New Eyewitness Account?

[wpbinzel]

On PBS's "Antiques Roadshow," a woman had a letter written by her grandfather dated "Washington D.C. April 21, 1865." In the letter, John E. Bingham describes his experience of being in the audience at Ford's Theatre a week earlier:

Washington D.C. April 21, 1865

Dear Uncle,

You must excuse my negligence in not writing oftener of late, but the excitement which has prevailed for the last week has totally incapacitated me for any kind of labor. Day after day passed and every day brought with it good news and a prospect of the speedy termination of the war. Our cup of happiness was filled to the brim, and nothing could exceed the excitement with which the news of the Surrender of Lee's army was received.

Mr. Lincoln had been pressed on several occasions to make a speech and finally did, taking for his subject the future prospects of the Country — the reconstruction of the Union, &c. I was present and heard it although it was raining, and now when I think of it I can almost see him delivering his address. On last Friday, just one week ago, I was told that Grant & wife would accompany the President to the Theatre[.] I must confess that I never yet have seen Grant, and as I was anxious for a glimpse I accompanied a couple of friends to the theatre[.] Considering the object of our going we took greater pains in trying to get a full view of the box and its contents, than in getting a good position for witnessing the performance. At about half past eight the President entered accompanied by his wife, Miss Harris and Major Rathbone.

We were all very much disappointed on not seeing General Grant but we certainly had good cause to be thankful afterwards ("Harpers Weekly" contains a tolerable good description of the assassination, with the exception that the President and his wife occupied a different position and that the assassin fired with his left hand.) The assassination took place I think shortly after ten o'clock. Shortly after the shot was heard Booth sprang to the stage. As soon as he recovered himself he drew a large knife and shouted "sic semper tyrannis" the motto of Virginia. Looking up to a man seated near me, who afterwards proved an acquaintance, he said "I have done it." By that time he had crossed the stage and partly turning he waved his dagger on high and shouted, "The South's avenged!" This was the last we saw of him.

His face is impressed on my mind so strongly that I think I never will forget it. His eyes gleamed like fire, his skin almost white to transparency and his jet black hair waving in accordance with his motions. But to continue. After hearing the motto I thought that something serious had happened and I with the rest rushed to the box. Such a sight as I saw there was enough to touch the heart of a savage.

Mr. Lincoln was stretched on the floor with his head pillowed in the lap of Miss Laura Keene. His brains were slowly oozing out into her lap. Mrs. Lincoln was frantic, screaming "O my God! They have killed him, they have killed him!" He was taken to a house opposite where everything was done but to no avail. Hour after hour the crowd wailed and lingered thinking perhaps he might be spared, but when they were told "he is dead" they all turned away each to his home. Some crying, some praying but most of them cursing the wretch who took his life.

I never saw anything that would compare with the obsequies of last Wednesday. The procession was more than two hours passing, and I have heard it spoken of and do not doubt it myself that there were one hundred and fifty-thousand people in the Avenue and fifteenth street. I am exceedingly sorry to hear of Jim Caruthers' death, and sympathize with Pheobe Jinnci [?] & all.

The weather here is exceedingly pleasant. You can rest assured that Todd is safe. None but Cavalry were engaged in that fight.

Good bye

Your loving nephew

J. E. Bingham
_______________________

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.

The full details and that portion of the program, including the letter, may be viewed at:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/stories...ss-letter/

[RJNorton]

(04-24-2018 06:14 PM)wpbinzel Wrote:  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.

[smbovard]

Except for a couple of sentences thrown in toward the end that deal with personal matters, the majority of the assassination content seems like it could have been taken and shaped directly from newspaper accounts. There is a cold, artificial quality about this letter. I wonder if this is not a young man writing himself into the story to impress the folks back home.

[Steve]

(04-24-2018 06:23 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(04-24-2018 06:14 PM)wpbinzel Wrote:  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.

[John Fazio]

(04-24-2018 06:55 PM)Steve Wrote:  

(04-24-2018 06:23 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(04-24-2018 06:14 PM)wpbinzel Wrote:  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.

Steve:

An excellent observation. We need to be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. I have seen example after example of dogged research confirming the truth of events as originally reported and later said to be false by those who rejected tradition too quickly and too easily.

John

[wpbinzel]

(04-24-2018 06:55 PM)Steve Wrote:  

(04-24-2018 06:23 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(04-24-2018 06:14 PM)wpbinzel Wrote:  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?

[Craig Hipkins]

It does appear dubious to me also. First of all, the box was raised and it would have been hard for this witness to have actually seen President Lincoln's head in Mrs. Keene's lap unless he was actually in the box. Also, isn't there some uncertainty on whether or not the President's head was actually in Mrs. Keene's lap? I cannot remember where I read this.

[Steve]

(04-24-2018 07:40 PM)wpbinzel Wrote:  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?

I knew Harper's, was backdated when I first saw this thread although I wasn't sure by how much. (Since it was a weekly, I figured at least 7 days.) So I did a quick search and found the HarpWeek website which mentioned that issues were postdated by 10 days:

http://elections.harpweek.com/1876/carto...&Year=1876

and

https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes..../0214.html

I also found a Thomas Nast Christmas illustrations site that also mentioned the 10 day postdating by Harper's. But I couldn't find that site again as I made this post.

[Susan Higginbotham]

I found an ad in the April 22, 1865, Detroit Free Press from a bookseller who stated that he had on sale the latest Harper's Weekly "filled with illustrations of the fearful tragedy in Washington, including a very correct illustration of J. Wilkes Booth." So it seems quite possible that booksellers on the East Coast had Harper's Weekly on sale by April 21.

[wpbinzel]

(04-24-2018 09:28 PM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  I found an ad in the April 22, 1865, Detroit Free Press from a bookseller who stated that he had on sale the latest Harper's Weekly "filled with illustrations of the fearful tragedy in Washington, including a very correct illustration of J. Wilkes Booth." So it seems quite possible that booksellers on the East Coast had Harper's Weekly on sale by April 21.

Excellent, Susan. Thanks. It supports what Steve reported and certainly helps explain how a newspaper dated April 29 could be cited in a letter dated April 21, and makes me a bit less skeptical.

[RJNorton]

(04-24-2018 08:06 PM)Craig Hipkins Wrote:  Also, isn't there some uncertainty on whether or not the President's head was actually in Mrs. Keene's lap? I cannot remember where I read this.

Hi Craig. You are right on. We have discussed Laura Keene's presence (or lack of it) before. Please see the discussions here and here.

Kees stated the issue so succinctly I think I'll put his words in this thread, too:

"Imagine the scene shortly after JWB fired his deadly bullet… Abraham Lincoln, stretched out on the floor, three doctors (Leale, Taft, King) – maybe four (if Gatch or Sabin was there), Mary and Clara, wearing full gowns, Henry Rathbone, bleeding profusely, Kent (“About three minutes after the President was shot, I went into his box”), four soldiers (Soles, Sample, Griffiths and Corey rushed into the box), maybe five (Ltn. Bolten), maybe several others (unknown to me). Don’t forget the furniture (in addition to AL’s rocker there were at least four chairs and a settee). Imagine how much floor space this took up. And….in front of the small door a press of people. And suddenly there is Laura Keene, wearing a full gown complete with hoop skirt, carrying a pitcher of water and accompanied by Ferguson, or the alternative story by Gourlay…. Laura Keene in full dress gown, kneeling at AL’s side, taking his head in her lap. How could that have fit in the small box with all those people and furniture. How was she able to get so quick off the stage (remember in full dress gown with hoop and pitcher - where did she fetch the water?) and move through an angry mob and/or a small alleyway up a small stair. Is this all a hoax or a legend that evolved over time, or saw Laura (or her managers) an opportunity and took it by inventing this story? Where is the primary evidence that can prove that it actually happened?"

[Craig Hipkins]

Roger, exactly! Also, I believe that It was one of the doctors, (Taft?) that had to be lifted into the box. This here would have shown you how hard it would have been to get in there.

[AussieMick]

I do find it difficult to imagine Laura Keene with Lincoln's head on her lap. Imagine ... he is stretched out (or maybe legs and knees scrunched up) ... presumably his back on the floor. She kneels down ? and then ? sits down? and with her legs stretched out (to kneel with someone's head on your lap is impossible for more than a few seconds) and places his head on her lap? (Presumably pushing the doctors out of the way) ... I dont think so.

[Gene C]

Here is a link for the April 29, 1865 issue of Harper's Weekly

http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundati...incoln.htm

[Steve]

For the most part, I believe Bingham's account that he was at Ford's Theatre during the assassination. Bingham said Booth said "I have done it" just before saying "The South's avenged!" Two accounts within a day of the assassination, one by

Albert Daggett in a 15 April 1865 letter:
http://alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois.../show/8120

and one by

James P. Ferguson in a 14 April 1865 statement:
https://books.google.com/books?id=Gc6BmV...65&f=false

also claim Booth said "I have done it" just as he was leaving the stage.

I looked at the Washington newspapers printed prior to the letter being written to see who Bingham was referring to as "a man seated near me, who afterwards proved an acquaintance" of Booth. My guess is that Bingham was referring to James Ferguson, and may have read another account of the assassination given by Ferguson on the first page of the 17 April 1865 edition of the Washington Evening Star. Both Bingham and Ferguson say they went specifically to see Gen. Grant and got seats with a good view of the box. I'm emailing an image of the Ferguson article for Roger to post on the thread for everybody to see.

Steve also sent an article from the April 17, 1865, New York World which cites Laura Keene's actions after the assassination. I am posting the part of the article that mentions Keene:

So why did Clara Harris state, "Laura Keene did not enter the box from first to last. She might have been with the crowd who were trying to get in at the door, but only a very few were admitted and she was not among the number."