Savannah daily herald. (Savannah, Ga.) 1865-1866, April 19, 1865, Image 2
The Savannah Daily Herald BY 8. W. MASON AND CO. SAVANNAH, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1£«. THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN. Too dreadful to believe without the strong est evidence, but forcing itself upon us lb spite of inclination, comes the appalling news of the assassination of the beloved President of the United States, and of the attempted murder of the respected head of the State Department of the nation. The whole loyal population mourns, and all those in rebellion should mourn. The first have lost a Chief Magistrate elected by their suf frages, by virtue of rare merits, of honesty, faithfulness, and unswerving devotion to the high duties of his responsible office. — The disloyal class are deprived of a friend who has always plead their cause, and ex tended to them such clemency as is rare among ruler* towards subjects in rebellion. Mr. Seward has also, more than most Se cretaries of State, acquired the confidence of his constituents, for his able and successful foreign policy, for his ability as the head of a most important buieau of a powerful nation, in its most critical emergencies ; and he should deserve the love as well as the respect of the rebellious South, for his course towards them, and his mild counsels in the Cabi net consultations, which have led to intima tions from over-zealous loyalists, that he was improperly conservative and given to an im politic mercifulness. The investigation into the causes of this sad disaster to the whole country, have pro duced as yet but meagre and unsatisfactory results. We know not the motive of the assassins—whether over-weeniDg zeal for the wicked cause of Rebellion, or some pri vate hostility incomprehensible to us, or the strange freaks of insanity. But the weight of evidence so far taken indicates deliberate design, and systematic combination. If the murders were the result of Confederate dic tation, and are ti part of the policy to be pursued by a despairing government in re bellion, as seems to be indicated by the se lection -of a time when Gen. Grant was supposed to be exposed to the plot, they will prove even more destructive to the object intended than they have been to the murder ed men themselves. . The desperation of an excited and indignant victorious army, and of a people flushed with success, and the loss to the conspirators of the vciy men from whose authority and influence they could expect most mercy, can scarcely fail to prove ruinous to their hopes and to their cause. Unless the moat convincing proof of non complicity in these desperate deeds can be shown by the rebel leaders, it will be very difficult to disconnect this greatest of na tional afflictions from the original at tempt to ruin the government, destroy the nation, and reduce Republicanism to a vagary. But for the thorough organization and discipline of our army, and the full control over it by its Generals, we should fear imprudent excesses with the first indig nation excited by tins lamentable occurrence; but the authority of those true men whose first duty is the preservation of order, and the suppression of all wantonness, with the good sense so no ticeably prevalent In the service, will, we are sure,cause all to await the official decision as to where the responsibility belongs, and then to rest content with the punishment which is sure to be meted out.. Aside from the abstract importance of the calamity, the event will bring especial sad ness as occurring at a time more than any other inopportune, when seeds of fraternal feeling between the North and South were commencing to germinate, and when many, who were not regarded as over sanguine, began to predict a speedy and complete re conciliation. Whatever may be the extent of our afflic - tion-tliat we may be enabled to endure it with the proper spirit, and that those on whom the great responsibilities of the Na tion’s welfare shall fall, Jmay be granted wisdom adequate to their trust, should be the prayer of every true patriot, North and South. First Provost Court— Yesterday, the 18th inst., the charge of treason brought against John Ryan, on the 4th inst., by David R. Dillon, was finally dismissed, and Mr. Ryan honorably discharged. Tub Mails axd Files of Papers from tht steamship Fulton have not yet arrived, but probably reach here this morning. ! DREADFUL CALAMITY. PRESIDENT LINCOLN FATALLY SHOT BY AN ASSASSIN ! Sect’ry Seward Mortally Stabbed In his Bed* Frederick Seward\VoAnded,aud Probably] Killed. Evideui Design to Murder QenJ Grant. jlfltJlODOlS EXCITEMENT IN THE NOftTH. PARTICULARS, ©to., eto. ARRIVAL OF THE FULTON AT HILTON HEAD. New York Dates to tlx© IS tlx. UNCIAL BUM*ATCH 10 THE SAVANNAH DAILY RIBALD.] Hilton Head, April 18, 1865. The steamship Fulton arrived here early this afternoon. I hasten to inform you of the terrible ca lamity that has befallen the nation, withhold ing your other despatches till this get3 through. War Department,") Washington, April 15, 1.30 A. M. > Maj. General Dix New York : Thi9 evening at about 9.30 p. m.,at Ford’s Theatre, the President while sitting in his private box with Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Harris and Maj. Rathbum, was shot by an assassinwho suddenly entered the box and approached behind the President. The assassin then leaped upon the stage brandishing a large dagger or knife, and made his escape in the rear of the Theatre. The pistol ball entered the back of the President’s head and penetrated nearly thro’ the head. The wound is mortal, The Pres ident has been insensible ever since it was inflicted, and is now dying. About the same hour an assassin, whether the same or not, entered Mr. Seward’s apart ment, and, under pretence of having a pre scription, wa9 shown to the Secretary’s sick chamber. The assassin immediately rushed to the bed, and inflicted two or tlfree 9tabs on the throat and two on the face. It is hoped that the wounds may not be mortal. My apprehension is that they will prove fatal. The nurse alarmed Mr. Frederick Seward, who was In an adjoining room, and he hastened to the door of his fa ther’s room, where he met the assassin, who inflicted upon him one or more dangerous wounds. The recovery of Frederick Seward is doubtful. j It is not probable that the President will live through the night. j Gen. Grant and wife were advertised to be [at the theatre this evening, but he started to [Burlington at six o’clockjtkis evening. At a [cabinet meeting at which Gen. Grant was [present, the subject of the State of the coun try and the prospect of a speedy peace, were [discussed. The President wa9 very [ckeerfttl and hopeful, and spoke very kindly lof Gen. Lee and others of the Confederacy, and of the establishment of Government in Virginia. All the members of the Cabinet except Mr. Seward are now in attendance [upon the President. I have seen Mr. Sew [ard, but he and Frederick were both uncon- Icious. I [Signed] Edwin M. Stanton, I Secretary of War. H 3 o’clock, a it. 1 There is up to this time no material change ■in the President’s condition. I THE PRESS DESPATCH. | Washington, April 15—2:12. U The President is still alive, but he is grow- Hiug weaker. The ball is lodged in his brain ■three inches from where it entered the skull. ■He remains insensible, and his condition is ■utterly hopeless. The Vice President has ■been to see him, but all company, except the ■members of the Cabinet and of the family, is ■rigidly excluded. j Large crowds still continue iu the street, as ■near the house as the line of guards allow. SECRETARY STANTON’S LATEST DESPATCH TO GEN. DIX. War Department, > Washington, April 15, v 3 a. m.) Major General Drx, New York: The President still breathes, but is quite insensible, as he has been ever since he was shot. He evidently did not see the per son who shot him, but was looking on the stage, as he was approached from behind. Mr. Seward has rallied, and it is hoped he mayl live. Fred. Seward’s condition is very critical, J [the attendant who was present was shot through the lungs and is not expected to live. The wounds of Major Seward are not serious. Investigation strongly indicates J. Wilkes Booth as the assassin of the Presi dent. Whether it was the same of a different per son that attempted to muriler Mr. Seward [remains £doubt. | Chief Justice Carlter is engaged in taking [the evidence. Every exertion has been made to prevent the escape of the murderer. His horse has been found on the road near Wash ington. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN Flags at Hilton Head Flying at Half-Mast. Hilton Head, April 18. Flags are all flying at hall-mast here. The last news is as follows: The President breathed his last at 7 1-2 o’clock, a. m., on the 16th lust. There was a report at the sailing of the Fulton, att 11 o’clock, a. m., that the assassin had been captured. Tiie Latest. The latest despatch we have with regard to thi9 terrible catastrophe is to the effect that 4 the President died at 22 minutes pa9t 7 o’clock on the morning of Saturday last, the 16th.” Preparations were being made for the fu neral on a scale which should, so far as such sad ceremonies may, testify the heartfelt grief of a weeping nation. THE ASSASSINS. fSpecial Despatch to the Savannah Herald.] Hilton Head, April 18th. Booth shot the President; another person made the attack on Mr. Seward—neither are arrested yet. The feeling at the North is of course very intense and universal sorrow overshadows the land. By the intelligent friends of the South,jin the Northern cities, the event is deplored as being even a greater calamity to the Confed erate cause, than to the Unionists. Though, it is said, that at last accounts, not one of the assassins had as yet been ar rested, yet the Police and the citizens were so instantaneousiy on the alert that every avenue of escape had been closed, and it only remained to institute a thorough search of the city to secure the criminals. Even when they are firmly secured, their capture will probably not be immediately made known, until the prisoners are safely bestowed in some secure Fortress or Prison, where they may be protected from the fury of the mob. * THE NEWS OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN’S D£ATH | How It Was Received. Good Behavior of the Soldiers. In the United States army there is scarcely an officer or a soldier who did not love Presi dent Lincoln—who does not feel a thrill of not only sorrow’, but of horror, at the dread ful death of their commander-in-chief. WheD the telegrams first reached here a manifest excitement was prevalent. The news spread like wildfire, but, with characteristic pru dence, the troops waited for the official ac counts. Gen. Grover wisely requested the papers to withhold the information until this morfcing, and in consequence, with, also, the consideration of proper respect to the lamented dead, neither the Herald or Re publican issued extras, as is customary. In the meantime every precaution necessary was taken to prevent any improper demon strations, and the city was as quiet as at any time, although every soldier and every citi zen, every Southron and every Yankee, every man and every woman, manifested the great est interest in learning the facts, and the greatest earnestness in discussing the subject. We feel confident that we can assure the citizens of Savannah against any impropei manifestions of their'iudignation, so over whelmed with grief 89 it is, by soldiers oi civilians; while at the same time we cannol fail to concur in the great retribution whicl is faithfully promised and threatened againsl the real authors of this atrocious crime. For the Savannah Daily Herald. Rev. S. W. Magill, of the American Mis sionary Association, has been appointed bj Gen. Saxton Superintendent of Schools foi the Freedmen in Eastern Georgia, embracing the citv of Savannah and vicinity. Mr. M. with the aid of eight young ladiet from the North, has now iu operation, in this city, schools numbering some 600 childrer and youth, and 200 women : and he proposes to greatly enlarge the number of both teach ers and pupils in the early fall; and to ex tend his system of schools into the country on both the mainland and the islands, so as tc meet as far as possible the desire for educa tion which prevails so remarkably among the Freedmen. It would seem that none who I are at all imbued with the sentiment of hu manity or religion could fail to be interested in a work of such obvious benevolence and and fundamental importance. Johnston’sArmyßetreating Sonth ward. JEFF. DAVIS AT BANVZUS HIB I.ABT APPEAL. North Carolina Officially Advised to Submit. Two of Lee’s Generals Refuse to I Surrender. &e., Ac., Ac. fSPECIAL DISPATCH VIA HILTON HEAD.] New York, April-15. General Johnston is reported to have re treated Southward toward South Carolina. On hearing of the surrender of Lee’s Army, I have hastened to send you further news and stop your private despatches sent from New York which arc not important. Jefferson Davis was at last accounts at Danville. Hi3 latest appeal to his deluded followers has been heard from. He attempts to persuade them that the fall of Richmond is “a blessing iu disguise,” as it leaves the Rebel armies free to move from point to point. He solemnly promises to hold Virginia at all hazards. Lee and his army were supposed to be safe. •Breckenridge and the rest of the Confed erate Cabinet, reached Danville in safety. The organ of Governor Vance of North Carolina advises the submission of the Rebels to President Lincoln’s terms The army of Gen. Grant is taking position along the Southside Railroad. Gen. Lee is in Richmond. Rosser and Fitzhugli Lee refuse to be surrendered by Gen. Lee. Sherman had commenced his movement on the 9th inst. Johnston’s army was somewhere west of Raleigh, his cavalry only holding the place. He is reported to be endeavoring to form a junction with Lee. The Ram Albemarle had been raised and was in good condition. Murfreesboro N. C. had been occupied by our fleet. Recruiting and Drafting Discon tinued in Yew York. CIRCULAR NO. 47. New York, April 14, 1865. In compliance with instructions received from the Bureau of the Provost Marshal General of the United States,[the business of recruiting and draftiug will be discontinued in the district until further orders. By'order of Brevet Lt. Col. Richard Dodge. THE SURRENDER 'OF LEE. Interesting Resume of Grant’s Grand Par suit. [DESPATCH FBOM OCR special hew yoke cobbespondent. New York, April 15th. The following is a comprehensive digest of Grant’s grand pursuit, which resulted in the defeat and surrender of Lee and his whole army, after the latter’s retreat from Peters burg and Richmond. The purpose of Gen. Grant in striking Lee from the south was to push him northward, so that whatever part of the rebel army got away from Richmond diverged more and more from its true base, and away from its reinforcements. The suc cess of this strategy was announced in de spatches on Monday, the 3d of April, when we were told that Lee had been forced north of the Appomattox, along the northern bank of which stream lay his only line of retreat. Our troops followed him along the southern bank, but the course of the Appomattox i9 from northwest to southeast, and the further Lee fled, the farther north he found himself. Grant did not lose one hour, but sent Sheri dan’s cavalry in pursuit of the . flying foe without delay. Lee crossed the river near Appomattox Station, and there concentrated his scattered forces and got the remain* of his army in hanp. While the enemy were thus forced to a circuitous route, Sheridan, with his cavalry and the Fifth Corps, led the advance in pur suit by way of the Mamosin and Deep Creek road, a nearly straight line to a point on the Richmond and Danville R. R., two or three miles southwest of and below Jettersville. Tired, worn and hungry, our brave troops marched sixteen miles the first day, Monday, April 3d, and by 4 in the p. m. of the second day, Tuesday, they had marched twenty miles more, and lay at their appointed place upon the Danville. Lee’s retreat was by this time fatally compromised. In the pur suit our cavalry continually skirmished with and chased the enemy’s, which Lee had left upon this lower line to retard our pursuit and to drive up stragglers. Lee’s cavalry was, however, of small account, and oui losses in the pursuit were small; The roads were everywhere littered with arms, caissons and other material of war. Our cavalry joined the Fifth Corps near Jettersville dur ing the night of the 4th, and preparations were made to meet Lee’s lame body Meantime on the Bd, (Wednesday) a train of 300 wagons with five cannon and a thou sand men, which had been cut off by these operations, was captured without a blow be ing struck. The 24th Corps meantime had marched out along the line of the Petersburg I and Lynchburg Railroad, some 10 miles south of the road, followed by the Cavalry and Fifth Corps. Gen. Grant accompanied the 24th Corps, which reached Wilson’s Bta tion Tuesday evening ; Black and Whites on Wednesday a. m. ; and Notoway C. H. about 8 miles from Burkes Station during the early afternoon of Wednesday. A. F. L * EUBQPEAJf TVF.yyQ^ TWO DATS LATER BY THE EtfROPA. The insult to our Cruisers By Portugal. New York, April lsth The American Minister at Lisbon has de manded satisfaction and requests the dismis sal of the commander of Foit Belan. The Niagara and Sacramento had gone to sea lying in wait for the Confederate ram Two English failures for one million sterling are reported. 6 OTHER NEWS FROM THE NORTH. New York, 15xh. Monas. A fierce bombardment of Spanish Fort is reported. Two iron-clads are said to hare been blown up. WASHINGTON. The Cabinet had been in session on the re construction question. The passes to the Virginia rebel leaders were revoked| by the President. General Weitzel has been re lieved from command in Richmond. gOOKS ! BOOKS 1 1 BOOKS!! I SCHOOL AND CHILDRENS’ TOY BOOKS, PRIMERS, SPELLERS, READERS, ARITHMETICS. GRAMMARS, ALGEBRA?, HISTORIES, GEOGRAPHIES, SPEAKERS, FRENCH BOOKS, LATIN BOOKS, RELIGIOUS WORKS, COPY BOOKS, TOY BOOKS* PRAYER BOOKS, HYMN BOOKS. ENVELOPES, SLATES AND PENCILS, PAPER, PENS, (GillotM 80S,) LEAD PENCILS, 4 INK, POCKET MAPS, VISITING cards; a POCKET INKSTANDS. MUCILAGE. CARMINE INK. NEW MUSIC, AT BC HR E i NEJt , s BOOK AND MUSIC STORE, C«mer of Congre*. Street and Monument Square apt 9 ts pOR SALE. lorSree®'witttaS ’* econdeastof Prlce > «» Tfl r* timin'; 01 * ,io " bi ' an r i9 2 ‘ d - T - THOMAS, Broker, p No. 117 Bay atreet. gWEATNAM’S VARIETIES. * (Formerly St. Andrew’* Hall.) »w*ATNAjiAw>7nnuw Leasee* and Manager* OPEN EVERY NIQHTt SINGING, dancing, burlesque, PANTOMIME. drama. MC/Wnt&LSY and FARCE •<**« or noGSAioa nmbxlt. For particular* sm Bill*- U ap» SPEAKERS,