Monday, 17th—News came that Abe Lincoln[1] had been assassinated at Washington, in a theater, also Secretary Seward and his son.[2] When the news came of the death of the president, the safety guards, placed at private houses to protect the families from violence, were relieved. General Sherman at once demanded an answer from Johnston by tomorrow, in regard to the surrender. Charles Correll of our company was put under arrest for saying that the president should have been shot three years ago. Correll has only been with the company since the 28th of last September, and then had been hired to enlist for a big sum of money. I went out on picket this morning.
[1] That a soldier should speak of Lincoln in such familiar terms was but natural. It was in no sense disrespectful. All through the war the President was spoken of as “Abe” Lincoln.—Ed.
[2] This shows again the unreliable character of the first reports.—Ed.
