In April of 1865, the Civil War was over, and Americans celebrated peace with bonfires, parties, and good cheer. Abraham Lincoln’s assassination put a stop to the country’s celebratory mood as many mourned the loss of a great man.
After John Wilkes Booth shot Abrahan Lincoln at the Ford Theater, Lincoln was taken to the Peterson Boarding House across the street, where he died nine hours later, the morning of April 15, 1865.
Washington D.C. was in chaos for days following Lincoln’s assassination. The joyous church bells, which recently rang to celebrate the end of the war on April 9, were now dulled to show the citizens’ sorrow. Black crepe adorned most houses out of respect for Lincoln. If a house was not adorned as such, vigilantes often damaged them and attacked those who did not show respect for Lincoln’s passing. Many Lincoln admirers wore black-ribboned badges to signify their support for the Union (and perhaps for their own safety). Washington D.C. was not safe for any Sessesh, a term used for those who supported the Confederacy.
It was not only the citizens of D.C. that were in a flux. Congressional leaders had much to consider. Andrew Johnson, Lincoln’s Vice President was sworn in as the new President. Johnson was no friend to the newly freed slaves. He sought to pardon ex-Confederates, which led to conflict within Congress and his impeachment by the House. In the Senate, he was acquitted by only one vote.
While Lincoln’s remains lay in state, Union soldiers pursued Booth for twelve days. Booth was found hiding in a barn in Port Royal, Virginia. Troops set fire to the barn; the assassin was shot and then died on the Garrett farm porch. Four of Booth’s co-conspirators were tried and hanged on July 7, 1865. One of the four was Mary Surratt, the first woman executed by the Federal government.
The above information is garnered from an article in the Smithsonian magazine. Here’s the link if you’d like to learn more: What the Newspapers Said When Lincoln Was Killed.
If you’d like to get a fictional, but well researched, account of the days following Lincoln’s assassination, read Ann Rinaldi’s An Acquaintance with Darkness. It was my inspiration for learning more about this turbulent time.