Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-10-22
LINCOLN'S PRIVATE CAR


yards at Omaha. Neb., standing out In
the open and rapidly going to decay,
coupled with a string of abandoned,
wrecked and cut of-date cars, is Pfesi.
dent Lipc ,lD's private Car.
The car was built at the United
8 stes military car shops 10 this city 10
the latter days of the war, and was
used by Lincoln on his visits to the
Army yf the Potomsc and to other
points duripg the war. The old Car Is
forty two feet long and eight and one
half feet wide, snd.is bullet proof, there
oelug a complete armor OF steel plstts
between the W lis. Nothing remains
| today of the carl original magDi6caucs /;
! the irs'6e Ia devoid OF tven n bench;
the wslls are rsiL-stsioed. having lont
ago lest their last trace OF paint and
varnisb, and there are no l,nger visible
the oos of arms OF the various Siates
OF the Union which skillful hspd
| painted upon the panels Of the walls.
Nobody would ever imagine that rich,
crimson, corded silk upholstery, reach.
ing half to the ceiliug 10 parts Of the
| car, oace helped to make OF 1t, the
wiDdowless hulk of today, marvel
of elegance among earlier railroad
equipment.
Originally there was but one en-
trance TO the Car, q door In the corner
OF one end on one side. Entrsnce to
the then separate rooms was bsd from
this pssssgeway. The rear room was
larger than the others. and was used
oy President Lincoln for an Office and
study, aud also ss rtception.room, 10
which he received the generals OF the
army. IL is safe TO cay that In this
com partment Mr.. Lincoln hastily
wrote the notes for his famous speech
It the field OF Gettysburg. At any
rate, the President occupied the coach
on his trip to Gettysburg on that oc-
cauion.
Among the cars furniture were sew
eral recliuiUg chairs, and vne particn-
isrgly long sofa for the special use OF
the tall Executive. This sofa could be
adjusted at night into Q double bed.
II ls not definitely known what became
of the various articles OF furniture with
the exc csption OF one old-iashioned
chair which may be seen in the private
office of Superintendent of Traneports-
ton Bucbingl an, Cf the Uoion Pacific
road, at o nsbs.
The old, battered and ill.lookioR
hulk also carried President Lincoln's
remains from Washington to Spring
field, Ill. 1t was 10 this car that TIE
body lay during that memorable
Journey which lasted from April Il to
May 1855.
In 1866 the government auctioned
great deal Of its ilway material. built
for war needs, aud among these things
was the famous coach, which became
tnroneh purchase the proparty OF Presi-
dent sidney Dillon, OF the Uaion Pacific
Railwsy, who Immediately removed It
to Omahs. For some time 1t was used
- directors car, but Its great weight,
caused by the armor plate, made II OF
isc ional, and il was Withdrawn from
the seTv ce, standing for years under
shed Constructed for i,s custody.
There was talk 10 1898 OF inaugural
ing o movement amoog the colored
population OF the United States with O
view OF securing funds with which to
purchase the Car, restore 1t and to pro-
| vide for 1t a suitable building in Wash
ingtoD, where 1t might be preserved.
Nothiog, however, came OF the Idea.