The Lincoln Funeral Train
On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth
walked into the Ford Theatre in Washington D.C. and shot President Abraham
Lincoln. He died the following day. Lincoln was the first American President to
be assassinated.
The Lincoln funeral train arrived in Indianapolis at 7 a.m. on
Sunday, April 30, 1865. The coffin was transferred to a hearse trimmed in
ornate silver and black decorations and drawn by eight white horses. A
procession led by Governor Oliver P. Morton and Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker was formed
to accompany the remains to the State House. Soldiers from Indianapolis camps
lined both sides of the route to the Capitol Building. Civilians crowded the
sidewalks, balconies, and rooftops to catch a glimpse of the great man as the
hearse passed by.
Three large arches decorated with black and white cloth, evergreens, and an eagle towered over Washington Street. An archway was also extended from Washington Street to the entrance of the State House. A musical band stationed underneath the arch played Old Hundred while the honor guard carried the coffin up the sidewalk to the rotunda.
The State House was swathed in black mourning cloth and ribbon, photos of the President, and heavy black curtains draped the Rotunda where the coffin was placed on an elaborate catafalque. The upper third of the lid was opened so that mourners might see the face of the president. Soldiers fired 36 guns at sunrise and sunset; while a one gun salute occurred every half-hour in Lincoln’s honor.
The public viewing began at 8 a.m. and continued until 10 p.m. The first group to file past the former President were 5,000 children from various local Sunday Schools. Bringing up the rear were hundreds of African-Americans, many clutching copies of the Emancipation Proclamation. It was estimated that AROUND 75,000 people viewed the body, however, there is no accurate figure for the number of people paying their respects. Both the Indianapolis Sentinel and the Indianapolis Journal estimated the crowd at “not less than 50,000 – slightly more than the entire population of the city five years later."
Between 10 and 11p.m. the guard of honor returned the coffin to
the hearse, and a procession accompanied the coffin to a waiting train.
The Indianapolis Sentinel reported: “This was the most
solemn and imposing of all the pageantry that has attended the remains in this
city. The wailing sadness of the music, the fitful glare of the lamps, the deep
silence unbroken except by the heavy tramp of the soldiers and muffled rumbling
of carriage wheels, made it the most impressive scene of all, in the mournful
occasion.”
The train departed
for Chicago shortly before midnight. A long
public procession through the city was canceled due to the torrential rains
that also prevented photographers from recording Lincoln’s body as it lay in
state. (Well-known images, such as the one below, were staged both the day before and the day following
the funeral).
Where did I get this information?
I started my research at the Indiana Historical Bureau. They have an extensive collection of newspaper articles, books, and very helpful staff. Next door is the Indiana State Library which houses the rare books and manuscripts section. I was able to get several scans of photos and paintings of Lincoln including this rare one of the great man wearing his glasses.
Another helpful source was Dale Ogden of the Indiana State Museum. FYI: ISM frequently hosts a Lincoln exhibit. Mr. Ogden was a wealth of knowledge and also recommended Leigh Darbee, "Encyclopedia of Indianapolis".
Lastly, I searched the internet! The Library of Congress has an excellent collection of photos as does the Lincoln Library and Museum.
Where are my minions you ask?
Napoleon and Hef sat this one out since there was a lot of research in buildings that don't allow dogs.
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