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First Southern newspaper to report Lincoln's assassination...
First Southern newspaper to report Lincoln's assassination...
Item # 637454
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April 17, 1865
RICHMOND WHIG, Virginia, April 17, 1865
* Abraham Lincoln assassination
* From capital of the Confederacy (post)
* 1st Southern newspaper to report
Once the capital of the Confederacy fell to the North in early April the Yankees also took over the press and continued printing newspapers. This is an early issue (#12) of this "union occupation" newspaper with page 4 coverage of Lincoln's assassination.
According to the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History (see Wikipedia/web-search for more), the Whig was the first newspaper in the South to print the news of the assassination. It is particularly noteworthy that this is the very first report of the assassination in Richmond, the Confederate capital. The report on page 4 is headed: "Assassination of President Lincoln!" The report begins: “The heaviest blow which has ever fallen upon the people of the south has descended! Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States, has been assassinated. The decease of the Chief Magistrate of a nation at any period is an event which profoundly affects the public mind, but the time, manner and circumstances of President Lincoln’s death render it the most momentous, most appalling, most deplorable calamity which has ever befallen the people of the United States..." with much more (see).
Also on page 4 area heads: "More Victories" "Lynchburg Surrendered To A Scouting Party" "Selma and Montgomery Captured" "The Era Of Peace" "The Closing Up Of The War" "and more (see).
Page 5 has a report: "Arrival of Gen. Lee" noting: "Gen. R. E. Lee arrived in this city about 3 o'clock...Attended by 5 members of his staff he rode into the city...Passing rapidly through the city, he was recognized by but a few citizens who raised their hats, a compliment which was in every case returned..." with more (see). Pages 5, 6, 7 and 8 have much more concerning the concluding events of the Civil War. The back page has: "Movements Of The Union Armies Since The Surrender of Lee" and "Condition of Mr. Seward" "Captured Confederate Officers" and more, including an item: "General Lee" which begins: "The position of General Lee at the time of his surrender must have been saddening indeed..." with details (see). Just above it is a Proclamation signed in type by: Abraham Lincoln dated April 11, 1865.
Eight pages, some transparent archival strengthening near some margins, rubbing at the central fold affects a bit on pgs. 1 & 2 but very little elsewhere. All columns on pages 1, 4, 5 & 8 are black-bordered. Generally in nice condition.
An exceedingly significant issue being the first Southern paper to report Lincoln's assassination. And keep in mind that this reporting was read by an audience of residents of what just two weeks prior was the capital of the Confederate States of America.
Category: Yankee
No Longer Available
