This Man Was at Lincoln's Deathbed, and Wrote About It

One of the contributors to Military Images magazine, Tom Glass, sent me a scan of this unpublished portrait. He is Maunsell Bradhurst Field (1822-1875), who served as Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury when President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. Though Field was not present at Ford's Theater, he managed to gain entry to the Petersen House. Here's his recollection of events, published just a couple days after Lincoln's death (and 158 years ago yesterday).
"Life on the Civil War Research Trail" is hosted by Ronald S. Coddington, Editor and Publisher of Military Images magazine. Learn more about our mission to showcase, interpret and preserve Civil War portrait photography at militaryimagesmagazine.com.
This episode is brought to you in part by Untold Civil War, a podcast that aims to bring to light all the stories of the Civil War that remain forgotten and yet, are vital to our understanding of the conflict. Recommended listening! untoldcivilwar.squarespace.com/podcast-and-videos
Image: Tom Glass Collection.

[@Brace67]

"The Prairie Years, the War Years were over". Carl Sandberg's "Life of Lincoln". Another first-hand account of the death bed struggle came from Secretary of the Navy Gidden Wells who was in attendance.

[@TheAntHill184]

Thank you for sharing this with us. Wow… Still holds true today, “Lest we forget”.

[@andrewhoward9870]

Such a moving description. Thank you for sharing.

[@Redo12able]

Stirring and valuable. Thanks for what you do.

[@davidtvedt7597]

That was special! Thanks so much, for the information!

[@upptowne]

I have never heard that before. Thanks

[@marksaucier]

Bang!

[@jmsdeco]

Excellent video as always. I greatly appreciate your channel.

[@BManolakos]

I’ve never heard of a person who breaks out into a smile 15 minutes after they die. I’m not sure that in fact happened, but I hope it did. Fascinating and moving.

[@cal4625]

Interesting narrative and one I have never read. I was curious if Mr. Field would mention in the narrative the comment purportedly made by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton at Mr. Lincolns death: "Now he belongs to the ages".

[@TheGenealogyArchaeologist]

Fascinating. I was wondering if there are other first-hand accounts of Lincoln's death.

[@KathleenCrosby-yg3ge]

Fascinating

[@curtgomes]

In 1981 I had the experience of visiting the Ford Theater and actually entering the doorway traversed by John Wilkes Booth. A tour of the theater took us up the back steps to the President's viewing box. i was able to step into the doorway that was blocked with a half round plastic shield, allowing partial entry into the room. From there it was only a few feet to the president's chair. It was quite a feeling being that close to history. A guard stationed at that doorway or even on the stairs, at that time, could have stopped the assassination. We were told the police officer that was assigned left his post to go to a bar for a drink. Go figure.... Interestingly, the president's talented son James was in the proximity of the assassination of three presidents over a 30 year period; his father, James Garfield and William McKinley. All three were associated with Civil War and the GAR. James, on US Grant's staff in 1865, was present at Appomattox. He also wrote and interesting account of how Edwin Booth, brother of John Wilkes, once saved his life at the Jersey City train station. History can be fascinating.....

[@jeffclark7888]

James? Robert Lincoln.

[@jeffclark7888]

“Actually” entered…?

[@libraS.A.]

I wonder if the smile occurred from his jaw being tied from underneath with the handkerchief overtop his head ?

[@lifeonthecivilwarresearchtrail]

Excellent idea. Definite possibility.

[@davescrimshaw7781]

Esquire, huh? A lawyer.

[@VideoSaySo]

"As if they'd been bruised by violence." Ya think??? 🤣

[@lifeonthecivilwarresearchtrail]

I believe Field's point was that Lincoln looked like he had been punched in the eyes, and I infer he was surprised to find him in this condition. Field was not a doctor and likely did not appreciate the damage caused by a bullet wound in the head.

[@VideoSaySo]

@@lifeonthecivilwarresearchtrail Yes, I was being facetious lol But this was an excellent presentation of the perspective we never get to see. We always hear from the doctors and news reporters of the time, but never a layperson. For some reason it makes it more authentic!

[@FuzzyWuzzy75]

I think the point was that his eyes looked like what someone's eyes would look like after having been punched.

[@mikeforte7585]

A great post....thanks

[@user-fc1gq5xd9e]

The poor president, what a horrible scene. I'm glad he smiled because to me it proves that Mr. Lincoln was accepted by loving hands... The south has been paying for crimes, such as this, 'till this day in time...What kind of man could shoot a seated unsuspecting man in the back of the head???