Mystery and speculation have been associated with the assassination of Abraham Lincoln for more than a century. Here is a thorough documentation, based on 30 years of research, of the activities and struggles of the President during his last day, along with events leading up to the assassination. Eyewitness accounts, never-before-published facts, Booth’s activities on April 14, the reaction of the city, physician’s efforts—and many other factors large and small are covered.
A four-part appendix explains still unresolved mysteries surrounding this fascinating historical event. Photos are generally the rare and the little-seen, including a few never before published.

The late W. Emerson Reck was vice president of Wittenberg University (Springfield, Ohio), and a historical writer for American History Illustrated, the Lincoln Herald and Blue and Gray.

W. Emerson Reck
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 240
Bibliographic Info: 54 photos, references, appendix, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2006 [1987]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-2853-3
Imprint: McFarland

Preface      1

1. “He Was Full of Hope and Happiness”      7
2. Visitors Note His “Exuberant Mood”      19
3. “There Must Be No Bloody Work”      31
4. Urgent Business, but Time for Good Deeds      41
5. “I Never Saw Him So Supremely Cheerful”      47
6. Reluctantly He Starts for the Theatre      53
7. The Stage Is Set for Murder      63
8. Lincoln’s Guard Leaves His Post      81
9. Tragedy Strikes, Mary’s Hand in His      89
10. “It Is Impossible for Him to Recover”      113
11. “Now He Belongs to the Ages”      127

Appendix: Some Unsolved Mysteries      161
1. Eli K. Price and His $500 Check      161
2. The Guard with a Shoddy Record      162
3. Light on the Missing Dispatch      165
4. Course of the Ball, Still Undetermined      167

Notes      171
Bibliography      199
Index      223

“painstakingly re-creates Lincoln’s every movement as well as that of his murderer”—Booklist; “recommended”—Choice; “sweeps readers along”—School Library Journal; “highly readable”—VOYA.