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[b]Our Great Loss 
President Lincoln Dead by Assassin's Hand[/b]
-- [i]New York Herald[/i] Headline

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It was almost half past seven that morning when Mr. Lincoln died. There was a look of unspeakable peace that came upon his worn features as he slipped away. Secretary of War Stanton bowed his head and said "He belongs to the ages now." I was by the president's side since he was elected. I was present in the dark days at the war's beginning, I saw him break down in mourning at the untimely death of his son, Willie. All that tragedy, all that loss, and now he can finally have peace. I have no doubt of Mr. Lincoln's greatness. He was the greatest character since Christ.
-- John Hay
Presidential Secretary

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My dearest Molly,
 
I know it is strange for me to be writing you when we have both neglected a personal correspondence for years now. I write this in the early morning hours, preparing to return back to Washington from my visit at Fort Monroe. I found myself waking in a cold seat, I had that terrible dream again where I saw my own funeral. I know I should not share this with you, my dreams have a way of vexing you and sending you into frights. I visited Jefferson Davis in his cell at the fort. I was appalled at the sight of him, shackled to a wall. I immediately ordered his release from the shackles and made the commander of Fort Monroe provide him with proper living arraignments. We spoke, albeit it briefly. We attempted to speak about everything but the war, eventually our talks turned to that. I informed him that I intended to pardon all but a few rebels, himself included among the clement. He consented to that, but I saw the disappointment in his eyes when I informed him he would be banned from ever venturing into politics. He said he understood, but I couldn't help but feeling immense sadness as I looked at him. I remembered the dark days of the early war, when the fate of this country stood on the edge of a knife. I thought there but for the grace of the Almighty go I.

I confess, Molly, that these next two years cannot come fast enough. I imagine the Republicans will be calling for me to run again, but I have no desire to take this wicked office again. I have accomplished all I have set out to do as President, and then some. It is my sincere desire to return back to Illinois and go back to practicing law, perhaps Bob can join me along with Tad if he wishes to follow in our footsteps. I can let Mr. Herndon take over the practice in Springfield and open my own law firm with Bob. Lincoln and Sons Law Offices has a nice ring to it. War and destruction and death have controlled every facet of our lives for the past five years. I look forward to peace and my family again. I hope that you will forgive me for this letter, for it seems my advancing age has come with the side effect of advancing maudlin. 

Yours,
Abraham

[i][Written April 10th, 1867][/i]

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O Captain! My Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! My Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills;
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;
Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

-- Walt Whitman

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I take this office uncertain of my own capabilities, especially when in comparison to my predecessor. President Lincoln was without a doubt the greatest American this nation has ever seen or will ever see, his greatness eclipses even that of our Founders. While those men were a coalition, President Lincoln was a force of one. His sheer willpower and perseverance kept this country together in times that would try the souls of much lesser men. He famously said that he would rather die than succumb to the will of foreign intervention. He was the sixteenth president, he said, and he would do everything within his to see that he was not the last. His work, those long days of stress and hardship to keep our Republic together, are over and now his words have come to pass in a way he did not intend. He can now finally be at peace. I cannot hope to match him, and I will not promise such. All I can promise is that I will serve this office to the best of my abilities for the next two years. 

-- Schuyler Colfax
17th President of the United States of America