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Lot Number: 177
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Estimate Range: $3,000 - $4,000
Current Bidding Status
This Lot is CLOSED for Absentee Bidding.
April 15th, 1865 Dated Abraham Lincoln Assassination Letter with Content “The President and Secretary of State were assassinated last night...” sent from Headquarters, 1st Brigade, 3rd Div., Dept. W. Va., Martinsburg, W. Va.

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April 15th, 1865-Dated, Exceptional Important Content Lincoln Assassination, Autograph Letter Signed, Regarding Military Instructions and information including, “The President and Secretary of State were assassinated last night...”, Choice Very Fine.

Extraordinary Autograph Letter Signed, from Headquarters, 1st Brigade, 3rd Div., Dept. W. Va., Martinsburg, W. Va., dated April 15th, 1865. Boldly written in deep brown ink on very clean, light blue line wove period paper, 1 page, measuring about 9.75” x 7.5” being addressed to, “Maj. J.T. Daniels Commanding...” (from) By Order of Col. Roger E. Cook of the 13th Maryland Infantry and C.(harles) S.(tillman) Ilsley. This truly remarkable letter reads, in full:

"Maj. You will immediately cause all your pickets along line of Railroad to be instructed to arrest all persons attempting to pass the lines with or without passes who are not known to be trustworthy. - The President and Secretary of State were assassinated last night and doubtless the assassins will attempt to escape through the lines which must be prevented if possible. - By Order of - Col. of Col. R.(oger) E. Cook...”

While the authorities had some leads, both John Wilkes Booth and his accomplice, David Herold already had left Washington D.C. and were on the run. The hope of the government was that Booth had not yet left the Washington, D.C. and immediate Virginia area and that they would soon be captured. This incredible timely letter points to that fact. In their guarding not only roads and bridges, but also searching the railroad lines, as well. A fascinating look into the lengths the Army and United States government went in their pursuit to capture John Wilkes Booth and his accomplices.
Keywords: Abraham Lincoln, Assassination, Autograph Letter Signed, Military, President, Secretary of State, John Wilkes Booth,
Lot Number: 177
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Estimate Range: $3,000 - $4,000
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