Text set / Henry O. Nightingale diary, 1865

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Distances and time by railroad from New York [ii]

Population of the United States for 1860 [iv]

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Title: Page [100]
Date Created and/or Issued: 18650414
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Transcription: A beautiful April day. Remained all day in the Hospital. In the evening, attended Ford's Theatre and in the last act a most astounding crime was committed the President; Mr. Lincoln, shot through the head, the assassin then leaped out of the box on the stage and drew a large dagger and exclaimed "I have done it. Virginia is avenged. Sic semper tyrannis" and made his escape. the President was conveyed to a neighboring house in dying condition. a fearful night is this. Other [monstrous] crimes the Secretary of State his sons and [illegible] servants staffed found [illegible] God pit the rebellion now for men, will how no mercy death to every Confederate my Rebel sympathies, intense excitement all over the City. is under Martial Law. ---------------------------------- Friday, April 14. A beautiful April day, remained all day in the hospital. In the evening attended Ford’s Theater and in the last act a most astounding crime was committed. The President, Mr. Lincoln, was shot through the heart. The assassin then leaped out of the box, on the stage and drew a large dagger and exclaimed ‘I have done it, Virginia is avenged, Sic Semper Tyrannis’ and made his escape. The president was conveyed to a neighbouring house in a dying condition. A fearful night is this, other monstrous crimes, the Secretary of State, his sons & his servants stabbed feared fatally. God pity the Rebellion now for men will show no mercy, death to every confederate, every rebel sympathiser, intense excitement all over the city, it’s under martial law. [The entry for the 14th continues onto the next diary entry space for the 15th ] Our worst fears are realized, our just and good President died this morning. His death the blow of a cowardly assassin. The country will long mourn his loss. Many citizens known to be sympathisers are being arrested, three men shot, mob law prevailing. Gen. Grant is safe, thank God, Andrew Johnson inaugurated President, Secty Seward lying very low also his sons. The murderers still at large, a terrible time is this. For our President’s blood the whole southern soil shall be deluged. Death, death to every traitor, let the black flag be raised. No letters received or written today. [4.] Note: 4. His description of the Lincoln assassination is quite accurate, except the wound was to the head not the heart. The best available modern source for this event is Edward Steers’ Blood on the Moon. The automatic response was to suspect the act as a Confederate reprisal and there was such a scheme at the time to capture Lincoln. Confederate involvement in Booth’s senseless murder of Lincoln is still debated to this day. Crooks, Terence G. “Transcribed and Annotated Diaries of Henry Oliver Nightingale.” Unpublished manuscript, 2014. Microsoft Word file.
Parent Item: Henry O. Nightingale diary, 1865
Contributing Institution: UC Merced, Library and Special Collections
Collection: Henry O. Nightingale diaries

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