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War History Online
What Was Abraham Lincoln Carrying in His Pockets The Night of His Death?
By Jesse Beckett,
2024-07-31
On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth executed the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, an act that would forever be connected to the 16th president in history. This tragic event occurred just after the end of the American Civil War, a tumultuous period in the nation's past. Interestingly, at the time of his death, Lincoln had several unusual objects in his pockets.
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
Taking advantage of the opportunity, John Wilkes Booth approached Abraham Lincoln from behind, surprising him unexpectedly. He discharged a single round into the back of the president’s head using a .44-caliber Derringer pistol, then made a bold getaway from the theater, fleeing on horseback. By the following morning, Lincoln was pronounced dead, marking a sorrowful end for one of America's most esteemed presidents at the age of 56.
Ordinary items were found in Abraham Lincoln's pockets
Although Abraham Lincoln's assassination left a lasting impact on American history, a curious yet ordinary aspect lies in the items found in the president's 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 bearing his name "A. Lincoln" in red letters.
Notably, one of the pairs of glasses showed signs of a minor repair personally done by the president.
What else was found in Abraham Lincoln's pockets?
Beyond the ordinary belongings, Abraham Lincoln possessed a collection of newspaper clippings containing commendations about himself. Perhaps the most intriguing item in his possession that night, however, was a $5.00 Confederate bill that was found 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
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.
A confession that he betrayed the constitution. He had no legal authority to use force prevent a state from withdrawing from the voluntary union of sovereign independent states that the founders created. And that to get around this problem, he deliberately provoked an illegal war that killed a million people. And that he should be executed for what he did.
Terry Jones
08-04
It was a counterfired bill made by the US treasury ,the idea was to flood the south with fake money and bankrupt them and devaluate it ,that is my theory !
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