10 interesting facts about Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, It was 149 years ago tonight the President Abraham Lincoln was shot while watching a play at Ford�s Theater. Lincoln died the next morning, and in the aftermath, some odd facts seemed to pop up.Why wasn�t General Ulysses S. Grant in the theater box with Lincoln, as scheduled? Where was the President�s bodyguard? How many people were targeted in the plot? And how did all the assassins escape, at least temporarily?
Many of the questions were eventually answered, but some still linger today. And some people have doubts about one of the alleged plotters and her involvement in Lincoln�s murder.
1. Where was General Grant?
Grant was advertised to be at the event, according to the New York Times, but he declined the invitation so he could travel with his wife to New Jersey to visit relatives.
2. Lincoln almost didn�t go to Ford�s Theater
In that first report of the assassination from the Times, the newspaper said Lincoln was reluctant to go to the play. However, since General Grant cancelled, he felt obliged to attend, even though his wife didn�t feel well. Lincoln tried to get House Speaker Schuyler Colfax to go with him, but Colfax declined.
�He went with apparent reluctance and urged Mr. Colfax to go with him; but that gentleman had made other engagements,� the Times reported.
3. If Colfax had been in the booth with Lincoln, two persons in line to succeed Lincoln would have been in danger.
Vice President Andrew Johnson was also an assassination target, but his assailant lost his nerve and didn�t attack. Colfax was third in line to succeed Lincoln, after Johnson, Senate Pro Tempore Lafayette Sabine Foster and Colfax. Secretary of State William Seward wasn�t in the line of succession in 1865.
4. Why wasn�t Vice President Johnson attacked?
John Wilkes Booth had convinced George Atzerodt, an acquaintance, to kill Johnson by setting a trap at the Kirkwood House hotel where the vice president lived. However, Atzerodt lost his nerve and didn�t attempt to kill the vice president, even though he had a rented room above Johnson�s and a loaded gun was found in the room.
Many of the questions were eventually answered, but some still linger today. And some people have doubts about one of the alleged plotters and her involvement in Lincoln�s murder.
1. Where was General Grant?
Grant was advertised to be at the event, according to the New York Times, but he declined the invitation so he could travel with his wife to New Jersey to visit relatives.
2. Lincoln almost didn�t go to Ford�s Theater
In that first report of the assassination from the Times, the newspaper said Lincoln was reluctant to go to the play. However, since General Grant cancelled, he felt obliged to attend, even though his wife didn�t feel well. Lincoln tried to get House Speaker Schuyler Colfax to go with him, but Colfax declined.
�He went with apparent reluctance and urged Mr. Colfax to go with him; but that gentleman had made other engagements,� the Times reported.
3. If Colfax had been in the booth with Lincoln, two persons in line to succeed Lincoln would have been in danger.
Vice President Andrew Johnson was also an assassination target, but his assailant lost his nerve and didn�t attack. Colfax was third in line to succeed Lincoln, after Johnson, Senate Pro Tempore Lafayette Sabine Foster and Colfax. Secretary of State William Seward wasn�t in the line of succession in 1865.
4. Why wasn�t Vice President Johnson attacked?
John Wilkes Booth had convinced George Atzerodt, an acquaintance, to kill Johnson by setting a trap at the Kirkwood House hotel where the vice president lived. However, Atzerodt lost his nerve and didn�t attempt to kill the vice president, even though he had a rented room above Johnson�s and a loaded gun was found in the room.
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