Chapter 11: The Day Lincoln Was Shot

Chapter Summary:

     This chapter outlines the state of the Union before, during and after the assassination of President Lincoln. As the nation was filled with hope after the surrender at Appomattox, Lincoln seemed exhausted and grave, seemingly weighed down by his guild and remorse, but especially the questions about the future of the united nation that he had worked so hard to achieve (namely Reconstruction). He was determined that the country be united, a civil government be formed again in the South, guerilla warfare be avoided, and "hate and vindictiveness" be eradicated. On the fateful day of April 14th, 1865, Lincoln seemed to be in lighter spirits, and he accompanied his wife to a comedy called Our American Cousin. In a planned assault upon the government of the Union, three attacks were supposed to take place: the murder of Lincoln, secretary of state William Seward, and vice president Andrew Johnson. Only Lincoln was killed. The Northern capital was plagued with fear, devastation, grief, and anxiety - what would happen now that their leader was dead? Would the Confederate armies take advantage of their turmoil? Would they resort to guerilla warfare? Would the cabinet be forced to revert from a constitutional form of government? Lincoln's death "brought the nation uneasily to a crossroads of its postwar future." The President's cabinet surrounded him on his deathbed, absolutely stricken with grief, as Secretary of War Edwin Stanton basically became the interim president, issuing orders and organizing the manhunt for the conspirators. The nation was led "into the uncertain future that Abraham Lincoln had so desperately sought to control." The narrator goes on to explain how "the nation somehow weathered the storm:" the cabinet appointed Andrew Johnson as president, the assassins were tried, they averted the dreaded guerilla war, and Lincoln's postwar policies were generally adhered to. 

Chapter Reflection:

The narrator's admirative description of President Lincoln made me wish I had been there to see him "in all his grandeur and humanity" as well. I could understand and feel the terrible impact that his death must have had upon the members of his cabinet, who must have been reeling with this sudden responsibility thrust upon them in the midst of the ending of a war, and the people, who were optimistic yet anxious about their futures but who mostly had faith that Lincoln would guide them through their tough times. The Union had lost their leader - without him, they were lost. I loved the narrator's quote about leaders: "it is only the truly great ones who act great during the difficult times." Lincoln kept his composure and his eloquence to his dying moment, and from what I read I could see the impact he had upon everyone who knew him personally and even all those who didn't. They loved him, they respected him, they looked up to him.