Lincoln Legends: Myths, Hoaxes, and Confabulations Associated with Our Greatest President

283 Pages·2007·3.62 MB·English

by  Edward Steers Jr.

LINCOLN LEGENDS
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LINCOLN LEGENDS
Myths,
Hoaxes,
 
Confabulations
and

Associated with
Our Greatest President

Edward Steers Jr.
- 0
With an Introduction by
Harold Holzer
    
Publication of this volume was made possible in part by a
grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Copyright ©  by The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarmine University, Berea College, Centre
College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University,
The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown College,
Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University,
Morehead State University, Murray State University,
Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University,
University of Kentucky, University of Louisville,
and Western Kentucky University.
All rights reserved.
Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of
Kentucky
 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky
–
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         
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Steers, Edward.
Lincoln legends : myths, hoaxes, and confabulations
associated with our greatest president / Edward Steers Jr. ;
with an introduction by Harold Holzer.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN ---- (hardcover : alk. paper)
. Lincoln, Abraham, -—Legends. . Presidents—
United States—Folklore. . Legends—United States.
. Folklore—United States. I. Title.
E..S 
.—dc

This book is printed on acid-free recycled paper meeting
the requirements of the American National Standard
for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
Member of the Association of American University Presses
Respectfully dedicated to
John R. Preer Jr.
Christian B. Anfinsen
Jesse Roth
Allen M. Spiegel
Funny how life just falls in place somehow.
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CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
 
The Birthplace Cabin 
 
Lincoln’s Father 
 
Abe and Ann 
 
Ann Rutledge’s Resting Place 
 
Was Lincoln Baptized? 
 
The Mole in the White House 
 
You Can Fool All of the People Some of the Time . . . 
 
The World Will Little Note . . . 
 
The “Lost” Draft of the Gettysburg Address 
 
The Gay Lincoln Myth 
 
Noble American or Deceptive Doctor? 
 
The Missing Pages from Booth’s Diary 
 
Peanut John 
 
The Man Who Never Was 
Notes 231
Index 255
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I am indebted to a great many people without whose generosity and
help this book would not be possible. First and foremost, I am in-
debted to Harold Holzer, author of the introduction. Harold has
been a good friend, a coauthor, and an invaluable source of knowl-
edge on nearly every aspect of Abraham Lincoln’s life. I am also in-
debted to James O. Hall, the dean of assassination scholars, for mak-
ing his research files readily available and sharing his vast knowledge
on Lincoln’s assassination with me over the years. I wish to thank
Michael Musick of the National Archives and Records Administra-
tion, who was an invaluable aid when searching through the vast re-
pository of military and civilian documents within his domain. Many
projects have been enriched as a result of his help. Similarly, David
Vancil, head of the Special Collections Department of the Cun-
ningham Memorial Library at Indiana State University, guided me
through the extensive Neff-Guttridge Collection and provided me
with numerous copies of documents and photographs so necessary
to parts of this study. I wish to thank Ray A. Neff, who spent several
hours with me explaining his views on Lincoln’s assassination. A
special thanks goes to William C. “Jack” Davis of Virginia Tech, who
sent me his entire files on Lincoln’s assassination from the time when
he was editor of Civil War Times Illustrated. They proved invaluable
to my own research. I thank Frank J. Williams, another outstanding
Lincoln scholar and friend, for generously providing me with materi-
als from his extensive library of Lincolniana. Richard Sloan, Thomas
R. Turner, Terry Alford, and Joseph H. Nichols generously took time
to examine various parts of the manuscript, correcting errors and
making numerous suggestions to improve the text. I am indebted to
each of them. I thank Steven L. Carson, past president of the Lin-
coln Group of the District of Columbia and editor of the Manuscript
Society News, for generously sharing his files and writings with me.
My good friends Joan L. Chaconas and Laurie Verge of the Surratt
House Museum have always been available to answer questions and
ix