The Latest by Telegraph.

1

Springfield, Saturday Evening, April 15, 1865.

Received by the Illinois & Mississippi Line. Office over Chatterton's Jewelry Store, West Side Square.
FRED. S. SMITH, Manager.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, April 15, 1865.

Major General Dix:

Abraham Lincoln died this morning at 22 minutes after 7 o'clock.

E. M. STANTON,
Sec'y of War.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, April 14 — 10 P.M.

To Major General Dix:

The president continues insensible and is sinking. Secretary Seward remains without change. Frederick Seward's skull is fractured in two places, besides a severe cut on the head. The attendant is still alive, but hopeless. Major Seward's wounds are not dangerous.

It is now ascertained with reasonable certainty that two assassins were engaged in the horrible crime — Wilkes Booth being the one that shot the president, and the other a companion of his, whose name is not known, but whose description is so clear that he can hardly escape.

It appears from a letter found in Booth's trunk, that the murder was planned before the 4th of March, but fell through then because the accomplice backed out until Richmond could be heard from.

CHICAGO, April 15. — President Lincoln was shot through the head last night, at Ford's Theatre, and died this morning.

The assassin is supposed to be J. Wilkes Booth, the actor.

About the same time a desperado called at Secretary Seward's, pretending to be a messenger from his physician; being refused admittance, he attacked Fred Seward, son of the Secretary, knocking him down and then passed on to the secretary's room, where, after cutting down too male attendants, he cut Mr. Seward's throat. The wound was not at last accounts considered fatal.

Letters found in Booth's trunk, show that this assassination was contemplated before the fourth of March, but fell through from some cause.

The wildest excitement prevails at Washington. The vice president's house and the residences of the different secretaries are closely guarded.

Booth and his accomplice were at the livery stable at 6 o'clock last evening and left there with their horses about 10 o'clock or shortly before that hour. It would seem that they had been seeking their chance, but for some unknown reason it was not carried into effect until last night. One of them has evidently made his way to Baltimore, the other has not yet been traced.

(Signed)
E. M. STANTON.

Secretary Seward is dead.

Booth is arrested.

(Signed)
RANKIN.

WASHINGTON, April 15. — The assassin of President Lincoln left behind him his hat and a spur. The hat was picked up in the president's box and identified by parties to whom it has been shown as the one belonging to the suspected man, and accurately described by other parties not allowed to see it before describing it. The spur was dropped upon the stage, and that also has been identified as the one procured at a stable where the same man hired a horse in the evening.

Two gentlemen who went to the secretary of war to apprise him of the attack on Mr. Lincoln, met at the residence of the former a man muffled in a cloak, who when accosted by them hastened away.

It had been Mr. Stanton's intention to accompany Mr. Lincoln to the theater and occupy the same box, but the press of business prevented; it therefore seems evident that the aim of the plotters was to paralyze the country by at once striking down the head, the heart and the arm of the country. As soon as the dreadful events were announced on the street Superintendent Richards and his associates were at work to discover the assassin. In a few moments the telegraph had aroused the whole police force of the city. Mayor Wallach and several members of the city government were soon on the spot, and every precaution was taken to preserve order and quiet in the city. Every street in Washington was patrolled at the request of Mr. Richards. Gen. Augur sent horses to mount the police. Every road leading out of Washington was strongly picketed, and every possible avenue of escape was guarded. Steamboats about to depart down the Potomac were stopped.

The Daily Chronicle says, as it is suspected, that this conspiracy originated in Maryland.

The man Booth has played more than once at Ford's Theater, and is, of course, acquainted with its exit and entrances, and the facility with which he escaped behind the scenes, is easily understood.

The person who attacked Secretary Seward, left behind him a slouched hat and an old rusty navy revolver. The chambers were broken loose from the barrel, as if done by striking. The loads were drawn from the chambers, one being but a rough piece of lead, and the other balls, smaller than the chambers, wrapped in paper, as if to keep them from falling out.

NEW YORK, April 14, 13:30 P.M. — A dispatch from Washington says that Frederick Seward is not dead, but in a critical condition.

WASHINGTON, April 15, 12 M. — Andrew Johnson was sworn into office as president of the United States, by Chief Justice Chase, to-day at 11 o'clock. Secretary McCulloch and Attorney General Speed and others were present. He remarked, "The duties are mine. I will perform them, trusting in God."

BURLINGTON, N.J. April 15 — Lieut. Gen. Grant left here for Washington at 6 o'clock this morning.

(Signed,)
Mrs. U. S. GRANT.

WASHINGTON, April 15, 11 A.M. — The Star, extra, says: At 7:30 A.M., the president breathed his last, closing his eyes as if falling to sleep, and his countenance assuming an expression of perfect serenity. There were no expressions of pain, and it was known that he was unconscious until the gradually decreasing respiration had ceased altogether.

The Rev. Dr. Gurley, of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, immediately, upon its being ascertained that life was extinct, knelt at the bedside and offered an impressive prayer, which was responded to by all present. Dr. Gurley then proceeded to the front part, or where Mrs. Lincoln, Capt. Robert Lincoln, Mr. John Hay, the private secretary, and others were waiting, where he again offered prayer for the consolation of the family.

A preliminary examination was made by Mr. Richards and his assistants. Several persons were called to testify, and the evidence as elicited before an informal tribunal, and not under oath, was conclusive to this point: The murderer of President Lincoln was John Wilkes Booth; his hat was found in the private box and identified by several persons who had seen him within the last two days, and the spur which he dropped by accident, after he jumped to the stage, was identified as one of those which he had obtained from the stable where he hired his horse.

Immediately after the president's death, a cabinet meeting was called by Sec. Stanton and held in the room in which the corpse lay. Secretary's Stanton, Welles and Usher, Post Master General Dennison and Attorney General Speed, were present. The results of the conference are as yet unknown.

Reports prevail that Mr. Frederick W. Seward, who was kindly assisting the nursing of Sec. Seward, received a stab in the back of his shoulder blade, which prevented the knife or dagger from penetrating into his body, the prospects are that he will recover.

A report was circulated repeatedly by almost everybody, that Booth was captured 15 miles this side of Baltimore, if it be true as asserted, that the war department has received such information, it will doubtless be officially promulgated.

The government offices are closed by order, and will be draped with emblems of mourning. The roads leading to and from the city are guarded by the military, and the utmost circumspection is observed as to all attempting to enter or leave the city.

WASHINGTON, April 15. — The president's body was removed from the private residence opposite Ford's theater, to the executive mansion this morning, in a hearse, wrapped in the American flag. It was escorted by a small guard of cavalry.

Gen. Augur and other military officers moved on foot. A dense crowd accompanied the remains to the White House, where a military guard excluded the crowd allowing none but persons of the household and personal friends of the deceased to enter the premises.

Senator Yates and Representative Farnsworth were among the number. The body is being embalmed with a view to its removal to Illinois.

CIRCULAR.
WAR DEPT., PRO. MAR. GEN'S BUREAU,
WASHINGTON, April 15, 9:40 A.M.

It is believed that the assassins of the President and Secretary Seward are attempting to escape to Canada. You will make a careful and thorough examination of all persons attempting to cross from the United States into Canada, and will arrest all suspicious persons. The most vigilant scrutiny on your part, and the force at your disposal is demanded. The description of the parties supposed to be implicated in the murder will be telegraphed you to-day, but in the meantime, be active in preventing the crossing of any suspicious persons.

By order of the secretary of war.
[Signed] N. L. JEFFERS,
Brevet Brig. Gen. Act. Pro. Mar. Gen.

NEW YORK, April 15. — The Post's Washington special says; Mr. Hansell, the messenger of the state department, who was in attendance upon Mr. Seward, is dead.

Secretary Seward is in a very precarious condition.

It is reported that Booth was captured this morning. The story is that his horse threw him, and injured him so severely that he was obliged to seek relief in a house on 7th street road.

The Post publishes a dispatch to Clarence A. Seward, which says Mr. Seward's wounds are bad, but not mortal. He has lost much blood, but no arteries are cut.

Fredericks skull is fractured badly in two places. He is insensible, and I fear will die. The governor's throat would have been cut had he not rolled out of bed.