Lincoln's Magician

[JMadonna]

Good Article in Military Historical Quarterly (MHQ) this month about Harry Cooke an escape artist who entertained the president. Lincoln was so impressed that he appointed him to head the Lincoln Scouts under the direct command of Stanton. His job was to penetrate Confederate lines and file intelligence reports.

He was successful and had many perilous exploits and artful escapes. He was outside the Peterson boarding house when Lincoln died. Stanton let him view the body on the president's death bed.

After the war, he developed techniques for a successful stage career and continually debunked the popular spiritualism movement. He befriended a young Harry Houdini who continued his anti-spiritualism crusade.

Cooke died in 1924 at the age of 80.