April 19, 1865 funeral procession

[L Verge]

(12-07-2014 04:51 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  Like Scott, this was new to me, also. I did find it on the Civil War Home Page website.

http://www.civil-war.net/cw_images/files/images/402.jpg

The caption here (#402) says, "Spectators at Side of the Capitol, which is Hung with Crepe and has Flag at Half-Mast - Washington, D.C., May 1865"

There is a sign in the center which I think says Welcome Brave Soldiers (not 100% certain on the wording)

The sign reads Welcome Brave Soldiers to me, also... Like Roger and Scott, this is a new image to me.

[loetar44]

Thank you Scott, Roger and Laurie!

http://deadconfederates.com/2012/12/08/s...nd-review/

Via this link I found the description: “Spectators at side of the Capitol, which is hung with crepe and has flag at half-mast during the Grand Review of the Union Army, May 23-24, 1865. The signboard at lower center reads, “WELCOME BRAVE SOLDIERS.”

Larger version here: http://deadconfederates.files.wordpress....apitol.jpg

And another version here:
http://www.zazzle.com/grand_army_review_...0684874623

Now I wonder, why is the flag at half-mast. I suppose that might be for Lincoln ? The black crepe too ? To drape the Capitol in mourning at the Grand Review does not make sense to me. I agree with Scott that the official mourning period is 30 days, or were there back in 1865 other traditions / rules ?

Here: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/cwp/4a40000/4a...40197r.jpg

the same photo with caption: “The U.S. Capitol, newly constructed in 1860, was draped in black after Lincoln's shocking death.”

Is there written in the right upper corner “8th May”?

   

Who has the answers?

[STS Lincolnite]

I decided to come at this a litte sideways and looked for other pictures of the Union Army Grand review and found some here:

http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004667344/

I think the summary of the photo group (posted below) gives some clues as to the nature of the photo you found Kees.

Summary: The Grand Review of the Union army held in Washington , D.C. Crowds of spectators, some with umbrellas; large groups of mounted soldiers; troops and presidential reviewing stands on Pennsylvania Avenue; the Capitol festooned with crepe and with its flag at half-mast. Includes nine stereographs by E. & H. T. Anthony from Brady negatives.

There is no specific date given (just 1865), but it seems that the Capitol was in fact decorated with crepe and the flag was at half-mast. In thinking on this a little further, the use of crepe and the flag put at half-mast during the grand review may have been considered and used as a show of respect for the Union Armies' comrades who lost their lives during the war. What do you think?

[L Verge]

Is there written in the right upper corner “8th May”?

Who has the answers?

I think that notation in the right upper corner is "No. 748" in reverse...

I don't know why, but I always thought the period of mourning for high officials was set individually by the President or Congress???

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I cannot verify that this was the case at the time of Lincoln's death, but from what I can find out, the sitting President (Andrew Johnson?) would proclaim a 30-day period of official mourning beginning on the day after the death (April 16?). This appears to be the practice to this day.

Found some trivia along the way:

What was the name of the locomotive that pulled Lincoln's funeral cars out of D.C.?

Who was given the first non-presidential state funeral? In what year?

[RJNorton]

Laurie, I found a couple of proclamations from Andrew Johnson:

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Proclamation 129 - Day of Fasting, Humiliation and Mourning for the Death of President Lincoln

April 25, 1865

By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

Whereas, by my direction, the Acting Secretary of State, in a notice to the public of the 17th, requested the various religious denominations to assemble on the 19th instant, on the occasion of the obsequies of Abraham Lincoln, late President of the United States, and to observe the same with appropriate ceremonies; but

Whereas our country has become one great house of mourning, where the head of the family has been taken away, and believing that a special period should be assigned for again humbling ourselves before Almighty God, in order that the bereavement may be sanctified to the nation:

Now, therefore, in order to mitigate that grief on earth which can only be assuaged by communion with the Father in heaven, and in compliance with the wishes of Senators and Representatives in Congress, communicated to me by resolutions adopted at the National Capitol, I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do hereby appoint Thursday, the 25th day of May next, to be observed, wherever in the United States the flag of the country may be respected, as a day of humiliation and mourning, and I recommend my fellow-citizens then to assemble in their respective places of worship, there to unite in solemn service to Almighty God in memory of the good man who has been removed, so that all shall be occupied at the same time in contemplation of his virtues and in sorrow for his sudden and violent end.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, the 25th day of April, A. D. 1865, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-ninth.

ANDREW JOHNSON.

By the President:

W. HUNTER,
Acting Secretary of State.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Proclamation 130 - Postponing the Day of Mourning for the Death of President Lincoln Until June 1

April 29, 1865

By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation

Whereas by my proclamation of the 25th instant Thursday, the 25th day of next month, was recommended as a day for special humiliation and prayer in consequence of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, late President of the United States; but

Whereas my attention has since been called to the fact that the day aforesaid is sacred to large numbers of Christians as one of rejoicing for the ascension of the Savior:

Now, therefore, be it known that I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, do hereby suggest that the religious services recommended as aforesaid should be postponed until Thursday, the 1st day of June next.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 29th day of April, A. D. 1865, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-ninth.

ANDREW JOHNSON.

By the President:

W. HUNTER,
Acting Secretary of State.

[Rogerm]

I am going to take a guess at Laurie's second trivial question and say Daniel Webster. If so, the year would of been around 1852.

[L Verge]

Rogerm - That was my first thought also, but actually (according to the source I read) the 1st non-presidential state funeral occurred after the Civil War.

[Eva Elisabeth]

I just remember Thaddeus Stevens lay in state in the Capitol.

[Jill Mitchell]

I believe the first non-presidential state funeral was for Thaddeus Stevens, in 1868.

[L Verge]

Congratulations to both Eva and Jill for the correct answer - Thaddeus Stevens was the first in 1868.

Now, any takers on what the name of the locomotive was that pulled out of D.C. with the Lincoln funeral car? Hint: Think of an American city.

[Jill Mitchell]

I was reading about the funeral train and its journey just a few days ago. If memory serves, the locomotive was named "Old Nashville."

[RJNorton]

(12-08-2014 01:32 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Now, any taker's on what the name of the locomotive was that pulled out of D.C. with the Lincoln funeral car? Hint: Think of an American city.

According to "The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln The Funeral Train Excerpts from newspapers and other sources" (From the files of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection) there is some debate on this:

WASHINGTON TO BALTIMORE
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad over whose lines the
funeral train first moved has claimed that its famous
engine "Number 23" later called the "William Mason,"
headed the funeral train from Washington to Baltimore.
This engine is the same one which brought Lincoln into
Washington from Baltimore in 1861 and also was used
for part of the Gettysburg trip in 1863. A contemporary
news item states, however, that engine "Number 238"
drew the train and that it was a new locomotive made
at the Mount Clare works. Thomas Beckett was the engi-
neer. "Number 239," the pilot locomotive, was draped in
mourning and William Galloway was the engineer.

http://archive.org/stream/assassinationo...c_djvu.txt

My memory is that the Old Nashville was the one used on the Cleveland to Columbus portion of the route.

[Eva Elisabeth]

(12-08-2014 01:27 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  I just remember Thaddeus Stevens lay in state in the Capitol.

...although Henry Clay did, too. What else is needed (to be exercised) to speak of a state funeral?

[STS Lincolnite]

(12-08-2014 02:05 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  My memory is that the Old Nashville was the one used on the Cleveland to Columbus portion of the route.

I believe there were 42 locomotives that pulled the Lincoln Funeral Train during the course of its journey. I am at work now so don't have references but I believe the old Nashville did pull the train further down the line than when leaving DC - and pretty sure it was in Ohio like Roger said. That particular locomotive is memorable in that there is a great photo of it decked out in mourning decoration (see below).

[loetar44]

(12-08-2014 08:25 AM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:  There is no specific date given (just 1865), but it seems that the Capitol was in fact decorated with crepe and the flag was at half-mast. In thinking on this a little further, the use of crepe and the flag put at half-mast during the grand review may have been considered and used as a show of respect for the Union Armies' comrades who lost their lives during the war. What do you think?

Scott, I think that could be right, it is at least a possibility. But I still suspect it has more to do with Lincoln. A lot of houses still had during the Grand Review crepe decorations, as a "remnant" of Lincoln's funeral.

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(12-08-2014 09:14 AM)L Verge Wrote:  Who was given the first non-presidential state funeral? In what year?

As far as I know, the first state funerals in the capital were those of Vice President George Clinton in April 1812 and Vice President Elbridge Gerry in November 1814. Both funerals stood model for William Henry Harrison’s funeral (the first presidential funeral in the capital). However, the state funeral had not yet the modern prescribed protocol. Henry Clay was in July 1852 the first lying in state in the Capitol Rotunda; Abraham Lincoln the second and Thaddeus Stevens was third, but the second (13-14 August 1868) where the "Lincoln catafalque" was used. The very same catafalque has been used for all those who have since lain in state in the Capitol Rotunda as well as for those who have lain in state elsewhere in the Capitol building. It was used 29 times until now in the Rotunda (the last time in December 2012 for Sen. Daniel K. Inouye), 7 times in the Supreme Court Building and 1 time in the Department of Commerce building.

(12-08-2014 09:14 AM)L Verge Wrote:  What was the name of the locomotive that pulled Lincoln's funeral cars out of D.C.?

The Funeral train left the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Depot in Washington April 21, 1865 at 8:00 A.M. , pulled by engine no. 238, which was a Thatcher Perkins 4-4-0 (= wheel arrangement), built by the B&O in 1865. I think it was named the "Edward H. Jones", because Ralph G. Newman writes in his "In this Sad World of Ours, Sorrow Comes to All": The funeral train, eight coaches trimmed in black and drawn by the engine "Edward H. Jones," pulls out of the station). Sister engine no. 239 was the advance pilot and ran 10 minutes ahead of the train. Behind the 238 were six passenger cars and a baggage car. Then the Funeral car and a business car for the family Lincoln and the military escort. The engineer of the 238 was Thomas Beckett and the Fireman was C.A. Miller. At Harrisburg, PA the engine was changed to PRR No 331. Engineer was John E. Miller. Source: “The President Travels by Train” by Bob Withers (1996)

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(12-08-2014 02:29 PM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:  

(12-08-2014 02:05 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  My memory is that the Old Nashville was the one used on the Cleveland to Columbus portion of the route.

I believe there were 42 locomotives that pulled the Lincoln Funeral Train during the course of its journey. I am at work now so don't have references but I believe the old Nashville did pull the train further down the line than when leaving DC - and pretty sure it was in Ohio like Roger said. That particular locomotive is memorable in that there is a great photo of it decked out in mourning decoration (see below).

Correct! The Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad Engine “(Old) Nashville” was only used to pull the Lincoln Funeral Train from Cleveland to Columbus, Ohio. One can find references in books and on the Internet telling how “Nashville” was the engine that pulled the Lincoln Funeral Train; either directly or by implication leading the reader to incorrectly conclude it was the one and only engine that pulled the Lincoln Funeral Train from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Illinois. Not true. The Lincoln Funeral Train used as many as 42 different locomotives to make the over 1600 mile route from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Illinois.