66

Abraham Lincoln Assassination Letter, 1865

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Historical Memorabilia Start Price:4,250.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
Abraham Lincoln Assassination Letter, 1865
Lincoln Related

Extraordinary Abraham Lincoln Assassination Letter Dated April 15th, 1865 “The President and Secretary of State were assassinated last night...”

April 15th, 1865-Dated Lincoln Assassination, Autograph Letter Signed, Regarding Military Instructions and Information including the historic statement, “The President and Secretary of State were assassinated last night...” Choice Very Fine.

This is an extraordinary, Autograph Letter Signed, Headquarters, 1st Brigade, 3rd Div., Dept. W. Va., Martinsburg, W. Va., dated April 15th, 1865. Boldly written in deep brown ink on very clean, light blue line wove period paper, 1 page, measuring about 9.75” x 7.5” being addressed to, “Maj. J.T. Daniels Commanding...” (from) By Order of Col. Roger E. Cook of the 13th Maryland Infantry and C.(harles) S.(tillman) Ilsley. This truly remarkable letter reads, in full:

"Maj. You will immediately cause all your pickets along line of Railroad to be instructed to arrest all persons attempting to pass the lines with or without passes who are not known to be trustworthy. - The President and Secretary of State were assassinated last night and doubtless the assassins will attempt to escape through the lines which must be prevented if possible. - By Order of - Col. of Col. R.(oger) E. Cook...”
While the authorities had some leads, both John Wilkes Booth and his accomplice, David Herold already had left Washington D.C. and were on the run. The hope of the government was that Booth had not yet left the Washington, D.C. and immediate Virginia area, and that they would soon be captured. This incredible, original and most timely letter points to that fact. In their guarding not only roads and bridges, but also searching the railroad lines, as well. A fascinating look into the lengths the Army and United States government went in their pursuit to capture John Wilkes Booth and his accomplices.