Lincoln’s Legacy: Historic Americana from the Life of Abraham Lincoln

Small rectangular fragment from the shirt that Abraham Lincoln wore on 14 April 1865 at Ford's Theatre, sewn onto first page of accompanying letter, measuring approximately 4 x 1 1/2 in. (102 x 38 mm); with autograph letter, signed ("Mose Sandford") to John Beatty, 4 pp.; 9 3/4 x 7 3/4 in. (247 x 197 mm); with original envelope; minor soiling to letter.

"I ALSO SEND YOU ENCLOSED...A PIECE OF THE SHIRT BOSOM WORN BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE NIGHT OF HIS MURDER AND REMAINED ON HIM UNTIL HE DIED..."

Three and a half blocks away from Ford's Theatre was Grover's Theatre, which on April 14 hosted a performance of Aladdin! or His Wonderful Lamp. Shortly after the assassination, the theater's manager stopped the show and announced the news to a stunned audience. Among them was Tad Lincoln, who leapt to his feet and began screaming, "They killed Papa! They killed Papa!" He then took off in a run, was quickly caught, and was escorted back to the White House. 

Also in attendance was Mose Sandford, a carpenter employed by the War Department. He was among the crowd that immediately headed to Ford's Theatre in the hope of getting a glimpse of the excitement. In his letter that accompanies this lot, Sandford claims to have witnessed Lincoln being carried out of the theater, writing, "I made straight for Fords and such another excighted (sic) crowd I never before whitnessed (sic) I asked who did it and was informed Wilkes Booth they were just bringing the President out when I arrived on the spot..."

Immediately after Lincoln died, General Daniel H. Rucker (1812-1910) ordered Sandford to build "a Common pine box made to bring him 10th St to the White House in after they arrived at the House they cut clothes off of him and threw them in the Box we made and sent the Box back to the shop for safe keeping it was placed in my charge in my room the Hardware Department."

Sandford next describes that, "Just as soon as the coast was clear I unscrewed the lid and went through the Ward Robe for relics, I found on one of the Sleeves of his Shirt one of his sleeve Buttons Black enameled trimed (sic) with gold and the letter L on the out side with A.L underneath that I sent to the Sect of War the Bosom of his Shirt was the Next thing which met my Eye as it had considerable Blood upon it so I Just confescated (sic) the whole of it the piece I send You and another about the Same size is all I have left the Nec[k] (sic) tie I wouldnt part with under any consideration I have taken all the Screws out of the Box which wer[e] (sic) turned down on him from 10th St to his house and have put others in their place, I will give you one when I come Home..." He then tells Beatty, "dont forget to give Tom and Billy a piece of it ('Shirt Bosom')".

The remainder of the materials were sealed back into the pine box by Sandford and were later returned to the White House; many were distributed by Mary Todd Lincoln to friends and loyal aides, including White House doorman Alphonse Dunn, to whom Mary gifted Lincoln's coat, boots, and trousers.

A fascinating and highly revealing letter regarding the aftermath of Lincoln's assassination.

Exhibition: 

The Last Best Hope of Earth: Abraham Lincoln and the Promise of America, at the Huntington Library, October 1993-August 1994

Blood on the Moon, at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, 19 April-16 October 2005