The tragical procession

[loetar44]

Anita wrote:

See the entire article at http://articles.herald-mail.com/2007-01-...al-library

How reliable is this all? The article says: ´ The coffin was loaded back onto the hearse April 17 and taken to the train station, according to Allebaugh's writings. The train took Lincoln to be buried in Springfield, Ill.”

However until April 18 President Lincoln lay in state in the East Room and on April 19 his body was brought to the Capitol Rotunda in an impressive procession. The funeral car then was large. The lower base was fourteen feet long and seven feet wide, and eight feet from the ground. The upper base, upon which the coffin rested, was eleven feet long and five feet below the top of the canopy. The canopy was surmounted by a gilt eagle, covered with crape. The hearse was entirely covered with cloth, velvet, crape and alpaca. The seat was covered with cloth, and on each side was a splendid lamp. The car was fifteen feet high, and the coffin was so placed as to afford a full view to all spectators. It was drawn by six gray horses, each attended by a groom (source New York Times).

Here are two images:

       

Maybe "Allebaugh's hearse" was used in the morning of April 21 when the body was taken from the Capitol Rotunda to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Depot in Washington, D.C.

And in reference to 15 april (Petersen's House --> White House) we still have the account of Noah Brooks: "..... It was headed by a group of army officers walking bareheaded, and behind them carried tenderly by a company of soldiers was the bier of the dead President, covered with the flag of the Union, and accompanied by an escort of soldiers who had been on duty at the house where Lincoln died. "