“I have seen the murder of the President of the United States.…”

Background information and commentary by Andrew Carroll: Major William Child, a surgeon from New Hampshire who had treated wounded soldiers throughout the war, was in Ford's Theatre across from President Lincoln when James Wilkes Booth snuck up behind the president and shot him in the head. Just over an hour later, and understandably still reeling from what he had witnessed, Child dashed off the following letter to his wife. (This letter was first published in its entirety in WAR LETTERS.)

Washington, D.C.
Apr. 14, 1865

My Dear Wife

Wild dreams and real facts are but brothers. This night I have seen the murder of the President of the United States.

Early in the evening I went to Fords Theater. After a little time the President entered—was greeted with cheers. The play went on for about an hour. Just at the close of an interesting scene a sharp quick report of a pistol was heard and instantly a man jumped from the box in which was the President, to the stage- and rushing across the stage made his escape. This I saw and heard. I was in the theatre--and sat opposite the Presidents box. The murderer assassin exclaimed as he leaped "Sic Sempur Tyrannis"--"Thus always to tyrants."…

Sect. Seward was also wounded by a knife about the same minute. The city is now wild with excitement. The affair occured only an hour since.

Are we living in the days of the French Revolution? Will peace ever come again to our dear land? Are we to rush on to wild ruin?

It seems all a dream—a wild dream. I cannot realize it though I know I saw it only an hour since.

W.C.

Abraham Lincoln died the next day at 7:22 A.M.

NEXT WEEK: Joshua L. Chamberlain revisits an old battlefield.