James Tanner

[Thomas Thorne]

I just finished reading "James Tanner in War and Peace" by James Marten. I had not realized how controversial his advocacy of generous benefits for Union veterans was.

Mr Marten quoted one newspaper which exclaimed "it will be a happy day for the republic when the the last beggar of the Grand Army humbug is securely planted."

I have a question about Tanner's role in the assassination aftermath. Do we we have primary source corroboration of both Tanner's participation as shorthand reporter for Stanton and the DC judges and his presence in the bedroom when Lincoln died?

Tanner's physical disabilities would have made him very conspicuous and his later notoriety would have permitted his critics to claim his account of the assassination to be a fable unless corroborated.

Tom