Lincoln's Frock Coat

[ReignetteC]

I am pleased to share that my new book, Lincoln's Frock Coat: The Enduring Mystery of an Assassination Relic is now available.

Building on the foundation of my earlier work, Lincoln’s Greatcoat, this new volume dives into a long-standing historical debate over three black frock coats given away by Mary Lincoln following the assassination. While all three have been historically claimed as the President’s "death raiment," this book seeks to solve the mystery of which garment is the true relic of that fateful night. 

Moving beyond the anecdotal claims of White House servants, this investigation prioritizes the forensic evidence found in the written accounts of the two army surgeons (Leale and Taft) who treated Lincoln at the crime scene. Their professional reports provide the vital clues necessary to identify the garment that bears the physical evidence of the fatal wound.

[RJNorton]

Congratulations, Reignette!

[Steve]

Yes congratulations, Reignette!

I saw your interview with Dave Taylor and it was great!

https://lincolnconspirators.com/2026/01/...e-chilton/

I ordered a copy of your book

[jbarry]

Congrats, Reignette! Great interview with Dave. I just ordered your book!

[ReignetteC]

"Thanks, everyone!

I feel that the evidence set forth in my new book proves that the black suit on display in Ford's Theatre is not the suit he wore on the fateful evening of April 14, 1865. Dr. Leale, the first physician on the scene, ordered Lincoln's clothing "cut from the neck to the elbow."

In fact, Leale reiterated his order in several written reports of the deadly scene that spanned a period of 44 years. He even reiterated it when he sat for an interview with a reporter from the New York World the day after President Garfield was shot.

Dr. Charles Sabin Taft noted in his medical journal that, when we arrived in the box, he observed the President's "bare left shoulder."

1. The suit on display at Ford's Theatre does not evince Dr. Leale's order. However. the black greatcoat (overcoat) which the NPS also acquired does evince the damage.
2. The black frock coat, which has been in storage since historian Paul Angle removed it from display at the Chicago Historical Society in 1949, evinces the damage.

As a press headline presciently noted in 1924: "Lincoln Wore Two Coats When Slain." And they are in two places: Washington D.C. and Chicago
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[Anita]

Great sleuthing Reignette! Looking forward to reading your new book and your interview with Dave Taylor.

[J. Beckert]

A great piece of research, Reignette. I've never seen any evidence of a cut frock coat so can we assume it's lost to history?

[ReignetteC]

(03-07-2026 11:32 PM)J. Beckert Wrote:  A great piece of research, Reignette. I've never seen any evidence of a cut frock coat so can we assume it's lost to history?

The "cut" frock coat exists. It's in storage at the Chicago History Museum.