WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington
City, April 15, 1865 — 12.10 p.m.
(Sent 1.40 p.m.)
Major-General SHERMAN,
Commanding:
President Lincoln was murdered about 10 o'clock last night
in his private box at Ford's Theater in this city, by an assassin who shot him
through the head with a pistol ball. About the same hour Mr. Seward's house was
entered by another assassin, who stabbed the Secretary in several places, but it
is thought he may possibly recover; but his son Frederick will probably die of
wounds received from the assassin. The assassin of the President leaped from
the box, brandishing dagger, exclaiming, Sic semper tyrannis! and that
now Virginia was revenged. Mr. Lincoln fell senseless from his seat, and
continued in that state until twenty-two minutes after 7 o'clock, at which time
he breathed his last. General Grant was published to be at the theater, but
fortunately did not go. Vice-President Johnson now becomes President, and will
take the oath of office and assume the duties to-day. I have no time to add
more than to say that I find evidence that an assassin is also on your track,
and I beseech you to be more heedful than Mr. Lincoln was of such knowledge.
EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I Volume
47, Part 3 (Serial No. 100), p. 220-1
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