The manager of the theatre had invited the President to witness a
performance of a new play known as “Our American Cousin,” in which the
famous actress, Laura Keane, was playing. Mr. Lincoln was particularly
fond of the theatre. He loved Shakespeare’s plays above all others and
never missed a chance to see the leading Shakespearean actors.
As “Our American Cousin” was a new play, the President did not care
particularly to see it, but as Mrs. Lincoln was anxious to go, he
consented and accepted the invitation.
General Grant was in Washington at the time, and as he was extremely
anxious about the personal safety of the President, he reported every
day regularly at the White House. Mr. Lincoln invited General Grant and
his wife to accompany him and Mrs. Lincoln to the theatre on the night
of the assassination, and the general accepted, but while they were
talking he received a note from Mrs. Grant saying that she wished to
leave Washington that evening to visit her daughter in Burlington.
General Grant made his excuses to the President and left to accompany
Mrs. Grant to the railway station. It afterwards became known that it
was also a part of the plot to assassinate General Grant, and only Mrs.
Grant’s departure from Washington that evening prevented the attempt
from being made.
General Grant afterwards said that as he and Mrs. Grant were riding
along Pennsylvania avenue to the railway station a horseman rode rapidly
by at a gallop, and, wheeling his horse, rode back, peering into their
carriage as he passed.
Mrs. Grant remarked to the general: “That is the very man who sat near
us at luncheon to-day and tried to overhear our conversation. He was so
rude, you remember, as to cause us to leave the dining-room. Here he is
again, riding after us.”
General Grant attributed the action of the man to idle curiosity, but
learned afterward that the horseman was John Wilkes Booth.