On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth carried out the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre, an act that forever entwined with the 16th president’s legacy. This sorrowful moment occurred soon after the American Civil War had ended, a turbulent period in the country’s past. Notably, Lincoln had a number of odd items in his pockets at the time of his death.
Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War
The assassination of Abraham Lincoln remains one of the most notable events in US history. The president had helped lead the nation through the turbulent American Civil War, a time of unparalleled difficulty, and was well loved, especially by the African-American community for his large role in the abolition of slavery.
John Wilkes Booth snuck up behind the US president
While attending a play at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC, with his wife, Mary Todd, Abraham Lincoln was completely engrossed in the show, unaware of the approaching danger from his assassin, John Wilkes Booth. Booth, known for his prominent stage career, had managed to slip into the president’s box undetected.
The assassination that shook the United States
Seizing the moment, John Wilkes Booth quietly came up behind Abraham Lincoln, catching him completely off guard. He fired a single shot from a .44-caliber Derringer pistol into the back of the president’s head, then daringly escaped from the theater and fled on horseback. By the next morning, Lincoln was declared dead, bringing a tragic conclusion to the life of one of America’s most revered presidents at the age of 56.
Ordinary items were found in Abraham Lincoln’s pockets
Although Abraham Lincoln’s assassination had a monumental impact on American history, there’s a fascinating yet mundane detail in the items discovered in his pockets at the time of his death. Among these were a small pocket knife, two pairs of glasses, and a pocket watch fob. Additionally, he carried a leather wallet and a linen handkerchief embroidered with “A. Lincoln” in red.
Notably, one of the pairs of glasses showed signs of a minor repair done by the president himself.
What else was found in Abraham Lincoln’s pockets?
Aside from his usual possessions, Abraham Lincoln had a collection of newspaper clippings featuring praise about himself. However, the most fascinating item he had that evening was a $5.00 Confederate bill discovered in his wallet.
Theory surrounding the $5.00 Confederate bill
The presence of enemy currency raises questions as to why the president would carry such an item. While the answer is unknown, researchers at the Library of Congress propose a theory.Clark Evans, the head of Reference Services in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division, suggests:
“We don’t know with one hundred percent certainty but just a few days earlier, Richmond had fallen, and Lincoln did actually travel to Richmond and this was likely passed onto him as a souvenir.”
Preserving the items found in Abraham Lincoln’s pockets
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The remarkable preservation of the possessions carried by Abraham Lincoln on the night of his assassination is incredible. After his death, the items were entrusted to his eldest son, Robert, and remained in the family’s possession for the next seven decades. Today, these invaluable artifacts can be viewed at the Library of Congress.
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