New Eyewitness Account?

[wpbinzel]

While interesting, I am somewhat skeptical of the account. The letter is dated April 21, 1865 and references a Harper's Weekly "description." The first account of Lincoln's assassination did not appear in that paper until April 29th.

I am somewhat skeptical, too, Bill. It’s hard for me to see him getting close enough to see the wounded President's head on Laura Keene’s lap. IMO, it sounds like the “rubber room” concept applied to the State Box.

Harper's Weekly issues were postdated to increase sales, like some magazines and comic books are today. Publishers are afraid issues with dates already past wouldn't sell anymore, I guess. Harper's Weekly was postdated 10 days at the time, so the issue actually came out on April 19, before the letter was written.

Thanks, Steve. It is a good point. While I knew that Harper's postdated the paper, I had not seen anything that fixed it as 10 days. It is not an subject I have actively explored, but since it is the source of much of what we accept as history, could you recommend a source that speaks to Harper's operations and practices of the time?