Tuesday I missed my massage appointment. It must have been the stress of the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Lincoln Funeral. I forfeited the $15. I'm loosing my mind. I was hungry and had breakfast outside of Chatham because our water is still not safe until the next day. I came home and noticed Sophie had pink paws. She scratched paint on my door.
Wednesday, our exercise instructor announced she was pregnant. In evening I went to the unveiling of the Lincoln Funeral Hearse built by veterans in California and finished in Arizona. The unveiling was more like opening the door of the Mayflower Truck.
The slide show and music and veterans brought tears to my eyes. There was a display of this special 2015 print of Lincoln reading to slave children but there was so much more going on in that picture.

Thursday, after Yoga, I went to Lincoln Park to register for the reenactment of the Lincoln Funeral at Lincoln Park. I brought my dog since she will be without me over the weekend.

I then stopped by the Old State Capitol to pick up my mauve braid dress that had been altered. I wore it on Saturday and Sunday but Friday I wore my brown brocade for tours and the retreat ceremony at the Lincoln Tomb. I felt honored to share our local history with other reenactors near and far. It's a great compliment when another reenactor says they loved my impression. Afterward I went to the Lincoln Tomb. Before the retreat ceremony, I was among the members of the Lincoln Monument Association Directors to speak. I read a poem:

The Martyr

By Herman Melville

Indicative of the passion of the people
on the 15th of April, 1865

Good Friday was the day

Of the prodigy and crime,

When they killed him in his pity,

When they killed him in his prime

Of clemency and calm—

When with yearning he was filled

To redeem the evil-willed,

And, though conqueror, be kind;

But they killed him in his kindness,

In their madness and their blindness,

And they killed him from behind.

There is sobbing of the strong,

And a pall upon the land;

But the People in their weeping

Bare the iron hand:

Beware the People weeping

When they bare the iron hand.

He lieth in his blood—

The father in his face;

They have killed him, the Forgiver—

The Avenger takes his place,

The Avenger wisely stern,

Who in righteousness shall do

What heavens call him to,

And the parricides remand;

For they killed him in his kindness,

In their madness and their blindness.

And his blood is on their hand.

There is sobbing of the strong,

And a pall upon the land;

But the People in their weeping

Bare the iron hand:

Beware the People weeping

When they bare the iron hand.

It was not my first choice but it was shorter than Lincoln's favorite poem that he had memorized.
I knew that Saturday was going to be a long day so I asked the neighbors to take Sophie in. I told them I would leave her tied in front at 7:30 and to bring her to their house. I told them I'd be home late and just to put her over the fence at the end of the day (she has a doggie door flap). She was in the window when I came home as always.

Saturday I walked in the solemn procession for Lincoln's funeral from the train station to the Old State Capitol where the coffin was displayed for 24 hours. We waited at the train station for an Amtrack to pass and then a freight train too. The reenactors waved to the passengers and I then they got a kick out of us. This was a short procession only a few blocks so there were many there.

Dave Bakke: Lincoln hearse nearly missed the ceremony

Soldiers stood guard but in the evening, rain threatened the delicate coffin and hearse. They had to be moved. Well, it rained on the original funeral however the original viewing was inside the Old State Capitol too. State would not allow it and the resulting overtime and manpower needed.
Threat of rain adjusts vigil plans

More photos here. The vigil resumed.

In the evening I went to a banquet and viewing of the the recreated funeral car. Early registrants got a pin.

Since the group that I was registered with included a "Mixed camp" of reenactors that were local, or tenting in partial period, that meant that we would be among the FARBS. One lady in charge asked a few of us, very politely, if we would walk near the curb to cover them or corral the lesser dressed towards the center from photographers. One lady dressed in black was of Asian descent and her friend photographer followed her along the procession for blocks. I did not see her in the end of the full 3.8 miles walk. A couple of other young ladies were what we refereed to as clowns in their bright colors. Although Richard Hart said on C-SPAN that it was a mile and a half, that was as the crow flies. We by-passed the Lincoln Home. As the hearse approached the home, you could have heard a pin drop. Quiet...not a whisper...reverence. During the procession, Kathrine Harris wispered a thank you to those walking and introduced herself as a member of the coalition directors and that without us this would not have been possible. You can see me in the C-SPAN video at 2:40 crossing behind the interview. Here I am with Miss Jenny.

Here I am following Miss Peggy in the long procession.

at the cemetery with Miss Ingram:

Above photo clipped from this photo set:
http://tgdavison-photography.smugmug.com/Re-enactments/Civil-War/150th-Lincoln-Funeral-Event/i-4b9VfQ5
I looked at the ground solemnly most of the time but I did pay attention to the veterans groups that lined the route with their post colors: American Legion Post 809 (this is mostly an African American post), American Legion Post 32, Italian American War Veterans and the Patriot Guard Riders. Old Bob walks past Post 809 colors.

Patriot Guard Riders honor our fallen president:

Pall bearers: The young man we included among the honorary pallbearers in this case is not historically accurate. Will Polston of Minneapolis, MN, is a direct male descendant of John Todd Stuart. His father is marching beside him. We chose to include both of them in period attire because we had hoped to include all male descendants of the original pallbearers in this historical event. Will's lineage is traced through his mother. Will's mom marched the full processional route herself on Sunday; however, it wouldn't have been appropriate to allow her to serve in the all-male group. As a historian and as co-chair of this event, we made this exception in the interest of providing young Will, who loves history and his family's heritage, to experience a bit of what his ancestor felt in 1865. To my eye, we also could have cast him in the role of Tad Lincoln; however, Tad didn't come from DC with Robert for the Springfield funeral.

The young man was portraying Robert Todd Lincoln.

He was accompanied by Elizabeth Todd Grimsley, who was one of Mary's sister. The little boy was with one of the horse people so, I don't know. He just appeared on the rumble seat on Sunday because he wasn't there on Saturday.
As we came near Edwards Place, we stopped. Being at the end of the procession with Clear Lake (Civilian Mixed Camp), we didn't know why we were stopped. Someone came by to tell us that the plumes on the hearse did not clear the branches on the trees and had to make an adjustment. I found a moment to sit.

I knew I was close the gate of Oak Ridge but some of the out-of-town reenactors looked to me for nearness of the end. There is a bond among reenactors since I've attended many Civil War reenactments. Including events with Miss Jenny (above) from Iowa. It was my duty to help them feel welcome in Springfield. My son snapped this near the gate to the cemetery. It is such a beautiful section of Springfield so it is no wonder that Mary choose Oak Ridge to bury her husband under much controversy.

After we got to the cemetery, there was a reserved area for the reenactors. As I went through the gate, I was greeted by Governor and Mrs Rauner. As tired as I was, a kind band member offered me a chair in the shade. That was even better than the water passed around. Afterward, reenactors went to the vault lined with the descendants of pall bears to bow by the gate in respect. I hope it was not out of character for my period women's impression to render a military salute at Lincoln's receiving vault.