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My Grandmother's 2 aunts married Lincoln guards of the 150th PA, Co K. John Langley wrote to his future wife, Maggie McAuley. You might be interested in this letter's transcript as it is written about 15 days after the Lincoln assassination, and he gives his feelings on that event. Here is the text of John Langley's letter typed as accurately as possible with all words and marks as written in the original. I have placed paragraphs for easier reading: Good afternoon. Hope I find you well & enjoying life tip top. This is a lovely day in this the Sunny South, The trees are green, Peaches are about as large as peas, grass is 5 or Six inches high. & the weather warm & Sultry. the roads are very dusty here. & everything coming forward fast. We are glad to Sit in the Shade here now when ever we have the opportunity. Our Barracks are in the Park & allmost covered with trees. I think It's a real pretty place. Wish you could be here & see it. I'm Shure you would like it. Well you wished me to tell you if any of us were with the President at the Theater on that eventful night. We were not. We never went with him when he went away, our duty is & has been to guard the President when at home, & our guard was never taken off for one moment since we came here on the 8th of Sept.1862 The President has a Co of Cavelry whoes duty it is to escort him when traveling, but he never took any one with him to the Theater, or to Church. It was a cruel and foul murder. & would to God Some of us had been with him that night. Then The accursed Traitor had not dared to to molest President Lincoln, or if he had I think he would have failed in the attempt. He too now is dead, Shot through the head, ushered into the presence of his maker Sudenly, there to meet the penalty of his crime. How soon he has followed his victim, but how different there lives were. The one all goodness patience & love The other a very Demon on earth. The one died a Martyr to his country. to Justice liberty & mercy. The other a Traitor, died the villian he was with a curs & a lie in his mouth, He has made his name a disgrce, to be handed down from Generation to generation while time shall last as a hissing & a by-word. & Oh! what must be the feelings of his aged Mother. But enough on this Subject. I certainly should be pleased to make you a visit, Some time & if I can when I get home I Shall except your invitation to call on you Some time. I often have business down the river & am in Franklin once or Twice every year, & if I knew where to go I Shurely shall visit Reimersburgh & see my friend Maggie once at least, but really I do not know where it is, perhaps you may see fit to tell me Some time, where from Franklin your home is, I wrote you a letter only a few days Since, So please exerise a Short one this time. My Friend Clark wishes to send a line in this, & I know no good reason why he Shouldent, excuse all errors. Write Soon. & except the best wishes of your Strange friend for you & yours Miss McAuley. Yours Truely
April 29th/64(5)
