Chapter 81: Abe Reaches Home and His Deserved Resting Place

The journey home covers 1645 miles and retraces the stops to DC made in 1861. Along the way a total of eleven ceremonies are held, each attended by large crowds. On May 3, the train pulls into Springfield, a town of 13,000 swelled to over 100,000 by those intent on paying their respects. For 24 hours the open casket lies in the market square at the Representative’s Hall, the place where he delivered his famous “House Divided” speech.

At 11:30pm on a sunny 82 degree May 4 the two and one-half mile procession from town to Oak Ridge Cemetery gets underway. It is led by military units from eight Divisions headed by General Joseph Hooker. The hearse carrying the casket is third in line, surrounded by clergymen, pall bearers, Lincoln’s shrouded horse, “Old Bob,” and son Robert, the only family member in attendance since Mary and Tad remain in DC. En route, it passes by the crepe-decorated family home where neighbors and friend have been gathering.

By 1:00 the procession arrives at the cemetery where bleachers are set up to view the final proceedings which include prayers and music performed by a 130 member choir. This ends around 3:00 and the casket is then placed inside a limestone vault carved into the side of a hill where Willie Lincoln’s body already rests. The vault is shuttered with iron grating and two soldier are left as honor guards.

A final 36 gun salute marks the end of the day.