"A Crisis Unprecedented" > Draped in Mourning
On April 10, 1865 – four years, less one week, after the Chamber had held its tense emergency session on the crisis – the members met again, this time to celebrate. General Lee had surrendered; Richmond had fallen. The merchants suspended all business and offered thanks to those who had contributed to victory, from “the President of the United States, his official advisers, and the officers, soldiers and sailors of our army and navy, from General Grant to the smallest drummer boy.” They didn’t neglect either to mention their own sacrifices. The Chamber, after all, “at each and every time, when the credit or the honor of the nation has been in danger, [had] renewed to the government its assurances of support.”
Tens of thousands of New Yorkers gamboled in the streets as “Te Deums” resounded from the churches. But, within days the cheers were silenced by news of Lincoln’s assassination. The very same page in the meeting minutes where the members had signed the resolution of victory is marked further down by heavy black lines, and this sparse notification:
This day the news was received of the assassination of
Abraham Lincoln
President of the United States.
“The whole city draped in mourning,” concluded Chamber President A.A. Low, “testifies, as no language can, to the universal sentiment – that a great and good man has departed this life.”