Ever have a bad day? It could be worse...1865 (Example 2)

So you have the weight of the world on your shoulders at work, or at least it sure feels like it. Computer systems are slow, the drive-thru you grabbed lunch at gave you the wrong order, but you knew at the end of the day, you'd be spending quality time with a loved one, getting a much needed laugh.

Abraham Lincoln was no different. Finally, with Lee's surrender days before, he could exhale a bit and believe the war would definitely come to an end and the union would be preserved. Earlier in the day, he had a brief discussion with his cabinet on how to begin Reconstruction and help their fellow southerners rebuild and recover.

Four years of somber work, that aged him by 20 years, appearance-wise gave way to a few smiles and  carriage ride with his wife discussing 1869, when he'd have completed his second term and they would possibly return to family and friends in Springfield, maybe travel to Europe and Lincoln really wanted to see California.

To treat his wife to some much needed quality time, they went to the theater. Unfortuntely, General Grant backed out, so another couple would go in their place to Box 7 at Ford's Theatre. The Lincolns arrived midway in the first act; the play stopped and "Hail to the Chief" was struck up by the band. He received thunderous applause, but just wanted to sit back in the rocking chair and enjoy some quiet time, just like everyone else.

Earlier, Lincoln had refused bodyguard protection, stating if someone wanted to kill him badly enough, they would accomplish it. This drew parallels to the dream he had a week earlier about finding himself in a casket in the East Room in the White House where he was told the President was assassinated. Lincoln was an easy going person and although he had an escort for the night, he had ducked out as the third act began and went next door to a saloon for a quick drink.

Booth already had his plans laid out and quietly walked over to the box, waited for the line that would deliver the loudest laugh and shoot Lincoln dead. Poor Lincoln's last words were reassuring Mary that a simple sign of affection between the two of them was perfectly acceptable (likely because he felt so much guilt for not being able to be the husband or father he wanted to be while he was steering the country through the greatest crisis since the Revolution.

Lincoln, smiling at the play's dialogue rocked in his chair enjoying the moment. No one in the box knew Booth was inside. It sounded like a paper bag popping; many didn't even realize what had just happened. Lincoln's head went further down on his chest and stopped rocking. Major Rathborne, Grant's surrogate tried to stop Booth, only to be stabbed by Booth's daggar. Booth then jumped to the stage ready to run to his horse waiting in the alley. He knew Ford's Theatre inside and out and with the rush of people starting to realize what happened, escape back out the door through which he entered was out of the question. He stepped up on the ledge of the railing in the box and jumpe down to the stage, shouting "Sic Semper Tyrannis!" However, on the jump down, one of his spurs got caught in the bunting decorating the president's box and as he landed, he broke his leg. Bad day for Booth. More ironic, the bunting that he was caught on was the stars and stripes of the American flag, which almost seems to have come to life to stop Booth himself.

Booth scrambled out into the alley and bolted out of Washington as fast as he could, maneuvering his way past a sentry post to escape into the Maryland countryside to try to make his way to southern sympathizers. Brutus had succeeded! He had killed the American Ceaser. However, he was the only one that had this opinion as he would soon find out. That would be the ultimate slap in the face to him was thinking he'd be a hero, not a villan.

As for President Lincoln, he was taken across the street to the Petersen boarding house and taken into a bedroom, where he was laid diagonally because he was too tall for the bed. It was here that the surgeon general inspected the wound and deemed it mortal. People came and went throughout the night to see him; many wept. Mary was so beside herself that Secretay of State Stanton ordered her out of the room. The scene was romanticized by a painter, as seen below, but the room was far too small for these people to be in with the President at one time.

The night would be a long one; and could have been much more devistating if Booth's fellow conspirators had his nerves and passion. They could have murdered many of the President's cabinet and the Vice President. The only one that was followed through by Secretary of State Seward, who if not for the horse buggy accident earlier in the month that led to him wearing a neck brace, his would be assassin most certainly would have severed his carotid artery. He would be scarred, but survived.

The survival of Lincoln was not as lucky. It started out as such a nice day, culminating with a performance at a theater, until things were taken into the hands of an obsessed person, around ten after 10:00 that night. What a bad day. What a horrific day.

And it was Good Friday. Booth should have selected a better day to execute his plan, as the day would help build up a parallel that would drive his fury to new ends.

Just a bad day all around.