Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865: history, Harper's Weekly, 1956 eyewitness

VA Viper ^ | 04/12/2018 | Harpygoddess

[harpygoddess]

Although he actually died at 7:30 the following morning, today is the anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) on 14 April 1865, only five days after Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Lincoln was very fond of the theater, and that evening, he and Mrs. Lincoln - likely in a celebratory mood because of the end of the Civil War - attended a performance of the comedy, Our American Cousin, by English playwright Tom Taylor at Ford's Theater on 10th Street NW in Washington.

There, following the intermission, actor and Southern sympathizer John Wilkes Booth managed to gain access to the Presidential box through a series of security lapses, and shot Lincoln in the back of head with a small pistol. He then jumped down onto the stage, shouted "Sic semper tynannis!" ("Thus always to tyrants!"), and although breaking his leg in the process, made his escape.

Lincoln's assassination was part of a larger conspiracy which also targeted Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward. Johnson's intended attacker lost his nerve, but Seward was seriously wounded in a stabbing attack that same night.

Booth was ultimately tracked down and killed on 26 April, and four other conspirators were hanged on 7 July 1865.

[x]

Okay, so the Secretary of War told Fox to follow the orders the Secretary of the Navy sent to the senior naval officer. But what were the orders that Wells sent to the naval commander? And what were Lincoln's orders?

What we see is a new administration trying to get an understanding of what was going on and what to do about it. There was plenty of room for misunderstandings, mistakes, and contradictions in orders and policy.

On the other side, just who was in charge? The governor of South Carolina, or the head of the infant Confederate government, or the state or local military commanders? Was everyone on the same page? Again, plenty of room for confusion, contradiction, and individual initiative.

Nor were the US and the Confederacy on the same page as to what responses each side would make to the other's moves.

[SunkenCiv]

Riiiiight, because the rebels had ESP. What a ridiculous piece of revisionist nonsense you're spouting.

[DiogenesLamp]

Riiiiight, because the rebels had ESP. What a ridiculous piece of revisionist nonsense you're spouting.

ESP? No, they had copies of the Ships orders from their spies in the Northern ship yards.

Why would you postulate ESP, when spies are so much more of a plausible explanation?

[SunkenCiv]

Since what you're saying is entirely made up, yes.

[DiogenesLamp]

Since what you're saying is entirely made up, yes.

You think it is made up, and you aren't interested in seeing any proof that it isn't?

Okay then. I'm sorry I attempted to let some truth intrude into the dogma you wish to believe.