Tide Turns Case 4
Victory and Mourning
It’s hard to recapture the whirlwind of emotions many Americans felt in the first half of April 1865. Events that fundamentally shaped the nation’s future occurred only days apart—chief among them the fall of Richmond, Robert E. Lee’s surrender, and Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. This letter from a woman named Emma in Gallipolis, Ohio, captures some of that turmoil.
She notes the “great rejoicing” that came in the wake of Lee’s surrender, with cannons firing and bells ringing. Yet the mood reverses after hearing “that Lincoln had been murdered” and “we did not feel much like rejoicing but felt sad.” That sadness soon turns to anger as Emma laments how Copperheads (Northerners who opposed the war) were now celebrating and recounts how the military arrested a local woman for jumping and cheering at the news of Lincoln’s death. Writing only days later, Emma captures the historical moment’s mix of joy, trauma, and retribution.
MS-1865.04.17-2-MISC
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Emma of Gallipolis, Ohio to Sister, 17 April 1865
Dear Sister
As I have been looking for a letter from you every since left and have not received one yet I thought that I would sit down and write you one we are all well as [?] Pa I think is improving he appears to be stronger than he was when you left here last friday was a day of great rejoicing here and I presume throughout the state on account of the fall of Richmond and the capture of Gen Lee and his army at six oclock friday morning all the bells here were rung a half an hour or more the cannons were fired and at half at past ten there were preaching at the Methodist and Episcopal churches we did not have any in our own church Mr Van Deusen made the excuse that he did not know it in time to prepare a sermen, and in the afternoon we had speaches up to the court house and among the speakers was a General that has ben with Gen Sherman for two years I do not remember his name he spoke very well and in the evening we had a torchlight procession and on saturday morning the sad news came that Lincoln had been murdered I tell we did not feel much like rejoicing but all felt sad enough I expect the Coperheads are rejoicing The soldiers lock up one on saturday and Mrs Mossman and marched her down to headquarters and [tried?] her. when she heard that Lincoln was dead she jumbed up and claped her hands and said she was so glad and rejoiced a great deal over it they have a gard around her house night and day. I heard this evening that they have taken up six others and that they were a going to take them to camp chace and would [?] evening on the gunboat I do not think that they will like that very well Mr Van Deusen has got the house and moved in it I hope he will be satsfyed now her Father came up and wanted her to take her Mother to live with them and so they are going to take her and he is a going to help to pay the rent Pa lets them have it for eighteen dollars a month we were very sorry that you forgot Jonnys high chair how are you a getting a long have you a Girl yet I hope you have I think of you so often and feel sorry that you ever concented to move down there it seame to me that you are away out their where you cannot see or hear any thing that is going on but perhaps it is all for the best Let us try and think so any way I have not had a letter from Doctor since you left I wrote to him the same day you left her[e] I received a pachedg from him the next monday after you left by express with his overcoat a pair of mittens and new socks and scarf. Irene has taken the school teacher she is a cousin of Mrs Bickers she is not a bit good looking but I think she will be right pleasant her name is Hibbard Mrs Fergenson and her children are here a visiting Mrs Merideth came I think the same week you left The sewing circle met her last thursday had quite a larg society I wrote to aunt [?] Last week and told her that you wanted her to come and spend the summer with you we heard that she would be up the first of May Will received a letter from Doctor this morning he says that he has not had a letter from you since you left Gallipolis his letter was writen on the 10th at Camp Winchester and Mailed at Washington. Tomorrow is the [?] Lincoln funeral is to be preached at 11 o clock all business here is to be stopped and we are to have preachen on the square if it is a pleasant day and if not it will be held at the Churches Emm Andrews wrote to Ned the next Monday after he left here and she says that he has not answered it yet and she das not like very well. I want you to answer this letter as soon as you can for we are all anxious to hear from you Ma thinks that you are sick because you do not write write you
Your Sister Emma
Gallipolis Ohio April 17. 1865
Letter Audio