Tilford - Samuel sees Lincoln killed - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

There are three men living In Indianapolis to-day who saw the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. They sat together in the old Ford Theater at Washington on the fatal night of April 14, 1863, and witnessed every detail of the tragedy that shocked the Nation. These men are Samuel E. Tilford, bailiff of Room 2, Superior Court; Morris Defrees, of No. 74 West Michigan street, and John S. Duncan, of the law firm of Duncan, Smith & Hornbrook. They were all young then—mere striplings from seventeen to twenty years of age. But the events of that night are still fresh In their minds. Samuel Tilford, or “Sam,” as he is best known to his friends, was the oldest of the trio. He tells the story with thrilling interest. Tilford had seen a year or more of active service on the battlefield at the time of the assassination, but the other two boys were much younger and had had little experience away from the parental roof. Young Defrees was living in Washington at the time, his father, John M. Defrees having been appointed public printer. Young Tilford enlisted early in the rebellion. He went to the old Union Station one night with his cousin to see some of the troops depart for the front, and caught the martial spirit. “I’m going,” declared the young man. "Tell my people I’ve gone,” and an hour later Tilford had put on the uniform of his country and was one of Gen. Fred Knefler’s boys. He afterward came home on a furlough, returned to the front again, and late in the year 1864 met with an accident while riding on the field that brought him back to Indianapolis on sick leave. While not able to stand the hard campaigning in the field, Tilford was still an active young fellow, and his government found something for him to do. Army mules were in great demand, and the department was shipping them to Washington from all parts of the country. Indiana was contributing liberally’ and many a trainload of these animals left Indianapolis consigned to the national capital. Sam Tilford was put in charge of this work and made several trips to Washington. Early in April of 1865 he made preparations to start with another trainload of mules. He was accompanied on this trip by John S. Duncan, who was then a sturdy young fellow of seventeen or eighteen. Tilford and young Duncan had been companions from childhood and they anticipated a fine time together in Washington. “We got there the night before the assassination of Lincoln,” said Mr. Tilford, in recounting the story, “and stopped for the night at the Willard Hotel. On the following morning we picked up a play bill of Ford’s Theater and saw the announcement that President Lincoln and wife and General Grant would occupy a box in the theater that night. The play, I believe, was to be “Our American Cousin.” John and I made up our minds to attend the theater and then it was suggested that we go out and find Morris Defrees, whom we both knew well, he having been an Indianapolis boy. We went over to the government printing office and there found Morris. Before we left him It was arranged that we three go to the theater together that night. Evening came and found us in comfortable seats in the parquette of Ford's Opera House. We were near the stage and but a short distance from the box which the President and party were to occupy. I remember distinctly how the interior of the house looked to me. It was a brilliant audience and distinctly military. There were army officers from the different divisions of the army and they were there in their brightest uniforms. Everywhere the national colors were prominent. The scene was pretty and inspiring. “The President and party were late In arriving and I think the second act was almost on before they came. In the meantime we boys were busy looking about us. I remember that just before the curtain went up on the first act Morris Defrees called attention to a man who stood leaning against the President’s box. I looked and saw a tall, dark man of fine appearance. “Do you know who that is?” asked Morris. “No, I do not,” I said. "That is Wilkes Booth, the actor,’ remarked Morris. “I paid no especial attention to the man and scarcely gave him a second glance. A few moments later the curtain went up and we got interested in the play. I remember when the President came in and took his seat in the box the audience greeted him enthusiastically. I don't recall now how many there were in the party, but I remember an officer who I thought wore the uniform of a colonel. The curtain had gone up on the second act and the people had just come on the stage, as I remember it, when a shot was fired. For an instant I thought as did many others that it was a part of the play. Then I looked over toward the President and saw the commotion in his box. I saw J. Wilkes Booth with a knife in his hand strike at the officer who accompanied the President, and then saw him leap from the box. As he jumped he caught his foot in a flag and fell to the stage. I don't think we three boys spoke a word during the time this was going on. I remember we rushed toward the box but I got lost from the other fellows. I didn't see John Duncan again until 3 o'clock the next morning when he came into the hotel. I'll venture there are few cities in the country that have three men who sat together that night and saw that tragedy.”

Source: Indianapolis Journal 6 Dec 1885 p 7

Officers of Centennial Lodge (IOOF) will be publicly installed in January. Samuel Tilford, DDGM and suite will conduct the ceremonies which will be more than usually interest