Uullrtin ot The Unwin Natlorual Life Found111llon , , • Dr. R. C"rald l'tt"Mu.rt.rr. Editor Publl,h~ ue:h month br '"'" l..i n ~oln ~111ion al l,lfe l n).UMi n Number 1602 Fort Wayne, Indiana August, 1971 Major Rathbone And Miss Harris Gnests of the Lincolns In The Ford's Theatre Box Only for a moment did Major motion. To best relate the assassina and Mrs. Lineoln Miss Harris, and Henry Reed Rathbone and Mi$5 Clara tion of Lincoln through the eyes of the deponent ana1 by no other per H. Harris appear in the tragic scene the Major and his fiancee, their affi sons; the box is entered by passing at Ford's Theatre the evening of April davits as to what transpired, which from the front of the building in 14, 1865. While they had eagerly ac were subscribed and sworn to before the rear of the dress circle to a cepted the Lincolns invitation to at A. B. Olin, Justice of the Supreme small entry or passage-way, about tend the performance of Oto· A1ncri Court, and dated April 17, 1865, fol eight feet of length and four feet can Cousin, they were apparently last low: in width. on the guest list. The President had Affidavit of Major Rathbone invited several other persons_, not.-.bly The passage-way is entered by a General and Mrs. U. S. Grant, that District of Columbia, door, which opens on the inner side. day to Ford's and all, for one reason City of Washington, ss. The door is so placed as to make or another, had declined. Henry R. Rathbone,_brevet major an acute angle between it and the in the army of the united States, wall behind it on the inner side. While Major Rathbone was known At the inner end of this passage socially by the Lincolns, the President being duly sworn says, t-hat on the 14th day of April instant at about way is another door, st...'\nding no doubt relied upon him to act as a squarely across, and opening into sort of bodyguard, as Secretary of twenty minutes past 8 o'clock in the evening, he, with Miss Clara the box. On the left-hand side of War Edwin M. Stanton had refused the passage-way, and very near the to allow his chief aide Major Thomas H. Harris le.ft hi$ residence at the corner of fifteenth and H Street, inner end is a third door, whieh T. Eckert to accompany Lincoln to also opens into the box. The latter the theatre. Some historians are o! and joined the President and Mrs. Lincoln and went with them in their door was closed. The party entered the opinion that Stanton believed that the box through the door at the by refusing Lincoln the services of carriage to Ford's Theatre, in Tenth street; the box assigned to the end of the passage-way. The box Eckert he would be deterred !rom at· is so constructed that it may be tendin!f. the theatre. Lineoln admired President is in the second tier, on Eckert s strength remarking that, "I the right hand side of the audience divided into two by a movable parti have seen Eckert break five pokers, and was oecupied by the President tion, one of the doors described one after the other, over his arm." Upon being informed that Major Eckert had work to do that could not be put off~ Lincoln replied: "I shall take Major Rathbone along ... but I should much rather have you, since I know you can break a poker over your arm." Major Rathbone was born, in AI· bany, New York, on July 1. 1837. He received the appointment of Major of U. S. Volunteers on Novembe.r 29, 1862. Old residents of Albany recalled that his father was an early mayor of the city and that the son was red .. haired and of a fiery disposition. He was ua s light, smaiJish man with thick 'Burnsides' akin to the whiskers affected by Dundreary in the play." After the death of Rathbone's father, his mother, Pauline Penny Rathbone, married United States Senator Ira Harris, of New York (1861-67), whose first wife had died Jenving him with a daughter named Clara. This n1arriage made the young couple stepbrother and stepsister (al though they were grown at the time THE ASSASSINATION or PRCSIOE'T liNCOL~ of their parents marriage). Clara was described in 1865 as .. young and lovely." Jo'rtnre tit~ Lift.coln Ne~tit»KKl Ute fo'otuulcati.otl Little did the happy couple antici pate the traumatic effect on their Currin A 1.-,. lhhoaraph (186.5) of "The! Auasa.ll'ladon of Pre:s.Ldent IAntoln At Ford:'• ,.hNtrt'. Waahln••on. D.C., AorU 14th, 185!;," Thh. view, ~rhao• moN than any other. depicltl th~ personal lives that the events of rtla~r Rtt.thbone i.n • hl.rhly tmotHtn-AI •tate of action. Not one of the doun or t10 lilhoarapb evening at the theatre would set in of Linmln'• a.u.aJUiination can he opening into each. The front of bim mortally wounded rushed to Mrs. Lincoln nor Mi•• Harris had the box i~ obout ttn or twelve feet the door tor the purpose of calling left their seata. in lensrth. and in the- renter of the medical aid. On reaching the outer H. R. RATRBONE. railing i8 a tmall pillar over-bang· door of the pU1l8.Ke-way a$ abo\'e ing with a curtain. The depth of deS the campaign from the Rapidlln to cure his release, but finally gave up Ric:hmond: again for aervices in the all hope of lltcurin~r hia freedom and office of the provost. marshal general awaited the tnd In some tranquility. or the United States and a third time In September, 1910, the physicians for aervi~H in connection with the of the asylum reported that Rath organization of the volunteer armies bone waa fallint~ rapidly and that he during the war. His military career would not surviVe long. He did sur ended In December, 1870, when, at vive almost a year when the end his request, he was honorably dis came on Au~at 14, 1911. He was charged. buried in Hanove.r. two days later. The awful tral(edy at Ford's Rathbone's son, Henry Roggs Rath Theatre, which Rathbone and Miss bone, waa born on Linc:oln's birthday Harris witnessed brou'l'ht them into in 1870. He wns elected as a Demo a usina-ulor sympathy" and on J uly crat to Congress ( 1923-1928) !rom 11, 1867, they were mnrried. They Cook County, llllnols. He manifested hod fortune ond high esteem, three a great interest In the Lincoln story children were born to them and they and, in addition to giving a great pa!Jsed a few years tn Washington, many Lincoln a.ddreues (one was de- D. C., respl!(:ted by all, extremely livered in the House of Representa dec:oroua in their lives and character, tives on February 12, 1924), he in "but those who were in their especial trodueed several billa in Congress for intimacy knew that there was a cloud the est.abliahment ot Lincoln memQoo alwaya hantinlt over the spirit of rials, one or which was passed by Rathbone." Without question the Congreu in 1926 for the f.ur<:hase by tn.uma of Lincoln's assassination left the Government or the amou.. Old an imp~saion on Rathbone's mind royd collection of Lintolniana for the ,.,.._ 1A.. l..tw.l• .Vat....al W• P~U,. from which ht never rec:overed. He sum or $50.000. In hlo addreu before the House of 'RI• , ...... n ..... •l Ma Jer Rnry R. Jt. U.Mn~ was noticed to be more dep~ed in wu pr.-.nct4 t• Dr. Otte 1.... sm.. i4t er C'lli· manner and apirit thAn he had been ~presentativea, Congres.aman Rath ra.. a, JIU"oi.a, b ("_.,..,....• ._... Km!'Y R. ita.tll. before April 14, 1865 and although bone made the following statement liMn.. Or. ScllmWt at ene tl•~ """ed .:l•al· concerning his parent.3: "As you lal'l.o.•lr u prc-•W•nt ef TM Ml&aluippl still a young man seemed burdened Valltr fflftor'ltal Society, The IJJinoi.t State with a gravity a-reater than was doubt1eu know, my parents were the lfl•torlnl B.c-lttt and Th• (:hicaco Hi1torira l natural for his yean. ,voung engaged couple, Major Rath Soc-let,.. The phetocraph h lnn.rib.ed • • fol· bone and Mi11.s Harris, the daughter of lowu "A photoar•oh GC my fathn for my Eventually the family went abroad aood friend Or. * hmidt from Henry R. to Hnnover, Germay, where it was United States Scnntor I ra Harris, of Rath boone.'' hoped the children would comolete New York, who drove thnt !ate!ul their education. Monnwhilc Rathbone night of April 14 , 1865, with Presi Stabbed In left arm. secured the post of American c.onsul dent and Mrs. Lincoln In the carriaj;e Don't say l!lpura caught in flag. general havin~t received one appoint to Ford's Thentro and sat with hom Nor mention bro•king of leg. ment (there were likely others) from in the box, when the bullet of the Found box door barred. P.-•Jdent Grover Cleveland in 1887. a•sauin eut short tho lite o! the Saw Col. Crawford, U.S.A. Hi! tenure of oft"i~P was abruptly President. I am able to say with the Also Major Potter. ended becaus• Major Rathbone killed utmost assurance of truth and judg. Assauin leaptd after 30 seconds. his wire on December 24, 1894 ( !), inl( from the words uttered by Lin Men carried Lincoln across street. It ia n.ported that Rathbone was in coln in the prea.tnce or these persons Rathbone married Mis.s Harris, who ordin"ttly jealous of h.-r attentio" to in his last. hour, that his great heart first announced. ,.President shot." the children, and on Christmas Eve. held nothing but kindneu and good Don't mention Booth. as she went up to the bedroom to fill will toward all hla countrymen, that It ia of interest to point out that their Christmu atoc:kinJtS. she was no one could have rejoiced more at Otto Ei•enschhnl in his book, Whv followed by htr husband and brutall>· the return of pe:ace. and that in his Wo• Li•tol• Mwrdn-td, Little. Brown murde~ durinR' an emotional upset. last momenta he was looking forward and Company, 1937, pages 35-37, made Rathbone had brooded over Lin with the highest hope to an era of a very critical analysis of the Rath· coln's anatination, and his failure to happiness and prosperity for all his bone-Harris atatement.s in the light. prevent it, until hts mind developed beloved people, North and South of other rather remarkable. evidence. homicidal tend~ncies Hfrom which hi~ alike." Porhnps Mnjor Rathbone became wife more thnn once bnrely escaped." acquainted with President and Mrs. On the fateful nlscht of his wife's Lincoln throug:h his etc.pfather, Sen murder, Rathbone, who was brooding ator Hnrris. M iss Harris' father had over his proposed removal to an been one of Lincoln's staunchest Re asylum, mnde n mnd rush with mur publicnn supporters in the Senate derous intentions on his children and durin.r the wnr nnd a very warm was prevented from killing them friendship hnd developed betw~n Mrs. when his wife threw herself between Lincoln and the young lady. As a them and her maniac husband. l'tsult a numbt:r of personal letters The wife suffered many knile and passed between the wife of the Presi pistol wounda as her husband in his dent and the daughter o! the Senator. delirium reentu:ted the tragedv at These lettera were later presented to Ford's Theatro in Washington, D. C. Robert T. Lincoln by Henry Riggs Some n.porta Indicate that Rathbone Rathbone, the son of the Major, who attempted to commit suicide. by stab served in Congreaa as a Representa bing himself a.fter killing his wile, tive from Jllinoi.s. but such eft'orta proved !utile, it true Major Rathbone had an eventful "And thus, as 10 often before or military care-er. He entered the Union since, (a) great wrong, wrought in Army an May, 1861, as eaptain in the high places. breedo similiar it Jess 12th Infantry nnd was appointed c:onspic:ious evil to which no limit of ~ major nnd aasistant adjutant general time or place can be assigned.'' or voluntoen in Mar<:h, 1865. On After killintc his wife Ratbbone was - July 11, 1867, he reoigned f rom the arrested by the German authorities volunteer Atrvicc and in February, and was tried and c:onvicted of mur. 1869, was nppointcd major in the der. He wns sentenced to the Hilde Frqtr,l t lt4 M~t«l'lt Notit»~at Llf• Fov111dotton 5th United States lnluntry. shcim A3ylum for the Criminal In Thi• pholoJ'n ph or ~rr•• H •nrr R. Rathbone He was br CUMULATIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY 1970-1971 Selectton. at)&u·ovo~..d by a BibliO«raohy Com.rnittH' ~n.eladnft of the LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY 1971-3 follow Inil: membt-r8: Dr. Kenn~h A. BernArd. Uofton Uni v~1'$ity. 124 Commonw~hb Aven~. Doert.on, Ma411. : Arnold CatetJ, !$9 Ne-w Hyde Lincoln Memorial University Press (Deviee)/Spring, Pnrk Rd., (;ard~n City, N. Y.: Cllrl Haverlin, 8619 Louis. Avenue, 1971/ Vol. 73, No. 1/ Lincoln Herald/ A Magazine devoted Northr;dge, California: James T. Hle'k~. llllnola State H IIJtOrltal Library, Old St.11t.e Capitol. SprlnStfitld, lllh~s: E. U. f P(!~) LonK, to historical/ research in the field of Lincolniana and/ '01 S. 15th St., Lnnunie, Wyomintr:: Rah,h G. Newman, 18 E. Cb~t. the Civil War, and to the promotion/of Lincoln Ideals nut St., Ql.leak(J, Jllinoi• : Hon. F'red St'hwenJ~:e-1. 40-4 Union Arcade in American/ Education./ [Harrogate, Tenn.] Bldl(•• OavtnPOn. Iowa: Dr. Wayne C. Temple, 1121 S. 4th Str«t Court, Pa.mJ)hlet, ftexiblo bo4nJtJ. 1()%,'" x H'"· 1·$1 pp., i llus.. orl~ ~r Spr(l\j(tltld. llllool ... New itc:ma n\•all.n.bl• for con.fidoen~.tion may be t.ing le i..-ue, $1.5(). ft'nt. t.o the above Ptrwn•. or to the Lincoln National Life Foundation. LI NCOLN NATIONAL LI FE 1970 INSURANCE COMPANY 1971·4 ANDERSON, DAVID D. 1970· 32 (Front view picture of Paul Manship statue) /The The/ Literary Works/ Of/ Abraham Lincoln (facsimile Hoosier Youth Story/ [Cover title] [Printed in Fort signature) / Edited, with an Introduction by/ David D. Wayne, Indiana] Anderson/ Michigan State University/Charles E. Merrill Parnohleot, tlrudble boarda, 9%" x 6" , (8) pp., lllu11. (F'orm #119.44) Publishing Company I A Bell & Howell Company Colum· bus, Ohio/ (Copyright 1970 by Charles E. Merrill Pub MAGERS, HARRY 1971·5 lishing Company, COlumbus, Ohio] (No title page)/-Author-/ Harry Magers/The/New/ Book, fl'l>:ible boardJ-, 8%.. X sw•, :dv 1)., 'ZU l)p,, prl~. $.$,9$, "Lincoln/ (symbols) Book" (symbols)/(Lower left: Abraham Lincoln/(r.rofile of Lincoln facing right)/ CATTON, BRUCE 1970·33 (Upper right: (profi e of Thomas Lincoln facing front) I Bruce Catton/ Tko lne8capable Challtmge/Uncoln Left Thomas Lincoln/ (Lower bottom: Where Was Abe Lin U8/ Abrahnm Lineoln As.socintion/ Springfield, Illinois, coln Born?I [Cover title) [Copyright 1971 by Harry 1970/ [Cover title] [Copyright 1970, Abraham Lincoln Magers] As$0Ciation, Springfield, Illinois] Book, doth, 9" x 6 ... lr., v1ii p., 245 pv.. UluJ., prfoet $-1.$0. The nf"W Pa.m1•hl«. ~>t~Pf!r, t .. x 6\i ... td .. ll pp.. lllu•· Un~ln Boo-k, 537 Weill. Dixie, J:!liubethtown, Ky. 42'ZOI. E I!VIN, JANET HALLIDAY 1970·34a MCMURTRY, R. GERALD 1971· 6 More Than Halfway There/ Janet Halliday Ervin/ Lincoln Highlights/ In Indiana History/ by/ R. Gerald lllustrated By Ted Lewin/ (device) / Follett Publishing McMurtry, Direetor/ Lincoln Library-Museum/of the/ Company/ Chicago/ [Text copyright 1970 by Janet Halli Lincoln National Life Foundation, Inc./ [Caption title) day Ervin. Illustrations copyright 1970 by Follett Pub· Published by The Lincoln National Life I nsurance Com lishing Company.) pany, Fort Wayne, Indiana. [Revised edition of 1966-13 Book, cloth, 8~'" x 6% .., UO pp.. prleoe. l3.95, Trade binding. with an account of Lineotn•s visit tQ Indiana in 1849.] Juvc-nll~ littor•ture. Pam-phlet. flex ible board&. 'J" x 6". 17 pt)., lllu.t. (FQ.nn #101119·71) ERVI N, J ANET HALLIDAY 1970-34b MOCHIZUKI. MASAHARU 1971·7 Same as above. (Device) No. 12/ Tokyo Lincoln Center/ Report No. Titan binding, Twelve/February 12, 1971 / (three lines of Japanese ian· HERNDON, WILLIAM H. 1970·35 guage)/ 291-1860/ [Cover title] \Printed in Tokyo, Japan, Herndon's Lincoln:/The True Story/ Of A/ Great Life/ in both Japanese and English anguages.) by / William H. Herndon/ A Selection/The Bobbs-Merrill Pamphlet, J)Aper, IO'i!" x 7 ~.. . II p-p., i llul!-. (A liat of ~quiait.i