Lincoln's Boys

[RJNorton]

Thanks, Eva. I also enjoy reading John Hay's diary. Here is an entry where he mentions seeing John Wilkes Booth. The date is November 11, 1863, which is two days after Lincoln himself had seen Booth:

"Went to the Capitol this afternoon and looked at some pictures.

In the evening went to the theatre with Ulrich Dahlgren, Stahel, Kent & Kirkland to see Wilkes Booth in Romeo. Wheatley took all the honors away as Mercutio. Went to Harvey's and afterwards to Willard's and drank a good deal. Dahlgren was very funny by the one-legged enterprise he displayed at making a night of it.

Finished the evening by a serenade of Miss Chase by the band of the 17th Infantry."

(Kate Chase's wedding was the next evening.)

Gene made reference to John Nicolay also having kept a diary. This was new to me. I have never seen a published version.