One
hundred fifty years ago this week, President Lincoln’s funeral train was making
stops across the country as it bore the slain president’s body back to the city
he loved: Springfield Illinois.
The
“Lincoln Special” traveled 1,654 miles across the country from April 21, 1865
when the President’s body left Washington D.C. until its final arrival in
Springfield, Illinois on May 4th.  |
| Original Route |
The
original train stopped in 180 cities and towns throughout seven states in order
to give the country a chance to mourn Lincoln’s passing. At each stop, his
coffin was removed from the train and lay in state for public viewing. The
train traveled the reverse route Lincoln had taken when he left Springfield to
take his place as President of the United States in 1861.
 |
| A Nation Mourns |
Lincoln’s
train pulled in to the Springfield depot on Wednesday, May 3rd. The
next day, Lincoln, along with the remains of his son Willie, who had died of
typhoid fever in 1862, were interred in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
To
commemorate this historic event, this week, a replica of the funeral train has
recreated the journey from Washington D.C. to stops in 15 cities and town
before arriving in Springfield today, May 1st.  |
| Original Hearse Procession |
This
weekend, several events are planned. Tomorrow, May 2nd, a re-enactment
of the hearse procession will travel from the depot to the old Illinois State
House for the opening ceremonies. The day will conclude with civil war-era band
concerts and a candlelight vigil to be held throughout the night at the State
House grounds.
The
historic procession to the cemetery will be held on Sunday, May 3rd
accompanied by re-enactors from around the country. The same eulogy, speeches
and salutes will be given once again in Oak Ridge Cemetery, along with the
original music played at the ceremony in 1865.
What
fitting tributes for a President whose death had the effect of pulling the
nation back together after a bitter war that had ripped the nation apart.
~
Joy
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