[OFFICIAL.]
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, April 15 — 1:30 A.M.
Maj.-Gen. Dix:
This evening at
about 9:30 P.M., at Ford's Theatre, the President, while sitting in his private
box with Mrs. LINCOLN, Mrs. HARRIS, and Major RATHBURN, was shot by as
assassin, who suddenly entered the box and approached behind the President.
The assassin then
leaped upon the stage, brandishing a large dagger or knife, and made his escape
in the rear of the theatre.
The pistol ball
entered the back of the President's head and penetrated nearly through the
head. The wound is mortal. The President has been insensible ever since it was
inflicted, and is now dying.
About the same
hour an assassin, whether the same or not, entered Mr. SEWARD's apartments, and
under the pretence of having a prescription, was shown to the Secretary's sick
chamber. The assassin immediately rushed to the bed, and inflicted two or three
stabs on the throat and two on the face. It is hoped the wounds may not be
mortal. My apprehension is that they will prove fatal.
The nurse alarmed
Mr. FREDERICK SEWARD, who was in an adjoining room, and hastened to the door of
his father's room, when he met the assasin, who inflicted upon him one or more
dangerous wounds. The recovery of FREDERICK SEWARD is doubtful.
It is not
probable that the President will live throughout the night.
Gen. GRANT and
wife were advertised to be at the theatre this evening, but he started to
Burlington at 6 o'clock this evening.
At a Cabinet
meeting at which Gen. GRANT was present, the subject of the state of the
country and the prospect of a speedy peace was discussed. The President was
very cheerful and hopeful, and spoke very kindly of Gen. LEE and others of the
Confederacy, and of the establishment of government in Virginia.
All the members
of the Cabinet except Mr. SEWARD, are now in attendance upon the President.
I have seen Mr.
SEWARD, but he and FREDERICK were both unconscious.
EDWlN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
— The New York
Times, New York, New York, April 15, 1865, p. 1
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