Prelude to Assassination

By Brighid O'Sullivan

This is a true story based on the diaries of Fanny Seward, daughter of William H Seward,, Secretary of State to Abraham Lincoln. Several days before Lincoln's assassination, Seward had a severe and almost deadly carriage accident of which his daughter was a witness. The night Lincoln was assassinated, Seward, who was still recovering from the accident, had an attack on his own life as well.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brighid O'Sullivan
• Release date: Sep 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301202133

Brighid O'Sullivan

Brighid O'Sullivan has been writing since she was a child. As an adult she's written about Irish and American history published in History Magazine, History Channel Magazine, and her local paper in Western New York. Catch her fascinating posts on Irish and American history at celticthoughts.com. She is currently working on a novel set in 6th century Ireland, 'The Sun Palace' to be released in 2014. You can email Brighid @[e-mail]

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Prelude to Assassination

Copyright 2013 Brighid O'Sullivan

Smashwords Edition

A Short Story based on the Diaries of Fanny Seward

April 5th 1865

It confused me that Father was so unsettled amidst the glorious celebrations, though a nagging suspicion stabbed at my heart.

In Washington, a thirty-six gun salute was fired after Richmond was deserted by the Confederate army. There were bonfires in every square, candles in every window and stoop, lights and banners draped across all the prominent buildings of Washington—including the capital. Fireworks illuminated the sky, a most peculiar tradition I think, that symbols of war would commemorate peace, though beautiful nonetheless.

Still, men’s souls would not heal overnight. For some, death was a constant bedmate, no matter which side one slept on, the fragments of their dreams, like a dog gnawing flesh from a bone.

The War Between the States was ending and