According to Harold Holzer's article in Smithsonian Magazine in March 2015 newspaper summarized the reaction of people including in Washington as follows:The initial reaction to the president's death was a wild mixture of grief, exultation, vengefulness and fear.
A Copperhead shouted with joy "They’ve shot Abe Lincoln,” to the horror Yankee neighbors. “He’s dead and I’m glad he’s dead.”
In Washington within 8 hours of Lincoln's assassination the Republican Caucus met. The universal feeling was that his death was a god-send, reported Republican Congressman George Julian of Illinois. Those who worked in his cabinet including Supreme Court Chief Justice Chase who had been a competitor truly grieved. People filled the streets near the executive mansion within hours after hearing of Lincoln's death.
The New York Times reported on April 20th on Lincoln's funeral of the previous day in Washington DC. It is the grieving reaction of the common man in the North that eventually dominated.
"As early as 8 o'clock, people in Washington began to throng the avenue, and by 11 o'clock many thousands were assembled in the vicinity of the departments and the Executive mansion.
After the funeral the corpse was then removed to the hearse, which was in front of the door of the Executive Mansion and at 2 o'clock the procession was formed. It took the line of Pennsylvania-avenue. The sidewalks were densely lined with people from the White House to the Capitol, a distance of a mile and a half. The roofs, porticos, windows and all elevated points were occupied by interested spectators. As the procession started minute guns were fired near St. John's Church, the City Hall and the Capitol. The bells of all the churches in the city and of the various engine-houses were tolled."
