Lincoln Discussion Symposium

Found these great photos of Maj. Eckert in LOC.

Do you know the circumstances of the photo of him with the hat?

Since we refer to him so much as Major Eckert, a bit surprised to see him not in uniform
(they are great photo's.....thanks John)

let's try logic, to account for the hat. He must be out of the service, attending a veteran's outing. He has a chair, even though it be a folding type. He has a chair because he is being honored. Since he is a special guest, he came "Formal". (Suit and hat) The rest didn't even have jackets. Their casual appearance suggests that the gathering is outdoor, and not too long after he war - since the gray hair dosen't show until the next pic. That looks like poisen Ivy by his left shoe.

LOC says 1864 Petersburg. Its of Eckert and others from Telegraph out in the field.

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Here's the group photo. I believe the man seated to the far right is David Homer Bates but I'm not certain. I'll include a closeup for opinions.

Great photos, John!

Thanks a bunch -- and I think that you're right about Bates.....

I've seen that photo of Eckert in Petersburg before. Get a load of that ring on his finger! Looks like a huge intaglio - which would double for brass knuckles!

Great photos of Bates, also. Love the ambro.

Great pictures. Feb. 2012 I was at the LOC when they were digitizing Bates' diaries. He wrote an amazing account of being in the telegraph office on Saturday 4?15 and getting the news. The diary exhibits great detail and humanity.

As for the pinky ring on Eckert, he was the MAC DADDY!

I had seen an enhancement of the Petersburg one before also and almost jumped out of my seat. He was a dead ringer for a former docent at Surratt House.

Mystery solved! He is wearing Powell's hat and boots!

The hat Eckert is wearing in the Petersburg photo IS very similar to the sailor straw which Powell wore on the gallows....

Great photos!