"Departure of the Remains" Obsequies of Abraham Lincoln, NYC.
This print was originally on page 150 of the Obsequies of Abraham Lincoln, in the City of NewYork, published in 1866 by the Common Council of the City of New York. It is a view of the Lincoln funeral train, "Lincoln Special," as it departs from the Erie Railroad Depot in Jersey City, New Jersey, on the afternoon of 25 April 1865. The funeral locomotive pulled nine cars, which included a luggage car and a car serving as a hearse. Eight of the cars were those normally used on the railways over which the remains were transported. The ninth car, which had been Lincoln's official presidential carand containing a parlor, sitting room, and sleeping apartment, had been draped in mourning and contained the coffins of Lincoln and his son, Willie.

The United States depicted flag floating above the depot at half-staff is preserved as ZFC0616, a colossal 30' X 43', wool, 35 star flag, and the largest surviving Civil War era flag. Previously, it had floated over the station from which so many New York troops had left for the war.

Shortly after 4 p.m. on the 25th of April, the funeral train departed for Albany, the state capital and next stop on the funeral train itinerary. The "Lincoln Special" would make the 141 miles to Albany by winding its way up the Hudson River Valley slowly, but without stopping, so that additional mourners lining the route could pay their respects

The Obsequies of Abraham Lincoln, in the City of New York, the volume from which this print derives, was a printed record of the city's Lincoln funeral services and eulogies published in bound volumes for distribution by the Common Council of New York to libraries, schools and other institutions. The volume's release was opposed and vetoed by the Democratic Mayor of New York City, C. Godfry Gunther, who was, in turn, overridden by the New York Board of Aldermen and Councilmen

Provenance - Acquired at auction 1996.

ZFC Significant Flag