President Lincoln along with his wife and guests try to relax with some light comedy at Ford’s Theater on the evening of April 14, 1865. The entertainment for the evening is the play, “Our American Cousin”. Lincoln’s normal bodyguard was not present that night. In his place, guarding the door leading to the Presidential Box, was Washington Police Officer John Parker. At some point during the play, Parker abandoned his post to go get a drink. This made it easier for assassin John Wilkes Booth to access the President (“Pearce Museum | Facts from Lincoln’s Assassination and Death”). Booth would sneak up behind Lincoln and discharged a single shot, Derringer pistol to the back of his head. The lead ball would become lodged behind Lincoln’s left eye (“The Lincoln Assassination – Google Arts & Culture”). Lincoln was taken across the street to the Petersen House and placed on a small bed. Doctors recognized that there was nothing they could do to save the President. Surrounded by family and cabinet members, on April 15, 1865 at 7:22 AM, Abraham Lincoln was pronounced dead. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton allegedly made the remark, “Now he belongs to the ages.” (“Lincoln’s Legacy: The Eloquent President – Ford’s Theatre (U.S. National Park Service)”)
Evening of April 14, 1865
Accompanied by his wife Mary, guests Major Henry Rathbone and his fiancée Clara Harris, President Abraham Lincoln sat in the Presidential Box to watching the comedy “Our American Cousin” starring Laura Keane for a brief respite from the brutal Civil War that was now effectively over with the surrender of General Lee to General Grant after five days earlier. Lincoln’s guests were invited after Ulysses S. Grant and wife Julia had declined (“Pearce Museum | Facts from Lincoln’s Assassination and Death”). Mrs. Grant didn’t like being around Mrs. Lincoln.
Lincoln’s primary bodyguard, U.S. Marshal Ward Hill Lamon had been sent by the President to recently captured Confederate Capital, Richmond, Virginia on April 13th (Roya Rateshtari). Washington police officer John Parker was assigned to protect Lincoln. Parker compiled quite the list of disciplinary infractions as a policeman. Why would he have been picked to guard the President. He even showed up late to guard the President at the theatre (“Employees and Staff: John Parker – Mr. Lincoln’s White House”). However, during the play, Parker would leave his post at the doorway to the Presidential Box to go to the saloon next door for a drink (“Pearce Museum | Facts from Lincoln’s Assassination and Death”).
John Wilkes Booth – famous actor and southern sympathizer (spy), takes a drink before going next door to the Theater to execute his plan. Booth goes up to the President’s Box, sneaking up behind Lincoln firing his derringer at the back of the President’s head. Booth would cut Major Rathbone during a brief scuffle before jumping from the box down to the stage. In doing so, he would break his leg. He yelled out the state motto of Virginia, “Sic Semper Tyrannis” meaning “Thus always to tyrants” before making his escape (“The Lincoln Assassination – Google Arts & Culture”).
It was quickly determined that the President’s wound was fatal. Soldiers would take him across the street to the Petersen Boarding House. President Lincoln’s family, Vice President Johnson, various Cabinet Members, and doctor’s crowded around in a small bedroom waiting for the inevitable.
Sad Ending
The President would hang on until the following morning where, at 7:22 AM, would take his last breath. He was surrounded by his grieving wife, Mary, son Robert, and other friends and officials. In the moments after his death, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton allegedly uttered the words, “Now he belongs to the ages.” (“Lincoln’s Legacy: The Eloquent President – Ford’s Theatre (U.S. National Park Service)”)
As Americans mourned the death of Abraham Lincoln, his assassin was on the run. Booth and his accomplice David Herold would be caught 12 days later by Union Soldiers. They were hold up in a barn on a farm near Port Royal, Virginia. Herold would give himself up but Booth refused to leave the barn. As the barn was lit, a shot rang out. Booth had been shot in the neck. He was paralyzed and was carried to the front porch of the farmhouse. He would hang on for a few hours before finally dying at approximately 7 AM (“How Did John Wilkes Booth Die?”). Abraham Lincoln’s funeral procession retracing path he took from on the way to Washington four years earlier.
Premonitions
Lincoln allegedly had premonitions of his death leading up to the assassination. He had a dream where he awoke to the sound of people mourning by a coffin guarded by soldiers. In the dream, Lincoln demands to know what is going on and a soldier responds, “The President has been killed by an assassin.” In another instance, he mentioned a dream where he was, “Sailing across an unknown body of water at great speed.” He noted that he had had that dream on multiple occasions (“Did Abraham Lincoln Predict His Own Death?”).
Abraham Lincoln never got to lead the nation during a time of peace. His death changed the course of American History. What could have been? People wonder how he would have handled Reconstruction and working with the radical Republicans in Congress.
SOURCES:
“Pearce Museum | Facts from Lincoln’s Assassination and Death.” Pearcemuseum.com, 2023, www.pearcemuseum.com/education/seventh-grade-curriculum/facts-from-lincolns-assassination-and-death/#:~:text=Lincoln’s%20bodyguard%20was%20in%20the%20saloon&text=President%20Lincoln’s%20bodyguard%2C%20Officer%20John,the%20time%20of%20the%20assassination. Accessed 16 Apr. 2023.
“Employees and Staff: John Parker – Mr. Lincoln’s White House.” Mr. Lincoln’s White House, Apr. 2016, www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/residents-visitors/employees-and-staff/employees-staff-john-parker/#:~:text=John%20Parker%20was%20the%20Presidential,beginning%20of%20the%20Civil%20War. Accessed 16 Apr. 2023.
“The Lincoln Assassination – Google Arts & Culture.” Google Arts & Culture, Google Arts & Culture, 2015, artsandculture.google.com/story/the-lincoln-assassination-fords-theatre/DQUR9Mh5nGISLg?hl=en. Accessed 16 Apr. 2023.
“Lincoln’s Legacy: The Eloquent President – Ford’s Theatre (U.S. National Park Service).” Nps.gov, 2023, www.nps.gov/foth/lincoln-s-legacy-the-eloquent-president.htm?fbclid=IwAR1iCA2tiiX0B6KP1fgtAtactLziDkBV7NF5jD0QhAzPMwT-sW-EUTjUXaE#:~:text=In%20the%20moments%20after%20he,he%20belongs%20to%20the%20ages.%E2%80%9D. Accessed 16 Apr. 2023.
Roya Rateshtari. “Directors and Organizational Leadership — Ward Hill Lamon | U.S. Marshals Service.” U.S. Marshals Service, 22 June 2020, www.usmarshals.gov/who-we-are/history/directors-and-organizational-leadership/ward-hill-lamon. Accessed 16 Apr. 2023.
“How Did John Wilkes Booth Die?” History.com, 6 Nov. 2020, www.history.com/news/john-wilkes-booth-death-barn. Accessed 16 Apr. 2023.
“Did Abraham Lincoln Predict His Own Death?” History.com, 19 Oct. 2018, www.history.com/news/did-abraham-lincoln-predict-his-own-death. Accessed 16 Apr. 2023.