New Eyewitness Account?

[Susan Higginbotham]

(05-20-2018 06:03 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Looks like the writer of that article got it wrong.

Susan, do you know if this is the entire letter?

https://erenow.com/ww/the-civil-war-in-5...ts/47.html

Just the first and third pages of the letter are in the photograph. The entire letter reads:

Washington April 25th.

My dear Mary,

I received your kind note last week, & should have answered it before, but that I have really felt, as though could not settle myself quietly, even to the performance of such a slight duty as that--Henry has been suffering a great deal with his arm, but it is now doing very well,—the knife went from the elbow nearly to the shoulder, inside,—cutting an artery, nerves, & Veins. He bled so profusely as to make him very weak. My whole clothing, as I sat in my box was saturated literally with blood, & my hands & face. You may imagine such a scene. Poor Mrs. Lincoln all through that dreadful night would look at me with horror & scream, oh! my husband’s blood,—my dear husband’s blood—which it was not, though I did not know it at the time. The President’s wound did not bleed externally at all--The brain was instantly suffused--

When I sat down to write I did not intend alluding to these fearful events, at all, but I really cannot fix my mind on anything else--though I try my best to think of them as little as possible--I cannot sleep & really feel wretchedly--only to think that fiend is still at large--There was a report here yesterday that every house in the District of Columbia was to be searched to-day--I hoped it was true, as the impression seems to be gaining ground that Booth is hidden in Washington--Is not that a horrible thought?

Mr. Johnson is at present living in Mr. Hooper's house, opposite us--a guard are walking the the street in front constantly--

It will probably be two or three weeks before Mrs. Lincoln will be able to make arrangements for leaving--she has not left her bed since she returned to the White House that morning--

We expect to be able to leave next week for New York--but on what day, it would be impossible yet to say--I will write you in time however, so that I shall be sure to see you, while there--

Please give my love too all the family, & believe me

Every truly yours,

Clara H.

The full letter, and another one dated April 29, 1865, are in Harold Holzer's "President Lincoln Assassinated!" In the April 29 letter, Clara talks about Lincoln's April 11 speech, mentions being covered with blood (without saying whose blood), and discusses Rathbone's injuries and, rather incongruously, an upcoming family wedding.

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Spencer Bronson in his April 16 letter does mention that Keene "went around into the box holding the President head while an examination was being made."