How History Unfolds on Paper: Important Americana from the Eric C. Caren Collection, Part X

"The General Commanding announces with pain and Sorrow that on the evening of the 11th inst. at the Theater in Washington City His Excellency the President of the United States Mr. Lincoln was assassinated by one who uttered the State motto of Virginia..."

Head Quarters Mil(itary). Div(ision). of the Miss(issippi). in the Field Raleigh, N(orth).C(arolina)., April 17, 1865. Lined bifolium, 9 3/4 x 7 3/4 in. (248 x 197 mm). Manuscript document, signed by Captain and Assistant Adjutant General Hubert S. Brown, of the Second Division of the Fifteenth Army Corps, being a contemporary copy of General William T. Sherman's Special Field Order No. 56. , announcing to the Union Army the assassination of President Lincoln. Docketed on verso. Creasing from old folds, small separations along same; largely separated along central vertical fold; scattered light soiling.

On the morning of April 17, 1865, General William T. Sherman, commander of the Military Division of the Mississippi, was traveling from Raleigh, North Carolina to Durham to negotiate the surrender of Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston. When he was about to depart he received an urgent telegraph from Secretary of War Edwin Stanton: "The following order of the Secretary of War announces to the Armies of the United States the untimely and lamentable death of the illustrious Abraham Lincoln, late President of the United States...at 7.22 o’clock on the morning of Saturday, the 15th day of April, 1865, Abraham Lincoln...died of a mortal wound, inflicted upon him by an assassin. The Armies of the United States will share with their fellow-citizens the feelings of grief and horror inspired by this most atrocious murder..."

Following the meeting and his return to Raleigh, Sherman showed the message to his staff, and cautioned them to keep close observance of the soldiers when the news was broke, as they might retaliate against the civilian population of the city in a fit of emotion. As a precaution, he strengthened the garrison and guard at the roads leading into the various camps, ordered all soldiers on leave to immediately return to their commands, and placed the city on lockdown. Following these preparations, Sherman released his Special Order that evening. "The startling proclamation that Lincoln was dead brought varied reactions from the Federal troops. Fortunately, accompanying Special Field Order No. 56 was the announcement of the first day's truce talk between Sherman and Johnston. This helped turn the thoughts of soldiers from vengeance to peace." (Barrett, p. 236)