Authors: Doris Kearns Goodwin
“If possible…than last Monday”: MTL to CS, April 10, 1865, in Turner and Turner,
Mary Todd Lincoln,
p. 216.
exhilaration was evident…“qu’en pensez vous?”: MTL to CS, April 11, 1865, in ibid., p. 217.
Illuminated once again…miles around: Brooks,
Washington, D.C., in Lincoln’s Time,
p. 225.
“Bonfires blazed…rockets were fired”:
NYTrib,
April 12, 1865.
decorating the front…“and evergreens”:
Star,
February 15, 1896.
a second-story window…“of a different character”: Brooks,
Washington, D.C., in Lincoln’s Time,
pp. 226–27.
“the greatest question…practical statesmanship”: “31 July 1863, Friday,” in Hay,
Inside Lincoln’s White House,
p. 69.
acknowledged that in Louisiana…“by smashing it?”: AL, “Last Public Address,” April 11, 1865,
CW,
VIII, pp. 403–04.
John Wilkes Booth…passion for the rebels’ cause: Lockridge,
Darling of Misfortune,
p. 111.
evolved a plan to kidnap…not ready to yield: Michael W. Kauffman,
American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies
(New York: Random House, 2004), pp. 134, 211–12.
“Our cause being almost…great must be done”: Text of John Wilkes Booth diary, available through Abraham Lincoln research website, http://members/aol.com/RVSNorton1/Lincoln52.html (accessed May 2005).
Two other conspirators…“put him through”: John Wilkes Booth, quoted in Donald,
Lincoln,
p. 588.
Curiously…“God knows what is best”: Lamon,
Recollections of Abraham Lincoln,
pp. 116–18.
Fehrenbacher is persuasive…confused: Commentary on Lamon recollection,
Recollected Words of Abraham Lincoln,
ed. Fehrenbacher and Fehrenbacher, p. 293.
While radicals…control of the seceded states: Pierce,
Memoir and Letters of Charles Sumner,
Vol. IV, p. 236; SPC to AL, April 12, 1865, Lincoln Papers.
“a large majority of the people”:
NYH,
quoted in Harris,
Lincoln’s Last Months,
p. 216.
“Reunion…in the minds of men”: Brooks,
Washington, D.C., in Lincoln’s Time,
p. 228.
“there must be…robber bands and guerillas”: Entry for April 13, 1865,
Welles diary,
Vol. II, p. 279.
Lincoln had hoped…“their own work”: Ibid.
“that to place…bring trouble with Congress”: A. E. H. Johnson, quoted in Flower,
Edwin McMasters Stanton,
p. 272.
Stanton insisted…“absolutely null and void”: EMS, quoted in ibid., p. 271.
Speed expressed his accord…with Lincoln: Williams, “James and Joshua Speed,” p. 148.
confessed to Welles…tremendously: Gideon Welles, “Lincoln and Johnson,”
Galaxy
13 (April 1872), p. 524.
“doubted the policy…correct it if he had”: Entry for April 13, 1865,
Welles diary,
Vol. II, pp. 279–80.
telegram from Campbell…originally discussed: John A. Campbell to Godfrey Weitzel, April 7, 1865,
CW,
VIII, pp. 407–08 n1.
Lincoln walked over…“any specific acts”: A. E. H. Johnson, quoted in Flower,
Edwin McMasters Stanton,
p. 272.
Lincoln stood up…“safe-return to their homes”: AL to Godfrey Weitzel, April 12, 1865,
CW,
VIII, p. 407 (quote); EMS, in Flower,
Edwin McMasters Stanton,
p. 271.
“that…
was exactly right”: Ibid.
“As we reached…‘candles from my department’”:
Personal Memoirs of Julia Dent Grant,
pp. 153, 154.
received a delightful note…“drive with me!”: MTL to Mary Jane Welles, July 11, 1865, in Turner and Turner,
Mary Todd Lincoln,
p. 257.
“We are rejoicing…glorious victories”: MTL to James Gordon Bennett, [April 13, 1865], in ibid., p. 219.
“charming time…into a lad of sixteen”: MTL to Abram Wakeman, April 13, [1865], in ibid., p. 220.
told Sumner…a visit with General Grant: MTL to CS, [April] 13, [1865], in ibid., p. 219.
“Well, my son…for a long while”: Keckley,
Behind the Scenes,
pp. 137–38.
Grant arrived…this event would be favorable: Entry for April 14, 1865,
Welles diary,
Vol. II, pp. 282–83.
Stanton had drafted…“asked me to read it”: EMS, quoted in Flower,
Edwin McMasters Stanton,
p. 301.
cabinet concurred…two separate states: Entry for April 14, 1865,
Welles diary,
Vol. II, p. 281; Nicolay and Hay,
Abraham Lincoln,
Vol. X (1890 edn.), p. 284.
“he thought it providential…harmony and union”: Gideon Welles, “Lincoln and Johnson,”
Galaxy
13 (April 1872), p. 526.
“Didn’t our Chief…hair and whiskers”: Speed to Barrett, September 16, 1885, Lincoln Collection, University of Chicago Library.
Lincoln seemed “more cheerful…at home and abroad”: EMS to Charles Francis Adams, April 15, 1865, Telegrams Sent by the Secretary of War, Vol. 185–186, December 27, 1864–April 20, 1865, Telegrams Collected by the Office of the Secretary of War (Bound) (National Archives Microfilm Publication M-473, reel88), Records of the Office of the Secretary of War, RG 107, DNA.
“spoke very kindly…of the Confederacy”: EMS to John A. Dix, April 15, 1865,
OR,
Ser. 1, Vol. XLVI, Part III, p. 780.
“in marked degree…distinguished him”: EMS to Charles Francis Adams, April 15, 1865 (M-473, reel 88), RG 107, DNA.
“a conspicuous…best to let him run”: Dana,
Recollection of the Civil War
(1996 edn.), pp. 273–74.
She had never seen…“‘been very miserable’”: MTL to Francis B. Carpenter, November 15, [1865], in Turner and Turner,
Mary Todd Lincoln,
pp. 284–85.
“he spoke of his old…riding the circuit”: Arnold,
The Life of Abraham Lincoln,
pp. 429–30.
hoped to travel…back home to Illinois: MTL interview, [September 1866], in
HI,
p. 359; Randall,
Mary Lincoln,
p. 382.
group of old friends…“to dinner at once”: Tarbell,
The Life of Abraham Lincoln,
Vol. II (1900 edn.), p. 235.
met with Noah Brooks…“its pleasures”: AL, quoted in Hollister,
Life of Schuyler Colfax,
p. 252.
invited Colfax to join…that night: Ibid., p. 253.
“more hopeful…nearly so with gold”: Brooks,
Mr. Lincoln’s Washington,
p. 443.
Republican
had announced…box that night:
NR,
April 14, 1865.
Julia Grant…asked to be excused: Grant,
Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant,
p. 592;
Personal Memoirs of Julia Dent Grant,
p. 155.
The Stantons also declined: Thomas and Hyman,
Stanton,
p. 395.
“unwilling to encourage…poker over his arm”: Bates,
Lincoln in the Telegraph Office,
p. 367.
“I suppose it’s time…would rather stay”: AL, quoted in Hollister,
Life of Schuyler Colfax,
p. 253.
“It has been advertised…disappoint the people”: AL, quoted in
Through Five Administrations,
p. 67.
Booth had devised a plan…assassinate the president: Kauffman,
American Brutus,
pp. 212–15.
Booth believed he would be…“greater tyrant”: Text of John Wilkes Booth diary, available through Abraham Lincoln research website, http://members/aol.com/RVSNorton1/Lincoln52.html (accessed May 2005).
“Booth knew…martyr of Caesar”: Kauffman,
American Brutus,
p. 212.
slept well the previous…“for the first time”: Entry for April 14, 1865, in Johnson, “Sensitivity and Civil War,” p. 876.
“listened with a look…the Cabinet meeting”: Seward,
Reminiscences of a War-Time Statesman and Diplomat,
p. 258.
Fanny’s reading…how much he enjoyed it: Entry for April 14, 1865, in Johnson, “Sensitivity and Civil War,” p. 876.
Stanton had stopped by…serenading him: Thomas and Hyman,
Stanton,
p. 396.
“quiet arrangements”…opposite side of the bed: Entry for April 14, 1865, in Johnson, “Sensitivity and Civil War,” p. 877.
“there seemed nothing unusual…presented himself”: Seward,
Reminiscences of a War-Time Statesman and Diplomat,
p. 258.
Powell told the servant…but Fred refused: Verdi, “The Assassination of the Sewards,”
The Republic
(1873), p. 293.
“stood apparently irresolute…pulled the trigger”: Seward,
Reminiscences of a War-Time Statesman and Diplomat,
p. 259.
last memory Fred would have…unconscious:
Cincinnati [Ohio] Commercial,
December 8, 1865.
Private Robinson…headed toward Seward: Charles F. Cooney, “Seward’s Savior: George F. Robinson,”
Lincoln Herald
(Fall 1973), p. 93.
begging him not to kill…“face bending over”: Entry for April 14, 1865, in Johnson, “Sensitivity and Civil War,” pp. 879–80.
large bowie knife…“loose on his neck”: Verdi, “The Assassination of the Sewards,”
The Republic
(1873), p. 291.
his only impressions…“overcoat is made of”: WHS, quoted in
Cincinnati [Ohio] Commercial,
December 8, 1865.
Fanny’s screams…the floor: Entry for April 14, 1865, in Johnson, “Sensitivity and Civil War,” p. 880.
managed to pull Powell away…the right hand: Verdi, “The Assassination of the Sewards,”
The Republic
(1873), p. 292.
Gus ran for his pistol…fled through the city: Seward,
Seward at Washington…1861–1872,
p. 279.
lifted Seward onto the bed…rooms on the parlor floor: Entry for April 14, 1865, in Johnson, “Sensitivity and Civil War,” pp. 882, 884.
“He looked like an…yes, of one man!”: Verdi, “The Assassination of the Sewards,”
The Republic
(1873), pp. 291–92.
Atzerodt had taken a room…“not to kill”: Donald,
Lincoln,
p. 596.
seated at the bar…and never returned: Winik,
April 1865,
p. 226.
had attended a dress rehearsal…Harry Ford: Kauffman,
American Brutus,
pp. 214, 217.
play had started…“with a smile and bow”: Charles A. Leale, M.D., to Benjamin F. Butler, July 20, 1867, container 43, Butler Papers, DLC.
armchair at the center…sofa on her left: “Major Rathbone’s Affidavit,” in J. E. Buckingham, Sr.,
Reminiscences and Souvenirs of the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
(Washington, D.C.: Rufus H. Darby, 1894), pp. 73,75.
“rested her hand…situation on the stage”: Charles Sabin Taft, “Abraham Lincoln’s Last Hours,”
Century
45 (February 1893), p. 634.
later recalled…“think any thing about it”: Randall,
Mary Lincoln,
p. 382.
footman delivered a message…and fired: Winik,
April 1865,
p. 223; Harris,
Lincoln’s Last Months,
p. 224.
“As he jumped…struck the stage”: Taft, “Abraham Lincoln’s Last Hours,”
Century
45 (1893), p. 634.
“he was suffering…he struggled up”: Annie F. F. Wright, “The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln,”
Magazine of History
9 (February 9, 1909), p. 114.
“his shining dagger…it had been a diamond”: Leale to Butler, July 20, 1867, container 43, Butler Papers, DLC.
shouted…“Sic semper tyrannis”: Wright, “The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln,”
Magazine of History
(1909), p. 114.
saw Mary Lincoln…“shot the President!”: Ibid.
Charles Leale…pressure on Lincoln’s brain: Leale to Butler, July 20, 1867, container 43, Butler Papers, DLC.
Charles Sabin Taft…boardinghouse: Taft, “Abraham Lincoln’s Last Hours,”
Century
45 (1893), p. 635.
Joseph Sterling…headed for Seward’s house: Joseph A. Sterling, quoted in
Star,
April 14, 1918.
already gone to bed…set forth in the foggy night: Entry for April 14, 1865,
Welles diary,
Vol. II, pp. 283–84.
Blood was everywhere…floor of the bedroom: Entry for April 14, 1865, in Johnson, “Sensitivity and Civil War,” p. 886.
“was saturated with blood”…he decided to join them: Entry for April 14, 1865,
Welles diary,
Vol. II, pp. 285–86 (quote p. 285).
Chase had already retired…“a night of horrors”: Entries for April 14, 1865,
Chase Papers,
Vol. 1, pp. 528–29.
Lincoln had been placed…“spare appearance”: Entry for April 14, 1865,
Welles diary,
Vol. II, p. 286.
“would have killed most men…
much vitality”
: Entry for April 30, 1865, Taft diary.
Mary spent most…“overcome by emotion”: Entry for April 14, 1865,
Welles diary,
Vol. II, p. 287.
“Why didn’t he shoot me?”…not told, out of fear: Field,
Memories of Many Men,
p. 322.
“clean napkins…stains on the pillow”: Taft, “Abraham Lincoln’s Last Hours,”
Century
45 (1893), p. 635.