davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10

ana rode off, in company with another. One
or two attempts were made to stop him on
the stage, but so quick were his movements
they failed. Mr.. Lincoln was found insen-
slole, and with great difficulty was he re-
moved to the Petersen residence now the
memorial building, opposite the theater
where he was placed on bed in the second
story. Here he had the constant attention
of Surgeon General Barnes and others till
his death came the next morning between
. and o'clock.
Wild Excitement.
AS may be supposed, the widest excite
ment followed, and many of the audience
were stupefied for a moment, and then all
was Commotion. AS the words the Presi-
dent Is shot passed cheeks blanched and
anxiety to know who was the assassin and
the Presidents condition filled every one
With great difficulty could the audience
leave the building, for the news had reach
ed the outside, and in less time than It
takes to write it the streets in the vicinity
had become a dense mass. Soon the mill
tary appeared on the scene and 10th street
from E to F was cleared and few allowed
to enter the lines. Beyond these on 10th, E
and F streets was dense mass of human
ity, including many soldiers and as wild
rumors circulated the feeling for vengeance
was intensified, and it would not have taken
much for an exhibition of lynch law Po-
lice headquarters was then on 10th street
and next to the theater and the Petersen
residence, where the dying President lay,
was an objective point for the crowd
Major Richards, the chief of police was
IN the theater at time, and it was not
long before number of his officers were on
the scene, as well as some of the govern
ment and other detectives and government
officials. In very few moments it was
known that j. Wilkes Booth was the assas-
sin; that an attempt had also been made
on the life of Secretary of State Seward; a.
suspiciOus-looking man had been seen lurk-
ing about the entrance of Vice President
JohnsOns rooms, etc. If 1t were possible
more intensified became the people, and the
officers, believing that a conspiracy was in
volyed, worked with their utmost Yigor and
in unison. AS those who had been known to
associate with Booth and the theater employ
ers were taken to police headquarters and
questioned to get down to facts 1t was with
difficulty that they were gotten through,
and the crowds ominous mutterings were
heard, and at one time the mass became
SO clamorous to attack the building that 1t
was only by the detectives explaining that
none but witnesses were in the building
that the crowd was deferred. AT the head
quarters of Bakers detectives and, In fact,
at all the military offices, there was bust
ness that night, and the streets were alive
with mounted and foot soldiery, and all
means to leave the city were closely guard
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10

on the following day the commission DELHI
Grated and made up the findings. These
convicted Herold Atzerodt, Payne and
Michael OLoughlin and Sam Arnold for
life and Spangler and Mudd for six years
in prison.
The Historic House
The house to which the martyred Pres-
dent was carried after the fatal shot, and
in which he died the following morning,
known as SIC 10th street northwest was al
the time of the assassination the residence
of Mr.. William Petersen. 1t is now used as
the Lincoln Memorial Museum, and is In
charge Of Capt. Osborn H. Oldroyd of
who during twenty or more years prior to
his coming here had gathered many me-
mentOs of Mr.. Lincoln, and was for some
time the custodian Of the Lincoln home
stead at Springfield, Ill.
So great was the curiosity of the people
after the death of the President to see the
room in which he breathed his last that for
and the family were almost daily put to in
Mr.. Petersen sold the building TO Mr.. Louis
Schade, and subsequentlyth was bought by
the government and placed in charge Of the
Lincoln Memorial Associations
Capt. Oldroyd was invited by the asso-
citation to bring his collection here, and the
house was placed at his disposal This was
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10
OFFICER AND SOLDIER
Review of the Services of Gen.
George G. Thomas.
WEST POINT GRADUATE
PROMINENT IN PLACING WASH
INGToN IN STATE OF DEFENSE.
instrumental in Averting the Assassi
nation Of President Lincoln in
1S61-His Career.
WEST POINT GRADUATE

At the present time, when the public and
secret archives of the nation are being
carefully searched for hitherto unpub-
lished data relative to the stirring period
of the civil war; when the streets Of the
nations capital are thronged with veter-
ans old and bent, who fought under the
tricolors of the Union, there many
whose thoughts hold faithful memory Of
the commanding general of the District
the late Gen. George c. Thomas, an officer
and soldier to whom at every turn of his
life drum beat was indeed heart beat.
The headquarters of the commanding
general, which, by some strange oversight,
stands unmarked at this time, Is the large
house on the northwest corner of Pennsyl-
vania avenue and 21st street, a place dur
ing the civil war that was the daily resort
of officers and men of distinction from all
parts Of the country no less than of the
soldiers in the ranks to whom the COM
handing general of the District was IA
milar figure.
Appointed to the Military Academy by
General Jackson because of the dfstin-
guished military services of his grand
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10

ed, a pass, with the heavy signature Of
Lieut.. Drake de Kay, being necessary
Numbers fell under suspicion and were
taken in custody, and not few were under
surveillance in the days following. 1t was
but short time after the shot when the
direction taken by Booth with D. Herold
was ascertained by our police, and Major
Richards applied to the government for
horses for his detective corps to pursue
them, but 1t was some hours before they
were furnished. Nevertheless, they followed
the trail some distance. and though unsuc-
cessful in capturing the parties, obtained
much valuable information.
Sorrowful Morning.
All night long crowds hung in the vicin-
ity Of the scene, awaiting, with the greatest
anxiety, some cheering word from the
chamber in which the President lay. Death,
however, came in the morning, and the sad
news was conveyed far and wide by the
storytelling bell. the regular boom of gun
and the dropping flag. Shortly after the
end the lifeless body was placed in tenn
porary coffin and in q hearse borne to the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10

in 1893, and since then the number of me-
mentos has constantly increased. The
walls of the rooms are covered with in
Vulnerable pictures of the dead President,
of his family and of his homes, and also
with relics illustrative of his life. There
are numerous articles of furniture stored
there including his office chair oil por-
traits made in 1912 and 1916, autograph let
tiers and books, the latter including the
family Bible The flag which draped the
box when the shot was fired, in which the
spur or Booth caught, causing him to fall
and break his leg, is a conspicuous object.
A series of pictures of the deathbed scene
and the funeral procession is included in
the more than three thousand relics, and
library of over one thousand volumes of
biography, with hundreds of printed notices
In newspapers and magazines, is on view.
Addition to Building.
So large is the collection that an addition
to the building was made several years ago.
This contains the cooking stove last used
by the Lincoln family in the homestead at
Springfield; a stand made from the sill of
the house in which Lincoln lived in 1884,
with lines engraved thereon that were writ
ten for it by the poet Whittier; a walnut
cradle in which the Lincoln children were
rocked, often by the hand of their father;
black haircloth sofas and chairs bought by
Mr.. Lincoln and used by him to the time
When ne left Springfield for Washington, in
1851; a what-not, made from a walnut bed
stead presented by Mr.. Lincoln to a friend
In Springfield; wheel from the family car
rlage; wooden dining room chairs: wooden
settee on which Mr.. Lincoln rested on his
porch; his office desk, and his wooden office
armchair, in which he sat when he wrote
ms nrst inaugural address. Here are also
statuettes, engravings and photographs, In
Guiding Brady's famous photograph of Lin
coin which Is considered theSbest likeness
of him at the time immedia t6ly preceding
his death. n
The government purchasedMhe building
for $4,000, and has expended $4,000 in re-
pairs. AT present an admisSipn fee of 25
cents Is charged to meeE the running ex-
penses, but 1t Is understand That Congress
Will provide for the salary Of Ehe custodian
and the expenses. Whe9 this Is done the
doors will be open free tefalls
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10

been obtained and ere long those who
were to be tried were named as Lewis
Payne, Mrs. Surratt, G. A. Atzerodt,
D. Herold, Michael O'Laughlin, Sam Ar
mold, DR.. Sam Mudd and Lewis Spangler.
Some arrested were confined in the Old Cap
itol prison and others on the monitors at the
navy yard. The principal, Wilkes Booth, was
past trial. and for the trial Of the others
military commission was convened. The pris-
oners were transferred to the cells of the
old penitentiary building, within a part of
the arsenal and in this building a large
room in the second story was fitted up for
the trial on the east end of the building.
Gen. Hartranfts division was here at the
time, and the place for the time bore the
by Gen. Hartranft and his officers, with
detail of military detectives about the cells.
The court or commission was composed of
Gems. D. Hunter, Lew Wallace L. V.
Kautz, A. P. Howe, R. N Foster, J. A.
Eaken and T. NJ Harris, Coils. c. II. Tomp-
kins and D. R. Clendenin. Judge Advocate
General Holt was the recorder. as judge adj
vocate, assisted by John A. Bingham and
Col H. l.. Burnett.
The commission assembled in the rooms
at the arsenal on May II, and the accused
was arraigned and pleaded not guilty,
Reverdy Johnson, F. A. Aiken and ]. W.
Clampitt appearing for Mrs. Surratt, Judge
Fred Stone for Dr. Mudd and Herold, Gen.
Thos. Ewing, jr., for Mudd and Arnold.
Judge Walter S. Cox for O'Laughlin and
Major w. E. Doster, who had been provost
marshal here, for Payne.
The formal opening of the case was on
Saturday, May 10, and sitting with open
doors there time that the room
was not crowded, while there was great
demand for passes during the seven weeks
Of the trial. The prisoners were each &C
companied by soldier, with their backs
to the wall overlooking the commission In
full uniform at long table and the news
paper men We're cramped. The grand review
took place during the progress of the trial,
and this was the only instance that the
place was not crowded. During the pro-
ceeding Mrs. Surratt sat with bowed head,
scarcely raising her face, and but few of the
audience saw it, while the others were at
times seemingly interested. Payne, a man
of superb physique, wore braggadocio look.
The testimony and the arguments were all
eagerly read, the closing argument for the
government being closed on June %, and
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10

In the most happy mood and to give up
everything to enjoyment. The theaters-the
National, then Growers Opera House; the
Canterbury, and Variety or Oxford, as we'll
as all other places of amusement were fill
ed to overlooking at each performance.
Changed to Mourning.
But three days after the celebration of the
llth came the tragedy which plunged the
nation into mourning-the assassination of
President Lincoln.
At Ford's Opera House on 10th street
Miss Laura Keene and her company were
playing Our American Cousin" The Pres
ident and Mrs. Lincoln, with two or three
friends. attended the performance on the
night Of April IA, occupying a box, and 1t
having been known that he was to be there
the house was crowded to OVERLOOKING
While enjoying the play shot was heard,
the President leaned over, and the assassin,
shouting "Sic Semper Tyrannis, the south Is
avenged" jumped from the box and ran
across the stage, escaping by q rear door
- the alley, where he mounted his horse
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10

White House. Many of the people fell in
behind the hearse, and 1t was remarked
that while their countenances indicated
sorrow, some shedding tears, their looks
BODIED danger to the assassin when caught.
pended tin after the funeral other than that
involved in the capture of Booth, in which
every one seemed interested
The body was embalmed, and, placed in
burial case, 1t was laid first in the east
taken to the rOtunda of the Capitol, and
by thousands before the day of the funeral,
April 10. 1t was a coincidence that the
fatal shot was fired on the anniversary of
the evacuation of Fort Sumter and that
the funeral was on the anniversary of the
on the Massachusetts 9th Regiment in Balti-
more. The funeral here was one of the
most imposing ever witnessed, and on the
journey of the funeral train to the burial
place in Illinois the most distinguished
honOrs Were paid to the remains. At all
the principal points they were escort ed
from the train to public building and laid
in state, flags at half-mast, bells tolling and
salutes firing.
The Trials.
The now one topic which overtopped all
others was the capture and punishment of
the guilty parties. The War Department
offered a reward of 100000 and the corpo-
ration of Washington $4,000. From those
taken in custody some information had
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10
PARKWAY NORTHWEST
GEN. ToRRANCE's HOME STATE
WELL REPRESENTED.
Minnesota Department Has Supplied
National Encampment With Three
Commanders-in-Ch Chief.

The Grand Army of the Republic was in
troduced into Minnesota by Col. ]. NJ Sny-
der of Illinois, on the first day of August.
1866, through the courtesy Of Gov. W. r.
Marshall, who invited to his room in the
state capitol in St. Paul number of gem
tlemen, veterans of the civil war, to meet
Col. Snyder and to form organization of
the G. A. R. Among those present were
Gen. John B. Sanborn. Gen. H. P. Van
Cleve, Gen. L. Rogers. Maj. H. Won Min
den, Col. Ross Wilkinson, Col. John Moui-
ton and several others, officers and privat es
of the recent war. These were later Joined
by Gen. L. F. Hubbard Gen. H. L. Mills
Gen. Henry S. Hunter and Gen. Henry w
Busse, together with some twelve or four
teen other comrades, equally distinguished
in their country's service.
Gen. John B. Sanborn was unanimously
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10
First Regular" Encampment.

AASs AeSS ei0A A-hSain
This sentiment crystallized into tangible
shape upon the occasion of the next annual
encampment, which was held in the city of
Minneapolis the 14th OF August. 1867. when.
under authority of Gen. B. F Stephenson,
founder. and at the same time adjutant
general of the order, the first regular de
partment of the G. a. r. of the state of
Minnesota was convened.
Frank E. Daggett of Wabasha was elect
ed commander. Judge VIM. T. Collins
Nor vice commander and Judge VIM. Loeb
ren--afterward commissioner OF pensions
Junior vice commander.
From that year to the present excepting
only the year 1880 department encamp
ments have been regularly held. and the
list of members who have been elected TO
the office of commander attests the wisdom,
energy and discretion of the boys from the
north star state.
Following Daggett came Judge Henry G.
Hicks. next J. w. Sprague, then John G.
Hamilton and Henry Castle. now auditor
for the Post Office Department, who served
three years. ID. w, Allbaugh. George II.
johnson, D. b. Loomis, William Wilson c.
a. Bennett, Adam Marty, two years: then
John +. Rea. afterwaru commander-in-
chief; +. c. Babb. r. A. Becker. Judge
William Thomas l.. l.. Wheelock, James G.
Eye, Alphonse Barto, James Compton. now
commandant at the state soldiers home;
Charles u. Parker, l.. NJ. Lange. John Day
Smith. S. r. Van SAINT now governor of the
state; Ell Torrance. the present commander
in-chief; J. J. McCardy, +. r. Wood, +. W.
Mortimer. Judge d. B. Searle Gideon S.
Ives, Capt. w. II. Harries and the present
commander, Perry Starkweather, following
in the order named.
The highest point in numerical strength
was reached in 1889. when S.40S comrades
were enrolled. but death and old age have
stolen upon the northwest, as elsewhere.
and since that year the numbers have de
creased until today the membership is but
5,942 The year 1886 saw a gain. the ma
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10

Assistant Adjutant General, Minnesota.
tional encampment being held in Minnesota
in that year The interest in the order re-
ceived added impulse, but since then the de-
crease has been steady and seemed to
threaten the very existence of the order.
The present commander was installed late
in March of this year, and at once entered
upon most earnest and diigent campaign
in the hope that it might be possible to
check this disastrous loss. Although handi-
capped by three months of severe sickness,
he has turned the tide. and the first six
months of his term has recorded a gain In
membership Of nearly 400. This happy re-
suit has been brought about by an entirely
original and unique plan-so far as the
Grand Army is concerned. From every
post and woman's relief corps in the depart
ment he gathered lists of names of COM
rades who were delinquent or who had
never affiliated with the Grand Army, and
to them he wrote personal letters. Twenty
seven hundred of these personal appeals
were sent out, and with each set of letters
he wrote the commander Of the local post,
telling him who had been reached in his
locality. The interest thus aroused has re
suited in a general waking up all along
the line and the work of recruiting is going
on with remarkable vgor. The depart
ment is well represented at the encamp-
ment. In speaking of his success Com
mander Starkweather says:
Amply Compensated.
THE pleasure L have had In the work 1
have been enabled to do has more than
compensated for the effort put forth The
letters which have come in reply to those l
have written have brought me so much
more into close contact with my comrades
and with all the world-that am well and
amply paid In all things have been ably
assisted by the senior vice commander, Dr.
l. L. Mahan of st. Paul, and by my most
excellant of adjutant generals, Orton S.
Clark of Minneapolis, who, by the way, is
serving his third term in that office"
The headquarters of the Department of
Minnesota are located in Minneapolis but
with the completion of the new state capitol
now being erected in st. Paul, department
headquarters will be permanently located
in that building, in rooms set apart by the
last legislature for that purpose.
history of the Department of Minnesota
would be incomplete, said a member with
out further reference to its proudeSt boast.
that of having furnished to the service of
the Grand Army two such comma nd rs-in-
chief as the lamented John p. Rea, who in
1887, gave so freely of time and energy for
the benefit of his comra.es. and Ell Tor
rance, who was elected in 1901 to the posi-
ton which he has so happily graced for the
past year.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10

chosen as commander Of the new depart
ment, and to him was given authority to
appoint others who should assist him in the
work Of founding posts throughout the
state. The 18th of the following October
the first annual encampment was held, rep
resentatives from six posts being present.
The records of these first meetings are very
meager but in the minutes of this first en-
campment occurs a paragraph which clear
ly indicates the spirit which animated the
founders Of the order.
IAN amendment to article v, section o. Of
the constitution is passed adding after the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10
Administers Oath of Allegiance

AT the breaking out of the civil war and
subsequently Gen. Thomas was engaged by
the government to administer tn, oath of
allegiance as civil magistrate to those vol
unteer soldiers who had arrived in Wash
ington and had not been mustered into the
United States service. In addition there
fell to him the work of inspection and mus
terlng the troops, the officer IL charge in
each case simply signing the muster rolls,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10
Called Out for Sixty Days.

Another paper of Importance which will
be read by veterans with keen interest is
HEADQUARTERS MILITIA, DISTRICT
OF COLUMBIA.
TN THE FIELD
WASHINGTON, June 80, 1863,
Corner of Pennsylvania ave. and DIST St.
General Order No 1:
Having been specially assigned by the
President to the command, the following
regiments are hereby called out to serve the
United States for sixty days, viz: The eight
regiments of organized militia and the uni
formed cavalry and infantry companies of
this District.
~ our services are wanted immediately
and the captains of companies will at once
nj! up their quota by enrolment.
IT is hoped that promptnesS and alacrity
Will mark this movement, and that the
hearty response of our citizen soldiery may
be viewed with pride by the most loyal of
our sister cities
The colonies of regiments and captains
or volunteer companies, cavalry and in
Iantry, VIII report in person at my head
quarters tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock.
Brigade commanders will issue the nee
essary instructions for the execution of this
order.
GSigned) GEORGE C. THOMAS,
Major General, Commanding"
A Special Order.
A special order of significant import is as
fellows:
War Department,
"Adjutant Generals Office,
Washington, July II, 1861
Special Orders No. 234
"43. BY direction of the President Mai
Gen. George c. Thomas, commanding mill
tia of the District of Columbia will o1dcl
out for immediate service eight regiments
of the militia infantry of said District.
They must be paraded as soon as prac-
tlcable and will be mustered into the
United States service for sixty days unless
sooner discharged
The ordnance department will issue the
necessary arms and equipment and the ad-
Jutant general will designate officers to
muster the militia into the service accord
ing to existing orders. Thu troops thus
called out will be made under the command
Of Maj. Gen. George C. Thomas This
order will be executed with "a little noise
and display as possible
If companies of uniformed volunteer
cavalry and infantry Of the District pre-
sent themselves for muster into the United
States service, in accordance with the pro-
visions of this order, they will be accepted.
BY order Of the Secretary of War
'E. D. TOWNSEND
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10

word dollar the following: Except in case
OF a recruit who has been disabled by rea-
son OF wounds or disease, who shall be en-
titled to membership without the payment
of either fee or dues
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-10
Again Volunteers.

On the 2Sth Of July, 1861, in that hour of
widest panic, when the streets of Washing
ton were ringing with the sound of troops
pouring in after the disastrous battle of Bull
Run, the following letter of historical i'm
portance was written by the commanding
general of the district to Gen Lorenzo
Thomas:
WASHINGTON, July 30, 1861.
Gen. Lorenzo Thomas
"Adjutant General, L. s. A:
General: In this hour of reverse and gem
eral panic, 1 again volunteer my services
for the defenseS of the capital.
The volunteer soldiers of the District
have just been discharged. can be easily
brought together again, and their three
months service has made them efficient l
could be assigned to command them with
out in any way interfering with the COM
mand of Gen. Mansfield
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
(Signed) GEORGE c. THOMAS,
Moi