Materials of the Martyr: Items That Lincoln Carried the Night That He Was Shot
Abraham Lincoln was one of the most iconic presidents in American history, having led the nation through the Civil War. Part of the legacy of Lincoln was the drama and the sorrow that surrounded his assassination. His death sent the nation into mourning and all but doomed the efforts in Reconstruction during the succeeding Johnson and Grant administrations. On that fateful night of April 14, 1865, Lincoln departed for Ford’s Theater to see a production of Our American Cousin with the First Lady and two guests at DC’s Ford’s Theater. Later that evening, Lincoln would later be shot in the head by actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth. He would die later the next morning in the Petersen House, across the street from Ford’s Theater. Upon Lincoln’s death and autopsy, those in attendance performed an autopsy of sorts on his pockets, preserving the materials that the 16th President kept on his person. Lincoln’s valuables were given to his eldest son, Robert Todd Lincoln, who later passed them down to Mary “Mamie” Lincoln Isham. She donated them to the Library of Congress in 1937.
The remained unexamined until February 1976, when then-Librarian of Congress Daniel Boorstin revealed the contents to the public, on his 167 birthday. Today, the items are retained in the special collections of the Library of Congress and are only made available on special occasions. Within President Lincoln’s pockets that night were some unique items that illustrated Lincoln’s personality and the moment that the United States was experiencing.
The Confederate Five Dollar Bill
The most curious of Lincoln’s possessions on that fateful evening was a $5 Confederate note tucked into his bill fold. AS “Father Abraham” of the Union it might seem odd for Lincoln to carry a symbol of the group that tried to destroy the Union that he gave his life to preserve. However, this makes sense in the context of the moment. Though it has never been established, many have theorized that Lincoln received the note on his recent trip to Richmond on April 4. Lincoln likely kept the $5 bill as a souvenir of American history and all he had achieved. Notably, Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address stressed the reunification of the Union and reconciliation. He pushed for “malice toward none; with charity for all..” By keeping this symbol of the Confederacy, Lincoln might have symbolized this spirit of forgiveness and reunion.
The Confederate currency that Lincoln had on his person when he was killed.
Two Pairs of Spectacles
Amongst the many personas and roles that Lincoln played, one of the most poignant was gifted orator and statesman. As was such, Lincoln was forced to read many documents: speeches, letters, military briefs. As the war dragged on and he got older, his eyesight deteriorated. It should come as no surprise then that Lincoln carried with him two pairs of spectacles: one conventional pair and one folding pair. One of the pairs was even repaired by Lincoln using a simple piece of string. The simple and personal fix to his glasses is iconic for the “Railsplitter President.” The thrifty nature of Lincoln’s string fix, as opposed to a professional alteration, reflects his roots as a simple heir to a family of homesteaders in Kentucky; he also worked as a railsplitter. It served as testament to his folk roots and spirit of innovation.
A close-up on one of the two pairs of glasses that President Lincoln had on his person when he was shot. If you look closely, you can see that “A. Lincoln” is engraved on the temple of the glasses right next to the string which Lincoln had used to repair them.
A Pocket Knife
Among Lincoln’s possessions was a pocket knife. Though not much is known about why Lincoln carried the knife, chief of the Library of Congress’ Rare Book and Special Collections division, Mark Dimunation speculated that the knife was used to tighten and repair his glasses. However, it could have easily been used to aid Lincoln in one of his favorite pastimes: whittling. As a lawyer, Lincoln often whittled during court cases, rarely taking the time to take down notes.
Lincoln’s pocketknife which historians have speculated might have been used to fix his glasses or to whittle.
Newspaper Clippings
Alongside Lincoln’s Confederate note in his silk-lined wallet were several newspaper clippings. Some of these clippings dated back to 1863. For Lincoln, these clippings tracked the war and gave him a confidence boost. Two articles discussed the passage of a state constitution in Missouri, which called for the emancipation of enslaved black people. Other clippings included passages from disgruntled rebels writing of their frustration with Jefferson Davis. The ones that buoyed Lincoln’s spirits the most were the ones that discussed Sherman’s “March to the Sea”, which guaranteed Lincoln's victory in the 1864 election. The other smattering of clippings expressed the joy and relief that many Americans felt in having Lincoln remain as their executive.
Other items on Lincoln included a white handkerchief with a red “A. Lincoln” embroidered on it, a gold watch fob (a common accessory for a gentleman of the time), and a shirt cufflink engraved with the letter “L.”
Lincoln’s handkerchief which was monogrammed with his name.
Lincoln’s pockets also contained this gold watch fob. Watch fobs were common accessories from when men would carry pocket watches. They were small ornaments that were attached to the end of a pocket watch’s chain — Lincoln’s appears to have been purely decorative although watch fobs could have been practical as well.
Lincoln’s cuff link, on which the letter “L” was engraved, was also in his pockets when he was shot.
That morning on April 15th left the nation in mourning. The man that the nation had grown to love was struck down before he could finish his mission. The road to accomplishing Lincoln’s goal of reunification and peace was to be long and arduous. In many ways we still struggle with the “Unfinished Revolution” of Reconstruction today. These few items provide a tangible link to Lincoln life and the nation he left behind.
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