Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

Boys In Blue: Diary entry from Sgt. Ashford H Magee of the 77^th Illinois Infantry Company E

In Memory

Dr. C.M. Colquet of leo “A” 1^st Ala Arty. Ft. Morgan age 40 years, Departed this life 4^th July 1864. If a man dies Shall he live again.

All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my chance comes

Rest, rest, rest in peace.

Boys in Blue: Diary Entry, Pvt. Abner W Foreman, 7th Ill. Inf. Co. D

Two days after Abraham Lincoln’s death in Washington D.C., Pvt. Abner W. Foreman of the 7^th Illinois Infantry Company D “received the disturbing news” of the President’s death and wrote the following in his diary:

Beaufort, NC April 17, Monday

The darkest day in the annals of our country. Just received the disturbing news that Abraham Lincoln has been assassinated. The numerous ships here in the harbor have the stars & stripes at haf mast as a token of National grief. The countenance of every union man is the very picture of grief. It seems to the me the darkest day I ever Saw. Wo be unto traitors is the but determined expression of all soldiers here

Boys In Blue: Diary Entry, Pvt. James W Ferguson, 10th Ill. Inf. Co. G

Abraham Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth on April 14, 1865 and died the next day at 7:22 a.m. Word immediately spread about the President’s death, but the information wasn’t always accurate. This diary entry from two days after the event in WashingtonD.C.by Pvt. James W Ferguson of the 10^th Illinois Infantry, Company G is an example of how information transfer became a game of “telephone.” The basic facts are correct, but some of the details are skewed.

Monday April 17..1865

All is quite today, nothing farther in reguar to Jonsons surrender—-but the terebal news has reached us of the ontimely death of our President Abraham Lincoln. he was assasionated when at the theater the assasian Shot him through the head. as he was getting up to leave at 10 oclock and Pm and lived till 10 oclock Am and died, the likewise brook into Secretary Seward house and pearced him in several places and his Sun served in the same manner, the think Seward will recover but his sun is not expected to recover, the assasians is not found yet