Is This Abraham Lincoln?

[L Verge]

I am stretching my feeble memory right now, and my books are at the office, but I believe that the permission to take the photo was given by one of Stanton's chosen few - an officer with the last name of Townsend - first name maybe Edward??? I don't think I'm confusing that with GATH. Check American Brutus because for some reason I'm thinking Mike Kauffman gives the information in either a chapter or in one of his fantastic endnotes.

---

I remembered correctly. http://www.businessinsider.com/the-last-...oln-2015-4 You will need to turn off any ad-blocker you have on your computer in order to read the whole article, but if you are a fast reader, the info is in the first two paragraphs before the site catches you.

Bvt. Major General Edward Davis Townsend, who is the man standing to the right of the coffin, gave permission for Gurney to take his photos just before the doors opened for the public viewing. Townsend was a graduate of West Point and had served in the army for years, was part of the Lincoln honor guard, was a member of the Adjutant General's Office, and was the grandson of former Vice President of the U.S. Eldridge Gerry. I would imagine that the latter distinction would have given him a little political clout when it came to answering to Stanton...

Google the General to see other photos that help to identify him in the death photo.