House. Throughout the night, Vice President Johonson, and other family members and people who have other relations to Lincoln come to his bedside.

7:22 a.m. April 15: President Lincoln dies. Secretary Stanton utters the famous words “Now he belongs to the Ages.” (These words are engraved in the burial chamber inside Lincoln’s Tomb here in Springfield.)

The Lincoln Tomb (photo Copyright © 2009 Chris Umhoefer)

Now for some interesting facts related to the assassination. Did you know that watches and clocks are often set to the time 7:22 in advertisements in memory of President Lincoln’s passing? Another interesting fact is that April 15, 1837, was the date that Lincoln moved to Springfield. And did you know that the year 2006 had the same calendar as the year 1865, and that that year, April 14th was Good Friday? I wonder how often that happens. What’s weird is that that is the same year that two tornadoes hit Springfield and my grandfather died. Creepy, isn’t it?

Tomorrow morning at 11, as there is each year on April 15, there is a commemoration of the death of President Lincoln at the Lincoln Tomb here in Springfield. I will be there, as I have been each year since 2004. I hope I’m not the only Lincoln fan who gets sad around this time of year.

[Edit: A commentor pointed out that John Wilkes Booth was not actually an actor in this play; however, he had access to Ford's Theatre through his fame, and thus was able to shoot Lincoln even though he was not in the play.]

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