Pictorial history of the war for the Union, volume 2 (of 2)

While the murder of Abraham Lincoln was in progress at Ford’s Theatre, another scene in the bloody tragedy was being enacted at the house of the Secretary of State. Mr. Seward, suffering from severe injuries, received shortly before by an accidental fall from his carriage, was lying in his bed, sick, suffering, and helpless. Within the invalid’s chamber all was sadness and gloom; for Mr. Seward’s life was the subject of much uncertainty and anxious fear. About nine o’clock in the evening the chamber of the Secretary was forcibly entered by a tall, muscular man, whose face could hardly be distinguished beneath the broad and drooping brim of his slouched hat, which was drawn over his brow. This man was Lewis Payne,—who had been procured to murder the Secretary of State, and who had effected his entrance into the house by stratagem, and had forced his way from the street-door to Mr. Seward’s chamber, pretending to be a messenger from the physician with medicine for Mr. Seward. Payne had pushed past the servant who had admitted him, and met with no opposition till he reached the Secretary’s door. There he was confronted by Mr. Frederick Seward, with whom he had a moment’s parley regarding his message to Mr. Seward; but finding that he could effect nothing in that way he struck the Secretary’s son on the head with a pistol, felling him to the floor, and crushing in his skull. Upon the instant he burst into the Secretary’s room, rushed up to the bed, and attacked the helpless, sick old man with a knife. Mr. Seward succeeded in rolling out on the floor; but not until he had received many and severe cuts about the throat and face.

All this had passed in so brief a time that not even a cry for help had been raised. The terrified nurses raised screams of distress about half a minute after the assassin’s entrance to the room, and a soldier, followed by Major Seward, rushed into the apartment. The soldier at once leaped upon the assassin, and tried to pull him backward; but Payne turned upon him, and stabbing him in the side, contrived to break away. He also struck and wounded Major Seward, and one of the attendants, who precipitated themselves upon him, and in the dreadful confusion following he succeeded in making his escape from the house.