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Recording Lee’s Surrender, Lincoln’s Assassination, and Davis’s Capture in Women’s Clothes |
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 From “the greatest times ever known” to “saddest day I ever saw,” and home in time for baseball -- Bostonian R.E. Merrill’s diary chronicles major events of 1865.
MERRILL, R.E. Autograph Manuscript Signed, Diary, Boston, Mass., 1865. 3 x 4¾”. 176 pp.
Inventory #21987 $4,500
Selected Excerpts
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January 12 "Genl Butler has been removed"
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January 15 "Edward Everett died this morning, aged 70 years 9 mo 3 dyes"
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January 19 "Funeral of Edward Everett - Saw the Procession in Beacon st. Could not get near the church in Chauncy st"
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February 1 "News of the passage of the Slavery Amendment to the Constitution, through Congress. Vote 119-56. Great rejoicing"
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February 2 "As I write 10 AM the guns are firing, and bells ringing for the passage and signing of the Slavery amendment"
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February 4 "Peace rumors are plenty"
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February 19 "News of the capture of Columbia"
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February 20 "Evacuation of Charleston confirmed"
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February 21 "Charleston occupied by our troops and the veritable old flag again waves over Sumter"
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February 24 "Wilmington is in our possession”
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March 4 "Lincoln inaugurated Bells and guns made some noise"
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March 24 "Home at 5 took tea and retd. With the Froths to Boston Theater "American Cousin" - Laura Keene - Like very much"
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April 3 "Hard fighting followed by the great news that Richmond had fallen. Great joy"
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April 6 "It looks as though Grant would catch Lee"
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April 7 "Looking anxiously for Lee to get cornered - think he stands a hard chance"
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April 10 "Great news - Lee surrendered his army to Grant yesterday. Closed stores at noon. The greatest times ever known celebrating-Illuminations"
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April 11 "All the talk is the war news. Almost every body drunk last night. Good eveg for illuminations which continues - It is great & glorious"
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April 12 "Lynchburg surrendered"
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April 14 "Drafting & recruiting stopped by order of government. Everything looks joyous"
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April 15 "Such terrible news! President Lincoln murdered!! The saddest day I ever saw. Stores closed at noon. Great excitement"
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April 16 "The murderers at Washington not arrested"
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April 17 "The city is draped in mourning. No arrest of the murderers yet"
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April 19 "A very sad day - Had services at chapel at noon. A very fine address from Mr. Worcester"
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April 21 "Mr. Lincolns remains left Washington"
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April 27 "News of the death of Booth at Port Royal Va. Capture of Harrold"
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April 29 "Johnson surrendered in same terms as Lee - Grant put things right"
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April 30 "Fine sermon on National affairs"
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May 4 "Reward of $100,000 offered for Jeff Davis and less amts for other conspirators"
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May 8 "Great excitement in England over the death of Pres Lincoln"
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May 11 "Trial of conspirators at Washington"
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May 14 "News of capture of Jeff Davis and family in Virginia"
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May 15 "Neat rejoicing over Jeff's capture in Woman's cloths"
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May 17 "Trial at Washington going on"
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May 19 "The trial of the assassins at Washington going on still"
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May 20 "Jeff Davis and party at Fortress Monroe”
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May 23 "The Grand Review at Washington begins today"
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May 24 "Heard Anna Dickinson on Pres Lincoln - Splendid"
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May 25 "Alex H. Stephens at Fort Warren"
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June 1 "National fast. Saw Procession at corner Beacon and Charles st, very good"
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July 7 "The conspirators to be hanged at Washington, four in number"
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July 20 "Saw and shook hands with Genl Meade"
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July 31 "Grant at F Hall - Saw him at corner of Court and Washington. Grant went to Portland"
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October 28 "Home at 1 to see baseball match"
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November 8 "N.Y. and even N. Jersey all gone Republican"
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November 11 "The wretch who tortured our prisoners at Andersonville hanged"
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December 4 "Congress sits Colfax Speaker"
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December 22 "Parade of Veterans and surrender of flags to the state"
Historical Background:
The fabric of everyday life is woven into the great events of the nation – bells ring, the old flag waves, General Meade’s hand is clasped, everybody’s drunk, a baseball game is cheered…. Before that fateful shot was fired, were the Lincolns enjoying Laura Keene in Our American Cousin as much as Merrill had three weeks earlier?
Condition: Portion of back cover missing. All else is fine and complete.
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