Dr. Charles Leale, U.S. Army

Dr. Charles A. Leale, the young army surgeon who was first to reach President Lincoln after the assassination, administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He described the scene immediately afterwards:

“On the carpeted floor lay prostrate the president of the United States. His long, outstretched, athletic body of six feet, four inches appeared unusually heroic. His bleeding head rested on my white linen handkerchief. His clothing was arranged as nicely as possible. He was irregularly breathing, his heart was feeble beating, his face was pale and in solemn repose, his eyelids were closed, his countenance made him appear to be in prayerful communion with the Universal God he always loved.”

Source: Leale address delivered before the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, February 1909.