APRIL 15TH, 1865: Secretary Welles announced the assassination of President Lincoln to the officers and men of the Navy and Marine Corps. Welles wrote: "To him our gratitude was justly due, for to him, under God, more than any other person, we are indebted for the successful vindication of the integrity of the Union and the maintenance of the power of the Republic."
The President had continually demonstrated a keen interest in the Navy and far-seeing appreciation of seapower.
Late on the afternoon of April 14th, Lincoln had taken what was to be his last trip to the Washington Navy Yard to view three ironclads there that had been damaged during the Fort Fisher engagement.
--Old B-Runner
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