FANTASTIC LETTER WRITTEN TWO DAYS AFTER LINCOLN ASSASSINATION - FATHER TO SON

Description

This is a terrific letter written from a father to his son on April 16, 1865, two days after Lincoln's
assassination.  The letter begins by discussing the lateness of receiving the son's correspon-
dence and then continues....
......."We have had great rejoicing and mourning the past week, the latter come (sic) upon us
yesterday (would have been Saturday the 15th of April) morning like a thunder clap, and the
whole community is in mourning, except now & then a mean Copperhead that rejoices in a
few places, but they have been compelled to submit.  I think however the sad event will not
pervent the speedy return of Peace.  the whole community have full confidence in President
Johnson, and I hope he will be firm and act according to his speech that he made when
Petersburg & Richmond were captured & then we have no fears, but what the Rebels will get
there (sic) full deserts, which if President Lincoln had have lived, would have been to (sic)
lenient to them.  I am for hanging all the prominent leaders, confiscating all the property of
Rebels who have in any way taken an active part or assisted in anyway in the Rebellion except
the rank & file of the Army and the proceeds appropriated to remunerate (?) such Union men
as have suffered loss by being compelled to abandon their property to the Rebels and for the
support of widows and orphans of those that have fallen in battle or incapacitated in any way
by being wounded, carry this out and we shall never fear another Rebellion, and also deprive
them of ever holding office of any kind & of voting, this is a sure remedy.  We have had good
news for the two last Mondays and I hope tomorrow we shall hear that Mobile has been
captured or that Sherman has taken Johnson.  It seems that when Lee capitulated he had only
5,000 guns & some 60 or 70 Generals, he must have lost a great many thousands by desertion
and cannot under any circumstancies  raise another army and we may virtually consider the
Rebellion at an end, and I rather think that we have men at the head of the nation that are equal
to any emergency in closing up the Rebellion. It seems by the Herald of this morning that the
murderers have not yet been arrested, but it is not possible for them to escape as no efforts
will be spared to effect it-.....
The last part of the letter deals with friends, family and business. The letter ends with "Much
love to all and a good share for yourself" Your affec. Father - Parker H. Pierce
The letter is 6 1/4"X 7 3/4" in size and is in wonderful condition. You can see where the letter
had been folded and what is written on the back of the first page can faintly be seen.