Abraham Lincoln Related
United States Navy Memorializing Lincoln's Assassination Signed in Print by Gideon Welles and John A. Dahlgren Announcing with "profound sorrow to the officers and men of the Navy and Marine Corps the death of ABRAHAM LINCOLN..."
April 15, 1865-Dated Civil War Era, Official United States Navy Imprint Memorializing Lincoln's Assassination, Signed in print by Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy and John A. Dahlgren, Rear Admiral, Extremely Fine.
Historic "GENERAL ORDER, No. 51" official Imprint printed with black mourning border, titled and signed in print by Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy, and John A. Dahlgren, Rear Admiral, Commanding South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Flag Ship "Philadelphia" April 25, 1865, announcing in part:
"with profound sorrow to the officers and men of the Navy and Marine Corps the death of ABRAHAM LINCOLN... Stricken down by the hand of an assassin on the evening of the 14th instant, when surrounded by his family and friends, he lingered a few hours after receiving the fatal wound, and died at seven o'clock twenty-two minutes this morning..."
The Navy personnel were directed to wear "the usual badge of mourning for six months" and the day after receiving this order, every vessel was directed to hoist flags at half-mast and fire a gun every half hour, "beginning at sunrise and ending at sunset". This General Order, No. 51 is printed on fine laid appearing watermarked white paper measuring 7.8" x 4.8" with two mailing folds, a trivial hole along the lower fold, some slight printing ink traces at the bottom left margin. Contemporary pencil notation on the blank reverse side reads (received): "May 1/65". Overall, well printed and nicely centered, being pleasing for display.
General Order No. 51, issued by the U.S. Navy on April 15, 1865, was a momentous directive issued in the aftermath of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination. This order announced to the Navy the tragic news of Lincoln's death and conveyed instructions for the appropriate mourning protocol to be observed by all naval vessels and shore stations.
It mandated that the national ensign be displayed at half-mast for a period of six months as a mark of respect for the fallen president. General Order No. 51 reflected the profound grief felt by the nation at the loss of Lincoln, a revered leader whose death deeply affected the entire country, including its military forces.