This struck me, too - how united the town seemed to be in their support for Lincoln, and their grief for him. Also it seemed like a more dignified, respectful time. Can you imagine such a unified reaction to the assassination of Trump, say, or even Obama?
I think the only comparable event in our lifetime was the 9/11 attacks, and of course that's a hard thing to compare to the assassination of an individual.
I briefly thought about what a current assassination might mean to the country... not long - you know that all our internet exchanges are being monitored for unpatriotic content, eh? 😉 I think with the current mood 1/2 the country would be thowing wild and crazy 'wakes' rather than somber mourning! 😉 😉
I hadn't thought about the parallel with 9/11. I think it is actually a very good one. While the 9/11 attacks were on a much larger scale individually, I think it is fair to say that the country back in the time the letters were written was also at war and in bereavement over soldiers who wouldn't come home, friends and family fighting in the war against each other, the deplorable state that loved ones might be facing POW camps, then the assassination of a very well loved leader perhaps made it a more serious event than it might otherwise have been.
All good points. Lord knows there was certainly enough trauma to go around.