The front page is dominated by a massive "EXTRA" edition announcing the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The National Intelligencer's lead story reveals that "ABRAHAM LINCOLN was assassinated on Friday night" at the theater, describing the tragedy as one that "overcomes and stupefies the community." The paper provides an extensive eulogy, calling Lincoln "our good, gentle, wise, upright, Christian, affectionate President" and noting that "no man since Washington has performed so great a work." The edition also announces the inauguration of President Andrew Johnson, along with details about Lincoln's autopsy and the embalmment of his body. Smaller items include updates on Secretary Seward's condition (he was also attacked that night), a postponement of a fair at Gonzaga Hall due to the "national calamity," and military news about army movements and Indian troubles in New Mexico.

This newspaper captures America at perhaps its most pivotal moment — the assassination of Lincoln just days after Lee's surrender at Appomattox effectively ended the Civil War. The timing was catastrophic: the nation was finally celebrating the prospect of peace and reunion after four years of bloody conflict, only to have their president murdered during the Easter weekend celebration. The paper's tone reveals the profound shock and uncertainty gripping Washington. With Lincoln's gentle approach to Reconstruction suddenly ended, the nation faced the enormous challenge of healing under Andrew Johnson — a very different leader who would soon clash bitterly with Congress over how to rebuild the South and integrate freed slaves into American society.

• Lincoln's last autograph was written at 8 PM on the night he was killed — a simple note allowing 'Mr. Ashmun and friend to come in at 9 A.M. tomorrow' signed 'A Lin—' on April 14, 1865
• The paper reveals that Lincoln's final official act was signing a permit allowing Jacob Thompson, Buchanan's former Secretary of the Interior, to travel to Europe — showing his charitable nature toward former political opponents even in his final hours
• During his recent trip to Richmond, Lincoln had been reading Shakespeare aloud and twice called attention to Macbeth's lines about the murdered Duncan: 'Duncan is in his grave; After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well'
• Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania and Thurlow Weed were staying at Willard's Hotel during this historic moment
• A Catholic fair at Gonzaga Hall was postponed 'till further notice' due to the assassination, signed by 'B. F. WIGET, S.J.'

• The paper notes Lincoln was killed 'on the night of the anniversary of the fall of Sumter' — Fort Sumter had surrendered exactly four years earlier on April 14, 1861, marking the Civil War's beginning. Lincoln's assassination on this same date created a tragic bookend to the conflict.
• The detailed statistics about army movements show the Army of the Potomac traveled with 125,000 men and 56,000 animals — meaning armies were one-third pack animals, requiring a 119-mile column if marched in single file
• Thurlow Weed, mentioned as staying at Willard's Hotel, was one of America's most powerful political bosses who had helped engineer Lincoln's 1860 nomination and would become a key figure in the corruption scandals of the Grant administration
• The paper's emphasis on avoiding 'party passions' and maintaining order reflects very real fears — Lincoln's assassination came amid rumors of a broader Confederate conspiracy, and many worried the fragile peace could collapse into renewed violence
• This National Intelligencer was one of Washington's most influential papers, often considered the unofficial voice of the government — its measured, lengthy eulogy helped set the tone for how the nation would remember Lincoln