The Lincoln Funeral

Photographs are the strength of this book; the text is less important and sometimes amateurish.The author, who knows much about trains of the 1860s, is not so sure a guide as to the politics of the era.While there is a bibliography, footnotes are not given to show specific source material for factual assertions.

I buy many books on Lincoln. There are great pictures. I wonder about funerals years ago before planes. it was touching in the way people showed their sorrow all over the country. it made me think of when Jfks funeral and how beautiful it was. I recommend it.

It's amazing how much I learned. Never realized how much work, effort went into the travel home for President Lincoln. Well written and loved the photo's.

Excellent

Wonderful, detailed info about the time right before and after Lincoln's death, a difficult era in US history.

Probably ok for the Lincoln greenhorn, but kind of a rehash of everything a longtime Lincoln reader has already read. "TWENTY DAYS' is still the best.

I was not familiar with the author, Michael Leavy, before reading The Lincoln Train, and without question, he has delivered a superb book, “An Illustrated History,” as he sub-titled it. This extremely well-written book shines for several reasons.First, the photographs and illustrations are in abundance throughout the volume and really enhance and bring to life the related text. Nearly all of them are credited to the Library of Congress and the Author’s collection. His collection must be immense if what is presented in the book is a representative sample. The history of Lincoln’s extended funeral and the train that carried his remains from Washington back to Springfield is covered in the many biographies of the late President. In this book, you receive an up-close examination of the entire twenty-plus day affair, from the assassination to burial in Springfield. The photos include scenes from all the cities the train stopped at with the huge gatherings of mourners. The text takes you through the 1645-mile trip from Washington, Baltimore, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, New York, Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland, Columbus, Indianapolis, Chicago, and finally, Springfield. There are also photos of gatherings of mourners at locations the train did not stop and scenes from the many small towns passed by the train with crowds gathered to pay respects from small towns and villages.Second, the book contains much more detail of the events surrounding the nation’s mourning and efforts to give Lincoln a fitting farewell. Even readers who have read about Lincoln extensively will find new material here. Leavy includes speculation of how Lincoln might have fared with the same wounds with modern day medicine. Leavy feels that he most likely would have died even today, but with quick transport to a trauma center, he might have survived. “He most likely would end up unstable on his feet, blind in his right eve, numb in parts of his body, incapable of clear thinking and possibly, after rehabilitation, able to speak to some extent.” Nowhere had I read of speculation of how Lincoln’s chances might have been for survival with modern medical technology.Leavy is especially well qualified to author a book with this scope of interest. He is a self-described historian, professional artist, and railroad historian. Indeed, he has written nine books on railroad history. If we were to look for an author to capture the magnitude of the Lincoln funeral, it would be hard to identify a more ideal individual.The book puts you in the world of 1865 with the ending of the Civil War and the tragic assassination of Lincoln. It presents the events as reflected in the North and the South, in the press, and from the pulpit. It conveys how family member’s lives were altered, how politicians and military leaders reacted, and how freed slaves experienced fear that all their gains would be lost, including the said reality of how reconstruction of the South failed. There is nice follow-up on Mary and Robert Lincoln and their descendants, and the sad fate of Lincoln’s funeral train car, the United States. Lots of material packed into 160 pages; a quick read that will leave you much more knowledgeable and appreciative of this vital event in our nation’s (and world) history. I recommend it without reservation!

I found this to be the best book on Lincoln’s assassination and funeral. It is strange and unforgettable at many levels and cuts right to your heart. The author uses first hand accounts and not historians’ assessments which tend to be agenda driven. The research is amazing, dispelling myths and bringing freshness to the subject. You feel, from the writer’s vivid writing, that he is driven by instinct and a total, fast paced, in your face, grasp of the events. It is an almost savage slice of Americana capable of raising goosebumps! With probably the best photo history of the funeral, it is really two books in one. I was never a train buff but this makes it so interesting I actually Google Earthed parts of the train’s route! In style, the book is not written for scholars. Having no distracting footnotes, it blows all other works out of the water because you believe every word of it. Its as though the author had a divining rod, locating details lost for generations. It is for all Americans interested in this turbulent era. Much of it seems important today. I cannot think about the Civil War and the final tragedy of Lincoln’s assassination the same after reading this bold, honest and touching work. Well done Mr. Leavy!

Très intéressant livre et très belle photo