Lincoln Day Is Done, Gone The Sun...

[thebattle29]

The Civil War ended. Parades were all over. Lincoln seemed very happy to be a peacetime president. He and his wife went to a play in high spirits.
At about 10:15 pm on April 14th, 1865, famous actor and southern sympathizer John Wilkes Booth crept up into the President's box, pulled out a Deringer pistol, and at incredibly close range, shot Lincoln in the head. Booth escaped and was killed in the manhunt days later.
At 7:22 am, April 15th, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln, who led us through some of the most difficult times in history, died. Let's all take a moment and honor him.

 

[Seduzal]

Thanks for sharing this awesome article. Enjoyed it.

 

[John Hartwell]

O Captain! My Captain!

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths-for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

Walt Whitman​

Source: Leaves of Grass (1891 edition)​

 

[Mrs. V]

I have a whole raft of music I am wanting the learn that is associated with Lincolns funeral. One of these days we will be able to do the Lincolns Repose at the Statehouse!

 

[thebattle29]

I have a whole raft of music I am wanting the learn that is associated with Lincolns funeral. One of these days we will be able to do the Lincolns Repose at the Statehouse!

That's pretty cool!

 

[thebattle29]

O Captain! My Captain!

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weathered every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills,
For you bouquets and ribboned wreaths-for you the shores a-crowding,
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head!
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchored safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won;
Exult O shores, and ring O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

Walt Whitman​

Source: Leaves of Grass (1891 edition)​

Thanks for the Whitman poem. I enjoyed it!

 

[thebattle29]

Thanks for sharing this awesome article. Enjoyed it.

Thanks for commenting!

 

[Cycom]

Just read about how a confidant advised Lincoln to not see so many callers so that he wouldn't be overwhelmed. He responded by saying it's ok "they don't want much, they get but little."

I really like this line. It makes Lincoln more empathetic and less calculating.

 

[Lubliner]

And to think the shipmate looking down sees his Captain's corpse
When in truth the Captain has sailed upon his steady course
Across an ocean and on beyond all beating hearts in life
He walks the deck of a ghostly ship well beyond our sight.

Lubliner.

 

[bobinwmass]

The Martyr

BY HERMAN MELVILLE

Indicative of the passion of the people on the 15th of April, 1865

Good Friday was the day
Of the prodigy and crime,
When they killed him in his pity,
When they killed him in his prime
Of clemency and calm—
When with yearning he was filled To redeem the evil-willed,
And, though conqueror, be kind;
But they killed him in his kindness,
In their madness and their blindness,
And they killed him from behind.

There is sobbing of the strong,
And a pall upon the land;
But the People in their weeping
Bare the iron hand:
Beware the People weeping
When they bare the iron hand.

He lieth in his blood—
The father in his face;
They have killed him, the Forgiver—
The Avenger takes his place,
The Avenger wisely stern,
Who in righteousness shall do
What heavens call him to,
And the parricides remand;
For they killed him in his kindness, In their madness and their blindness.
And his blood is on their hand.

There is sobbing of the strong,
And a pall upon the land.
But the people in their weeping, Bare the iron hand:
Beware the People weeping
When they bare the iron hand.

 

[Lincoln56]

Thank you for posting this!

 

[thebattle29]

Thank you for posting this!

You're welcome!

 

[thebattle29]

That was one of the most difficult times in history. In 5 days it will be the anniversary of Booth's death.