Before leaving town after Congress adjourned in March 1865 , Stevens privately urged Lincoln to press the South hard militarily , though the war was ending . Lincoln replied , " Stevens , this is a pretty big hog we are trying to catch and to hold when we catch him . We must take care that he does not slip away from us . " Never to see Lincoln again , Stevens left with " a homely metaphor but no real certainty of having left as much as a thumbprint on Lincoln 's policy . " On the evening of April 14 , 1865 , Lincoln was assassinated by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth . Stevens did not attend the ceremonies when Lincoln 's funeral train stopped in Lancaster ; he was said to be ill . Trefousse speculated he may avoided the rites for other reasons . According to Lincoln biographer Carl Sandburg , Stevens stood at a railroad bridge and lifted his hat
was assassinated
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Thaddeus Stevens