The Lincoln Funeral Train Commemorated

By Joseph Bordonaro · Originally published August 2019 · pp. 12–13

Faith and Mark Hintzen, and Sherri Groff, members of the Atlantic Guard Soldiers’ Aid Society, portrayed members of the Elizabethtown, Penn., community who came to pay their respects to their fallen President.

A single shot from a derringer, at 10:15 pm on April 14, 1865, was all it took to transform the end-of-the-war celebration in Washington, D.C., into shocked anger, outrage, and depression. A nation had lost its leader and, as Secretary of War Stanton said, “He now belongs to the ages.” The grief the Union felt was visible as the President’s funeral train made its roundabout way to Springfield, Ill., Abraham Lincoln’s home town, and the place where he was to be buried. Leaving Washington on April 21, the train traveled through 180 cities in seven states. One of those cities was Elizabethtown, Penn.; 154 years later, to the day, a commemoration of the train’s passage through the town was reenacted on the Stone Gable Estate. The Stone Gable Estate recently added the Star Barn to its property. The magnificent 1872 barn was disassembled at its home in Lower Swatara Township, moved to the new site, reassembled, and completely restored. Now, in place of its 25 horse stalls, the Star Barn serves as a museum, conference center, and a place for weddings and other events. The original railroad bed of the Northern Central Railway is also on the Stone Gable property. With new track placed, the Lincoln Funeral Train was transported to the site from its home on the Harrisburg, Lincoln & Lancaster RR and placed on the tracks. Excitement was palpable on the Stone Gables Estate on April 22, 2019, as brilliant spring sunshine greeted crowds of people who began arriving to see the full scale replica 4-4-0 steam locomotive moving down the tracks. At precisely 12:05 the train came chugging up the track and stopped at a covered bridge. The covered bridge is another historic structure that has been moved to the estate and rebuilt. A company of Civil War reenactors dressed in Union Army uniforms, marched through the covered bridge and onto the passenger car behind the Leviathan engine. Both passenger car and engine are faithful reproductions of mid 1860’s railroad stock and were decorated the same way as the original funeral train. Behind the passenger car was a hearse car, again decorated as the original. Inside the hearse car, reenactors portraying members of the Veterans’ Reserve Corps, soldiers who had been injured or otherwise made unable to perform a soldier’s full duties but who were still capable of light duty, maintained a guard over the President’s coffin, just as was done in 1865. After the train was loaded, it continued down the track and stopped at the site of the reenactor camp. Speeches were made and visitors were able to view the train and its cars. The most touching part of the day’s reenactment, though, came during the train’s short trip. The railroad bed here is at the bottom of a deep cut, and along a good part of the distance from the bridge to the camp, many visitors lined the way and made those on the train think of the crowds who lined the track of the actual funeral train so long ago. Shannon Brown, Programming Director for the Lincoln Funeral Train, Harrisburg, Lincoln & Lancaster RR, estimates that over 2,200 people attended this event. It is a tribute to the love that many in America still feel for President Abraham Lincoln that they took the time to make the pilgrimage to Elizabethtown to help commemorate the passage of our “Captain’s” last voyage. The Lincoln Funeral Train will remain at the Stone Gable Estate. Rides will be available during various special events throughout the year. More information on these train rides can be found at https://thestarbarn.com/ event-calendar/.

Lincoln Funeral Train Engine, the Nashville.

Lincoln Funeral Train moving down the tracks, with colors flying.

(Library of Congress)

Dillan Enck, of Mannheim, Penn.; Roy Wulf, of Manassas, Va.; and Joel and Jacob Yoder, of Cochranville, Penn., helped provide an infantry escort.

(Library of Congress)

James Steinmetz, of Birdsboro, Penn., takes a rest after the train arrived in Elizabethtown.

Lincoln’s Funeral Car.

Col. Dave Childs, USV, and Major Marcus Riddell, USV, directed security during the arrival of the Lincoln Funeral Train.

Joe Bordonaro is a USAF veteran (1973–1977), Glassboro State College graduate (1980), Catholic school teacher (St. Joseph’s ProCathedral, 1983–1988), and retired public school teacher (Mullica Township School, 1988–2009). He has been involved with Civil War reenacting/living history since

Hearse car being transported on a low-boy trailer. (Dave Kloke)

Joe began submitting articles to the Civil War News in 2005 and has been covering events for the News on a regular basis since 2016. Joe lives in Mount Laurel, NJ, and has been married to his wife Karen for 29 years. If you wish to contact Joe, you may send an email to [email protected]. (Joe Bordonaro) (Joe Bordonaro)

Reproduction of Lincoln’s casket. (Joe Bordonaro)

Steven Diatz portrayed Winfield Scott Halliday, a writer for the New York Herald.

Donald Husler portrayed a reporter for the Juniata Sentinel. The paper reported on the war, including the identity of casualties from the area. (Joe Bordonaro)

Don Whitley, of Lititz, Penn., portrayed a member of the Veteran Reserve Corps in the Lincoln Funeral Car. The VRC provided the guards for the train in 1865. (Joe Bordonaro)

Francis Strouse, of Elizabethtown, Penn., portrayed the conductor of the Lincoln Funeral Train. (Joe Bordonaro) (Joe Bordonaro)

(Joe Bordonaro)