149 years ago, on the evening of April 14, 1865, darkness fell across the victorious Union when southern actor turned assassin John Wilkes Booth fatally shot President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre. Although the American Civil War was over, for dozens of others who would be caught in the whirlwind aftermath, the nightmares had just begun.
This is an event that, for many reasons, is very difficult for me to think about, let alone discuss. Even though the Lincoln assassination and conspiracy is the main focus in my Civil War studies, it doesn't make the pain of lost lives and lost innocence any easier to cope with.
When Lincoln died, public opinion toward the southern states turned radically. Booth thought he would save his homeland. Instead, he sealed its fate. Southern supporters living in Washington DC were attacked by enraged Unionists and men mistaken for Booth were lynched. Southerner Cornelia McDonald expressed similar fears to her diary.
"In a very short time the kind and forbearing feelings our late enemies seemed to entertain for us were displaced by bitter hatred and furious rage, for when the bullet of Booth took away the life of Lincoln, I thought it was just what he deserved; he that had urged on and promoted a savage war that had cost so many lives; but a little reflection made me see that it was worse for us than if he had been suffered to live, for his satisfaction had been great when we were disarmed, and he was disposed to be merciful. Now no mercy was to be expected from a nation of furious fanatics whose idol of clay had been cast down. We knew that vengeance would be taken."
Vengeance would be taken even months after Lincoln was dead when the Union government would send four (or five depending on who you're counting) almost innocent people to their deaths and destroy the lives of countless others. (Yes, it can be argued that none deserved death sentences for their involvement with Booth). Even today, 149 years later, compassion for the South (and for Booth and his team) is still lacking, though it is in abundance for Lincoln. We want to forget our mistakes but we're not willing to show forgiveness for them.
For many, whether they flew the flag of the Union or the Confederacy, they were about to lose themselves in grief and sorrow, some for the rest of their lives.
Mary Todd Lincoln would become so wrought with grief that her son would have her institutionalized in her later life.
Henry Rathbone would marry Clara Harris but would eventually go insane, shoot, and stab her to death. His attempt at suicide would fail and he would die in a mental institution.
Michael O'Laughlen would be sent to prison and die two years later of yellow fever.
The life of Edwin Booth would be threatened when, while preforming, an audience member would attempt to shoot him, just missing.
Lucy Lambert Hale would suffer from depression and some form of PTSD for the rest of her life. She would be tormented by nightmares and hallucinations until she died 50 years later.
William Seward would forever bear the scars left behind after his attempted assassination. Aside from two, Seward would refuse to take photographs that would show his deformity.
Edmund Spangler, Samuel Arnold, and Samuel Mudd would be sent to prison. Mary Surratt, Lewis Powell, David Herold, and George Atzerodt would suffer the ultimate punishment: death on the hangman's gallows.
And then there were others such as Tad and Robert Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, the Booth, Surratt, Powell, Herold, and Atzerodt families, Boston Corbett, Preston King, James Lane, John Hartranft, Seward's wife and children, and many others who are not included on this list were touched by the collateral damage too. In a way, Lincoln's assassination managed to affect everyone in their own way.
Until my tears dry.
XOXO, Kate
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