Raynor HCA 2014-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/30/2014
Amazing content letter pertaining to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Written by Marietta Heald, Sumner Maine, to her brother Albert H. Heald, in Washington, D.C. while serving with the 9th Maine Infantry. The 3 ½ page letter is dated April 16, 1865. Comes with the original transmittal envelope. Reads in part "….The news of late has been very good. The fall of Richmond & capture of Lee's army. Yesterday we were shocked by the news of the President's death. It seems awful. We heard today that he was shot in the back of the head while at the theater. He went there very reluctantly & no doubt it was a continued plan to get him there. And they intended to have Grant to but missed of it. He was shot at ten o'clock and lived until yesterday morning at seven. Did not have his senses but laid in a stupor until he died. I do not know what will come out of it, but I hope some good. I feel that the Lord is on our side, and we will prosper as a nation if we trust in him. We certainly have been punished very severely & ought to be very humble. I hope we shall as a nation learn a lesson and do better in future. The papers stated last night they had caught the murderer. He was one of the performers at the theater….". The letter continues stating that that letting "Old Lee" (Robert E. Lee) go was a mistake, and that he should go to jail for life, and some family matters. This is certainly one of the finest letters pertaining to the assassination, as it mentions that if General Grant had accompanied the Lincoln's to Ford's Theater he would have been killed as well, and how Lincoln reluctantly went to the theater (Which is true), but went anyway. The letter is clearly written in ink, have just a few light areas.
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