[LINCOLN (Abraham, 1809-1865, 16th President of the U.S.A., Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth)]

Reproduction of Dr Melvin's printed card inviting him to "to accompany the remains of the late President Abraham Lincoln from the City of Washington to Springfield, Illinois .." issued by the War Department, adjutant General's Office, 4" x 3½", Washington, 20th April laid down on black card, top right hand corner missing not affecting the card

Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on Good Friday, April 14, 1865, while attending a play at Ford's Theatre as the American Civil War was drawing to a close. The assassination occurred five days after the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Booth was a well-known actor and a Confederate spy from Maryland, though he never joined the Confederate army, he had contacts with the Confederate secret service.
For his final journey with his son Willie, his casket was transported in the executive coach "United States" and for three weeks the Lincoln Special funeral train decorated in black bunting bore Lincoln's remains on a slow circuitous journey from Washington D.C. to Springfield, Illinois, stopping at many cities across the North for large-scale memorials attended by hundreds of thousands, as well as many people who gathered in informal trackside tributes with bands, bonfires, and hymn singing or silent reverence with hat in hand as the railway procession slowly passed by.
Dr S. H. Melvin, was a pharmacist and friend of Abraham Lincoln, was one of 15 original directors of the National Lincoln Monument Association.

Item Date:  1865

Stock No:  38786      £275

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