Lincoln’s Legacy: Historic Americana from the Life of Abraham Lincoln

3 pp. on two sheets (one mourning stationery); each 13 x 7 3/4 in. (330 x 196 mm). Creasing from old folds; scattered light wear along extremities. With original Department of State mailing envelope, addressed by Daggett.

AN EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT OF LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION, WRITTEN ONLY HOURS AFTER THE EVENT. "Abraham Lincoln, our noble, self sacrificing and patriotic President has fallen by the hand of an accursed, traitorous assassin..."

An emotionally wrought eyewitness account of Lincoln's assassination and the aftermath of his death. Albert J. Daggett was a 19-year-old State Department clerk, and Troy, New York native, who attended the 14 April 1865 performance of Our American Cousin at Ford's Theatre. Daggett witnessed President Lincoln's assassination at the hands of actor and southern sympathizer, John Wilkes Booth, and was one of several men who purportedly carried the fallen President's body from the theater, across the street to the home of William and Anna Peterson, where the President died in the early morning of April 15. This extensive letter was written by Daggett to a female acquaintance in Troy 12 hours after Booth fired his gun, and less than three hours after Lincoln had succumbed to his mortal wound.

Reads in full: "Within the last 12 hours hours (sic) this city has been the scene of the most terrible tragedies that can be found upon the records of history. Abraham Lincoln, our noble, self sacrificing and patriotic President has fallen by the hand of an accursed, traitorous assassin. The fearful act was committed last evening at 10 oclock, at Ford's theatre in 10th Street. I was almost an eye witness of the melancholy occurrence, occupying a front seat in the 'Parquette' not more than twenty feet from the President's box. I had been out and was just entering the inner door, when I heard the sharp report of a pistol and turned just in time to see the hell-hound of treason leap from the box upon the stage, and with glittering dagger flourishing above his head, disappear behind the scenes. As he leaped from the box he exclaimed 'sic semper tyrannis'! and just befor (sic) he disappeared from the stage, he cried out 'I have done it—the South is avenged' It is impossible to describe the intense escitement (sic) that prevailed in the theatre. The audience arose as one person, and horror was stamped upon every face. I helped carry the President out, and we bore our precious burden into the house of Mr. Peterson, next door to my boarding house, where he remained until his death, which melancholy event took place at precisely twenty two minutes past seven this morning. It is impossible to describe the awful event. The mind cannot contemplate the results, Mr. Lincoln, to see, and to know whom, was to honor and to love him, has relaxed his hold from the 'Ship of State,' to which he has clung, with such heroic and noble daring, during the past 4 years of a fratricidal war unknown and unparalleled. The good old ship is now at the mercy of the winds. God grant that she may survive the storm, and anchor in safety in some good harbor, in the harbor of peace and prosperity. But Tuesday evening last I listened to his voice, a voice from Richmond and the defeated army of General Lee, as it rang out clear and loud from the historic window of the Executive Mansion, in his last speech, the last he shall ever make. Cheer upon cheer greeted him last night as he entered the theatre. I looked plainly into his face and I assure you it was a smiling one, as he stooped in his last bow, the last one ever to be made to an enthusiastic audience, as he entered the door of his private box which was so appropriately decorated with Union flags. It is difficult to realize the fearful calamity though I have seen the brain motionless from its place which but a few hours ago directed the affairs of this great Republic and the rattle of the wheels of the hearse upon the pavement has not yet died away, up the avenue, as the earthly remains of Abraham Lincoln are being borne to the Executive Mansion for a last brief residence there, preparatory to their being deposited in the vault of death. But I have not yet completed this dreadful chapter of horror. At the same hour of the attack upon Mr. Lincoln a murderer entered the house of Secretary Seward with designs upon the life of that good and patriotic statesman. After forcing his way into the house he was stopped by Mr. Frederick W. Seward the assistant secretary whose head he crushed in with the but end of a pistol and otherwise wounded. he then pushed his way to the chamber of the Secretary who was still suffering from his recent accident, the fracture of an arm and jaw, and dragging him from his bed attempted to cut his throat. This he partially succeeded in doing and would undoubtedly have accomplished it, had it not been for the interference of the nurse, a disabled soldier who received four stabs while dragging him from the prostrate body of Mr. Seward. Major Seward was also badly cut. Supposing his work accomplished he started to leave the room at the door of which he met Mr. Hansell the chief messenger of this Department. In endeavoring to prevent the escape of the ruffian Mr. Hansell was severely wounded. It is possible that the Secretary will recover, but the assistant secretary is said to be beyond the influence of human skill and probably his soul has ere this passed that dreadful bourn from which no traveler ever returns Since the 14" of April 1861, when fort Sumpter was first fired into nothing has occurred so calculated to exasperate the loyal millions of the country and cause them to demand vengeance upon the authors of this unholy rebellion. Leniency lost its champion when Abraham Lincoln ceased to breathe and now deeds must take the place of words.: Andrew Johnson is now President of the United States. Let us hope that his misconduct during the inauguration exercises, resulting from a too free use, on account of sickness, of spirits will be retrieved. I cannot think that he will be equal to an Abraham Lincoln, but, supported by the people of the country he will crush this hydra of treason and rebellion North and South so deep into the soil on which it germinated that the blasts from the trumpet of Gabriel will fail to call it forth on the morning of the resurrection: the crimson blood of a Lincoln of a Seward and of a hundred thousand fallen patriots and martyrs calls loudly for revenge and it calls not in vain. The news has just reached me that one traitor--at least, in this city, has met his deserts (sic). He dared to say, in company, that he was glad President Lincoln was dead: the words had hardly left his mouth before the bullet from the pistol of a union soldier went crashing through his brain and his soul was summoned to the awful presence of his maker with these horrible words upon his lips. The same fate awaits others if treason does not hold its infamous tongue. The greatest gloom pervades the city. Every house and store from the highest to the lowest is draped in mourning. The faces of the passers by are stamped with the most abject woe. The sun is hidden by black clouds and even the skies weep great tears of rain. Never has a nation passed through such an ordeal as this. It has been positively ascertained that the murderer of President Lincoln was John Wilkes Booth an actor who has appeared in Troy on several occasions. The officers of justice are at his heels and it is impossible for him to escape. A reward of $30.000 has already been offered for his apprehension. Write soon. Yours ever Dag".

Daggett's letter is one of the earliest known eyewitness accounts written about that night's tragedy and its aftermath. So great was the spectacle of the event that Daggett composed two other letters describing it, each sent to close family members: one to his mother, also dated April 15 at 10 AM (with an addendum dated the next day, April 16); and one to his sister, dated April 16. These are both in the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection.

Contemporary eyewitness accounts of Lincoln's assassination are very rare to market, especially ones penned so close to the event (some are found dating to April 16, but most are dated years later). According to online records, this is only the second eyewitness, dated April 15, to come to auction since 1940.

Provenance:

Previously sold, Christie's, New York, 5 December 2001, lot 81

Louise Taper, Beverly Hills, California
Exhibition:

Blood on the Moon, at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 19 April-16 October 2005