Assassination of Abraham Lincoln: Difference between revisions

Line 50:

At 11 o'clock that morning, Lincoln held a meeting with Grant and the Cabinet about the future plans of Reconstruction. Meanwhile, John Wilkes Booth was at Ford’s Theater to pick up his mail when he learned that the Lincolns would attend ''Our American Cousin'' at Ford’s Theater instead of ''Aladdin'' at Grover’s Theater. Thought out the entire afternoon, he told his conspirators about his change of plan. Following the conference, Grant gave his regrets that he and his wife could no longer attend the play that evening. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton pleaded with the President not to go out at night, fearful that some rebel might try to shoot him in the street. At dinner, the President told his wife the news about the Grants. Disappointed, the Lincolns nonetheless decided to maintain their announced plans and asked Major [[Henry Rathbone]] and his fiancee, Clara Harris, to join them. After his last meeting, Lincoln told members of Congress that “I suppose it’s time to go, though I would rather stay” before leaving the White House with Mrs Lincoln to pick up Major Rathbone and Clara Harris.

Arriving after the play had started, the two couples go up the stairs and into their seats. The box door was closed, but not locked. It was 8:45 pm at the Herdon House when Booth and his henchmen were in a meeting about their finalized plan to save the South. Lewis Powell was assigned to kill Secretary of State William Seward at his mansion and David Herold to accompany Powell out of Washington to the Navy Yard Bridge. A German immigrant, George Atzerodt, was assigned by Booth to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson at the Kirkwood Hotel. The only change in the plan is that Booth will kill Lincoln at Ford’s Theater. All the attacks were planned to happen at about 15 minutes past ten pm. Back at Ford’s Theater, as the play progressed, police guard John Parker left his post in the hallway leading to the box and went to a saloon next door for a drink with Lincoln's valet and coachman. It is the same bar where John Wilkes Booth waited his time. During the third act, ~~Booth~~ re-entered Ford’s Theater through the front door at 10:10 pm. He slowly made his way to the box, where Mr and Mrs Lincoln were holding their hands. Once inside the box, he waited until Actor Harry Hawk said what Booth thought would be the funniest line of the comedy play.

Arriving after the play had started, the two couples go up the stairs and into their seats. The box door was closed, but not locked. It was 8:45 pm at the Herdon House when Booth and his henchmen were in a meeting about their finalized plan to save the South. Lewis Powell was assigned to kill Secretary of State William Seward at his mansion and David Herold to accompany Powell out of Washington to the Navy Yard Bridge. A German immigrant, George Atzerodt, was assigned by Booth to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson at the Kirkwood Hotel. The only change in the plan is that Booth will kill Lincoln at Ford’s Theater. All the attacks were planned to happen at about fifteen minutes past ten pm. Back at Ford’s Theater, as the play progressed, police guard John Parker left his post in the hallway leading to the box and went to a saloon next door for a drink with Lincoln's valet, Charles Forbes and coachman, Francis Burke. It is the same bar where John Wilkes Booth waited his time. During the third act, he re-entered Ford’s Theater through the front door at 10:10 pm. Showing his calling card to Forbes, Booth slowly made his way to the box where Mr and Mrs Lincoln were holding their hands. Once inside the box, he waited until Actor Harry Hawk said what Booth thought would be the funniest line of the comedy play.

It was the last seconds of 10:14 P.M. when Booth entered the state box, with a derringer in his right hand.

Line 58:

Major Rathbone jumped to his feet and grabbed John Wilkes Booth, who dropped his pistol. They wrestled for a moment, but Booth pulled out the knife and stabbed Rathbone near his left shoulder before pushing him against the wall. Booth then turned to jump from the balcony. Rathbone sat up and grabbed onto Booth's coat, causing him to dangle over the balcony. Booth fell down to the stage, allegedly breaking his leg. He yelled the Virginia state motto, "Sic semper tyrannis!" ("Thus always to tyrants" in Latin.) However, there are different “earwitness” accounts of what he said. While most witnesses recalled hearing Booth shout “Sic semper tyrannis!”, others — including Booth himself — claimed that he only yelled “Sic semper!” Some didn’t recall hearing Booth shout anything in Latin. Some witnesses state that he also yelled "The South's is avenged!" Others thought they heard him say "Revenge for the South!" or "The South shall be free!" Other few people claimed Booth yelled "I have done it!" Nevertheless, he escaped across the stage just when Rathbone shouted "Stop that man!" and exited out the side door. On his way, he bumped into William Withers, Jr., the orchestra leader, and Booth stabbed at Withers with the knife. Upon leaving the building, Booth approached the horse he had waiting outside a half hour early. Booth struck Joseph "Peanuts" (also called "Peanut Johnny") Burroughs, who was holding Booth's horse in the forehead with the handle of his knife, leaped onto the horse, apparently also kicking Burroughs in the chest with his good leg and rode away out of the city and into the Maryland countryside.

Chaos broke out at the theater. Several people enter the box, including an army surgeon, [https://real-life-heroes.fandom.com/wiki/Charles_Leale Charles Leale]. He declared Lincoln's wound as mortal after attending him of his condition and head wound. Fearing that Lincoln wouldn’t survive a carriage ride to the White House, the decision was made to move the president to nearest location on Tenth Street. So when ~~the~~ doctors and soldiers slowly carry him out of the theater, they were considered to bring him to the same bar next door where Booth had just spend. After being denied by the bartender, they were summoned by a young ~~man~~ at the Petersen House. His name was Henry Safford. Doing as he told, the doctors and soldiers carefully brought Lincoln into the house. There, at about 10:45 pm, they lay him sideways on a bed because of his large height. Once Dr Leale ~~order~~ everyone out (except the doctors), he and the doctors undress Lincoln, so they could examine him for other wounds and apply a mustard plaster and blankets to make him comfortable. Surrounded by his cabinet members and friends (except Secretary Seward, who was nearly attacked at his house by Lewis Powell), they knew that there was no hope that Lincoln could survive and all they could do is wait for Lincoln to take his last breath. He remained in a coma for eight hours before dying early the next morning at 7:22 am on April 15, 1865. Henry Rathbone recovered from his wounds but his mental state deteriorated in the years following Lincoln's death as he anguished over his perceived inability to thwart the assassination attempt. His mental decline culminated in his murdering his wife, Clara Harris (who was also in the box with Lincoln) on December 23, 1883, fatally shooting her then stabbing her several times. After he killed Clara, Rathbone attempted to kill himself. When the police arrived, the bleeding Rathbone claimed there were people hiding behind the pictures on the wall. The couple's children, who were also almost killed by their father, were taken to live with their uncle, William Harris, in the United States. Rathbone spent the rest of his life in the asylum until his death in 1911. It was as if John Wilkes Booth continued to kill way beyond that fateful evening.

Chaos broke out at the theater. Several people enter the box, including an army surgeon, [https://real-life-heroes.fandom.com/wiki/Charles_Leale Charles Leale]. He declared Lincoln's wound as mortal after attending him of his condition and head wound. Fearing that Lincoln wouldn’t survive a carriage ride to the White House, the decision was made to move the president to the nearest location on Tenth Street. So when three doctors and four soldiers slowly carry him out of the theater, they were considered to bring him to the same bar next door where Booth had just spend. After being denied by the bartender, they were summoned by a young border at the Petersen House. His name was Henry Safford. Doing as he told, the doctors and soldiers carefully brought Lincoln into the house. There, at about 10:45 pm, they lay him sideways on a bed because of his large height. Once Dr Leale ordered everyone out (except the doctors), he and the doctors undress Lincoln, so they could re-examine him for other additional wounds and apply a mustard plaster and blankets to make him comfortable. Surrounded by his cabinet members and friends (except Secretary Seward, who was nearly attacked at his house by Lewis Powell), they knew that there was no hope that Lincoln could survive and all they could do is wait for Lincoln to take his last breath. He remained in a coma for eight hours before dying early the next morning at 7:22 am on April 15, 1865. Henry Rathbone recovered from his wounds but his mental state deteriorated in the years following Lincoln's death as he anguished over his perceived inability to thwart the assassination attempt. His mental decline culminated in his murdering his wife, Clara Harris (who was also in the box with Lincoln) on December 23, 1883, fatally shooting her then stabbing her several times. After he killed Clara, Rathbone attempted to kill himself. When the police arrived, the bleeding Rathbone claimed there were people hiding behind the pictures on the wall. The couple's children, who were also almost killed by their father, were taken to live with their uncle, William Harris, in the United States. Rathbone spent the rest of his life in the asylum until his death in 1911. It was as if John Wilkes Booth continued to kill way beyond that fateful evening.

==<span style="line-height:19.1875px;">Failed Attempts on Seward and Johnson</span>==

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 At 11 o'clock that morning, Lincoln held a meeting with Grant and the Cabinet about the future plans of Reconstruction. Meanwhile, John Wilkes Booth was at Ford’s Theater to pick up his mail when he learned that the Lincolns would attend ''Our American Cousin'' at Ford’s Theater instead of ''Aladdin'' at Grover’s Theater. Thought out the entire afternoon, he told his conspirators about his change of plan. Following the conference, Grant gave his regrets that he and his wife could no longer attend the play that evening. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton pleaded with the President not to go out at night, fearful that some rebel might try to shoot him in the street. At dinner, the President told his wife the news about the Grants. Disappointed, the Lincolns nonetheless decided to maintain their announced plans and asked Major [[Henry Rathbone]] and his fiancee, Clara Harris, to join them. After his last meeting, Lincoln told members of Congress that “I suppose it’s time to go, though I would rather stay” before leaving the White House with Mrs Lincoln to pick up Major Rathbone and Clara Harris.
-Arriving after the play had started, the two couples go up the stairs and into their seats. The box door was closed, but not locked. It was 8:45 pm at the Herdon House when Booth and his henchmen were in a meeting about their finalized plan to save the South. Lewis Powell was assigned to kill Secretary of State William Seward at his mansion and David Herold to accompany Powell out of Washington to the Navy Yard Bridge. A German immigrant, George Atzerodt, was assigned by Booth to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson at the Kirkwood Hotel. The only change in the plan is that Booth will kill Lincoln at Ford’s Theater. All the attacks were planned to happen at about 15 minutes past ten pm. Back at Ford’s Theater, as the play progressed, police guard John Parker left his post in the hallway leading to the box and went to a saloon next door for a drink with Lincoln's valet and coachman. It is the same bar where John Wilkes Booth waited his time. During the third act, Booth re-entered Ford’s Theater through the front door at 10:10 pm. He slowly made his way to the box, where Mr and Mrs Lincoln were holding their hands. Once inside the box, he waited until Actor Harry Hawk said what Booth thought would be the funniest line of the comedy play.
+Arriving after the play had started, the two couples go up the stairs and into their seats. The box door was closed, but not locked. It was 8:45 pm at the Herdon House when Booth and his henchmen were in a meeting about their finalized plan to save the South. Lewis Powell was assigned to kill Secretary of State William Seward at his mansion and David Herold to accompany Powell out of Washington to the Navy Yard Bridge. A German immigrant, George Atzerodt, was assigned by Booth to kill Vice President Andrew Johnson at the Kirkwood Hotel. The only change in the plan is that Booth will kill Lincoln at Ford’s Theater. All the attacks were planned to happen at about fifteen minutes past ten pm. Back at Ford’s Theater, as the play progressed, police guard John Parker left his post in the hallway leading to the box and went to a saloon next door for a drink with Lincoln's valet, Charles Forbes and coachman, Francis Burke. It is the same bar where John Wilkes Booth waited his time. During the third act, he re-entered Ford’s Theater through the front door at 10:10 pm. Showing his calling card to Forbes, Booth slowly made his way to the box where Mr and Mrs Lincoln were holding their hands. Once inside the box, he waited until Actor Harry Hawk said what Booth thought would be the funniest line of the comedy play.
 It was the last seconds of 10:14 P.M. when Booth entered the state box, with a derringer in his right hand.
@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 Major Rathbone jumped to his feet and grabbed John Wilkes Booth, who dropped his pistol. They wrestled for a moment, but Booth pulled out the knife and stabbed Rathbone near his left shoulder before pushing him against the wall. Booth then turned to jump from the balcony. Rathbone sat up and grabbed onto Booth's coat, causing him to dangle over the balcony. Booth fell down to the stage, allegedly breaking his leg. He yelled the Virginia state motto, "Sic semper tyrannis!" ("Thus always to tyrants" in Latin.) However, there are different “earwitness” accounts of what he said. While most witnesses recalled hearing Booth shout “Sic semper tyrannis!”, others — including Booth himself — claimed that he only yelled “Sic semper!” Some didn’t recall hearing Booth shout anything in Latin. Some witnesses state that he also yelled "The South's is avenged!" Others thought they heard him say "Revenge for the South!" or "The South shall be free!" Other few people claimed Booth yelled "I have done it!" Nevertheless, he escaped across the stage just when Rathbone shouted "Stop that man!" and exited out the side door. On his way, he bumped into William Withers, Jr., the orchestra leader, and Booth stabbed at Withers with the knife. Upon leaving the building, Booth approached the horse he had waiting outside a half hour early. Booth struck Joseph "Peanuts" (also called "Peanut Johnny") Burroughs, who was holding Booth's horse in the forehead with the handle of his knife, leaped onto the horse, apparently also kicking Burroughs in the chest with his good leg and rode away out of the city and into the Maryland countryside.
-Chaos broke out at the theater. Several people enter the box, including an army surgeon, [https://real-life-heroes.fandom.com/wiki/Charles_Leale Charles Leale]. He declared Lincoln's wound as mortal after attending him of his condition and head wound. Fearing that Lincoln wouldn’t survive a carriage ride to the White House, the decision was made to move the president to nearest location on Tenth Street. So when the doctors and soldiers slowly carry him out of the theater, they were considered to bring him to the same bar next door where Booth had just spend. After being denied by the bartender, they were summoned by a young man at the Petersen House. His name was Henry Safford. Doing as he told, the doctors and soldiers carefully brought Lincoln into the house. There, at about 10:45 pm, they lay him sideways on a bed because of his large height. Once Dr Leale order everyone out (except the doctors), he and the doctors undress Lincoln, so they could examine him for other wounds and apply a mustard plaster and blankets to make him comfortable. Surrounded by his cabinet members and friends (except Secretary Seward, who was nearly attacked at his house by Lewis Powell), they knew that there was no hope that Lincoln could survive and all they could do is wait for Lincoln to take his last breath. He remained in a coma for eight hours before dying early the next morning at 7:22 am on April 15, 1865. Henry Rathbone recovered from his wounds but his mental state deteriorated in the years following Lincoln's death as he anguished over his perceived inability to thwart the assassination attempt. His mental decline culminated in his murdering his wife, Clara Harris (who was also in the box with Lincoln) on December 23, 1883, fatally shooting her then stabbing her several times. After he killed Clara, Rathbone attempted to kill himself. When the police arrived, the bleeding Rathbone claimed there were people hiding behind the pictures on the wall. The couple's children, who were also almost killed by their father, were taken to live with their uncle, William Harris, in the United States. Rathbone spent the rest of his life in the asylum until his death in 1911. It was as if John Wilkes Booth continued to kill way beyond that fateful evening.
+Chaos broke out at the theater. Several people enter the box, including an army surgeon, [https://real-life-heroes.fandom.com/wiki/Charles_Leale Charles Leale]. He declared Lincoln's wound as mortal after attending him of his condition and head wound. Fearing that Lincoln wouldn’t survive a carriage ride to the White House, the decision was made to move the president to the nearest location on Tenth Street. So when three doctors and four soldiers slowly carry him out of the theater, they were considered to bring him to the same bar next door where Booth had just spend. After being denied by the bartender, they were summoned by a young border at the Petersen House. His name was Henry Safford. Doing as he told, the doctors and soldiers carefully brought Lincoln into the house. There, at about 10:45 pm, they lay him sideways on a bed because of his large height. Once Dr Leale ordered everyone out (except the doctors), he and the doctors undress Lincoln, so they could re-examine him for other additional wounds and apply a mustard plaster and blankets to make him comfortable. Surrounded by his cabinet members and friends (except Secretary Seward, who was nearly attacked at his house by Lewis Powell), they knew that there was no hope that Lincoln could survive and all they could do is wait for Lincoln to take his last breath. He remained in a coma for eight hours before dying early the next morning at 7:22 am on April 15, 1865. Henry Rathbone recovered from his wounds but his mental state deteriorated in the years following Lincoln's death as he anguished over his perceived inability to thwart the assassination attempt. His mental decline culminated in his murdering his wife, Clara Harris (who was also in the box with Lincoln) on December 23, 1883, fatally shooting her then stabbing her several times. After he killed Clara, Rathbone attempted to kill himself. When the police arrived, the bleeding Rathbone claimed there were people hiding behind the pictures on the wall. The couple's children, who were also almost killed by their father, were taken to live with their uncle, William Harris, in the United States. Rathbone spent the rest of his life in the asylum until his death in 1911. It was as if John Wilkes Booth continued to kill way beyond that fateful evening.
 ==<span style="line-height:19.1875px;">Failed Attempts on Seward and Johnson</span>==