Category: Gettysburg

Death of the General

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After the amputation of his left arm on the early morning of Mary 3rd, he was moved to the Chancellor’s House on May4th. Mary Ann Jackson was alerted of her husband’s amputation and made arrangements to come to see her husband and nurse him. Reverend Lacy arrived on May 5th and read bible versus to Stonewall Jackson. Mrs. Jackson arrived on May 7th to help around the small house and talk to her husband as he rested after his surgery.

On Friday, May 8th, Stonewall Jackson’s health took a turn for the worse as he fell into pneumonia. Reverend Lacy continued to spend time in vigil while the staff that served Jackson for the last two years helps Mrs. Jackson. On Sunday, May 10th, Dr. McGuire informs everyone that Stonewall will pass away sometime today. Mrs. Jackson spends time with Thomas Jackson as he opens his eyes and slowly takes and whispers with his wife. Stonewall mentions that he’d like to be buried in his family plot in Lexington, Virginia.

Courtesy of the Author at Arlington National Cemetery in 2013

Around 1 p.m., Stonewall slowly whispers the following statement: ” It is the Lord’s day, my wish is fulfilled and have always desired to die on his day.” A few hours later around 3:15 p.m., he opens his eyes wide and starts talking in phrases: “Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees”. Thomas Stonewall Jackson peacefully closes his eyes and dies on the bed with his wife and staff surrounding the bed.

This picture above is from Arlington National Cemetery in 2013 when I visited it. It shows a small river in the “shade of the trees” within the cemetery. It shows thousands of graves of soldiers that crossed over the river to heaven. It is a fitting tribute to a great general that served his soldiers, his family, and his faith.

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President Abraham Lincoln Dies

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Courtesy of Harper’s Weekly – Lincoln on his deathbed (created May 6, 1865)

Sadly, on April 15, 1865, Abraham Lincoln died at 7:22 a.m. on Saturday morning. He died at the young age of 56 years old. A silence fell over the room, and Mary Todd Lincoln was weeping with her son, Robert. His War Secretary, Stanton, finally broke the silence and said the following:

“Now “He” Belongs to the Ages.”

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Final Few Hours

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Abraham Lincoln left the White House and went towards his favorite place when he wasn’t at the “People’s house. He traveled by carriage north a few miles to a location that overlooked the scenic view of Washington, D.C, and the surrounding countryside. He arrived at the Soldiers’ Home, that also served as the summer retreat for the family. Even though the Civil War ended a few days earlier at Appomattox on April 9th, he relaxed for a few hours on April 13th before heading back to the White House. The next day, President Abraham Lincoln co-signed his last document along with Treasury Secretary Hugh McCulloch, and he then had lunch with Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln in the early afternoon.

Courtesy of the US Naval History & Heritage Command

Afterward, they went on a carriage ride to the Navy Yards. While there, they witnessed three Monitors in port that were damaged during the Battle of Fort Fisher in North Carolina. Above is a picture of a Monitor that President Abraham Lincoln and Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln may have seen. While riding in the carriage, Mr. Lincoln mentioned that “we must both be more cheerful in the future” after having been miserable since their son Willy died in February 1862.

Map of Washington D.C. from the White House to Ford’s Theater

The blue dot (house) is the location of the White House. The red dot (gun) is the location of Ford’s Theatre, and the location of the black dot (bullseye) is the location of the Petersen House.

Ford’s Theater photograph by Matthew Brady
Between 1863 and 1872

They arrived back to the White House and had dinner and met with other Illinois friends. He read a few chapters of a book and got ready to head out for the evening. Around 8 to 8:30 p.m., President Abraham Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, Major Henry Rathbone, and his fiancé Clara Harris got into a carriage and left for Ford’s Theatre. They arrived after the play started to a full house that was viewing “Our American Cousin ” and there was a standing ovation to his arrival as they sat down in the presidential box. Things would change only a few hours later for the worst.

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Abraham Lincoln – April 1865

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Numerous things occurred in April 1865 around the Nation’s Capital and the White House. Abraham Lincoln was alerted of Confederate Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox on April 9th, that signaled the end of the Civil War. A month prior to the surrender, he gave his second inaugural address to the Nation after winning the election over democratic nominee and former Union Army general George McClellan. Lincoln received 55.1% of the popular vote. On April 13th, Lincoln left the White House and headed toward the Cottage northwest of town to relax. This cottage is now called the President Lincoln’s Cottage.

Recently as of 2008, this cottage is open to the public. Lincoln resided at the cottage with his family during the months of June to November of 1862-1864. I was able to explore the cottage with family members during the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination. It was an amazing experience to witness where his family would enjoy Washington D.C. away from the tidal basin and how he would have to travel back and forth each day to the White House.

Oil Lantern around Washington D.C.

Citizens around Washington D.C. were happy that Lincoln continued to improve the Nation and was looking forward to the next four years and see where Reconstruction would occur between the North and the South. Flags waved through the streets and across different locations around town.

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16th President Inauguration

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President Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4, 1861. Between his election victory in November 1860 and this week’s ceremonies, seven state seceded and formed the Confederate States of America. However, the crowds came to see the man who won the election that was going to lead them through the Civil War.

Looking at the picture itself, the east wing of the Capital is being worked on to be finished.

Library of Congress – 16th President Inauguration

His second inauguration day was four years to the day later on March 4, 1865. A few weeks later, the Civil War ended. After the surrender of the Confederate Army at Appomattox, he was shot at Ford’s Theater in Washington D.C. on April 14th, 1865 and died the next morning. He was the first president to be assassination.

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Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

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One of the most famous president’s of all time would be celebrating his 217th birthday on February 12th, 2026. He was the one of a few presidents who was assassinated while in office. However, his work and contributions in providing safety, order, and leadership is well documented and revived among historians, collogues of his time, and historians still to the present day.

As a moderate Republican, he had to navigate political opinions across the parties, deal with a Civil War between the North and the South, and give tremendous speeches. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1863 which declared the slaves in the states to be free. He delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 1863 after the battle of Gettysburg. He was re-elected in 1864 and sought to heal the nation through Reconstruction. He was able to witness and see the results of the surrender of the Confederate Army at Appomattox in April 1865.

Portrait of Abraham Lincoln, by Alexander Gardner, November 8, 1863

However, your life ended far too soon on April 14, 1865 at Ford’s Theatre by receiving a shot to the head by stage actor John Wilkes Booth. You were carried from the Theatre across the street on a door to the Petersen House where you passed away at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, 1864. Even though you don’t remember, your wife Mary Todd Lincoln and your son Robert Todd Lincoln were at your bedside with numerous others as you slipped into the ages.

Today is the day of your birth, so even though it’s with great sadness that you passed away at an early age (55), your still a legend and a symbol for the American people. You were born in Illinois and became a notable president that people still remember.

Happy Birthday, Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States!!

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