ryanbp

Such an odd, odd little story. Did I say odd? I first encountered the book “Stealing Lincoln’s Body” in the gift shop at Gettysburg on a vacation a couple of years ago. Such a curious story but running low on money, I didn’t buy it. This is the 200th anniversary of Lincoln’s birth and remembering the book, I found and bought a copy. “Stealing Lincoln’s Body” begins with his death on April 15, 1865 and follows the saga of his body. It seems he did not go home to Illinois to rest in peace. The R.I.P. took awhile. Our 16th president may have survived the turmoil of governing the Union during the Civil War but Mr. Lincoln’s ordeal wasn’t quite over. Honest Abe’s mortal remains did not find a secure, final resting place until 1901, 36 years after his assassination in Ford’s Theatre. Surprisingly, there was a period of 11 years when only the nine members of a secret society knew where Lincoln's body was hidden. This is a macabre little known story of American history. A story of hapless con men, crooks, counterfeiters and a small group of honest folks trying to do the right thing and protect the Lincoln family from any more torment. Hat's off to author Thomas J. Craughwell. Well researched and written. Fascinating, but did I say odd?

2023-07-28 14:44