Bag of Mail

Oldest Known Photograph of Abraham Lincoln Surfaces



Truth be told, I've read an embarrassing amount about Abraham Lincoln in my life. My affinity for all things Civil War is well known. And there's nothing better than the photo having been in the possession of Ulysses S. Grant VI. The Sixth? Wow.

A collector believes a photograph from a private album of Civil War Gen. Ulysses S. Grant shows President Abraham Lincoln in front of the White House and could be the last image taken of him before he was assassinated in 1865.

If it is indeed Lincoln, it would be the only known photo of the 16th president in front of the executive mansion and a rare find, as only about 130 photos of him are known to exist. A copy of the image was provided to The Associated Press.

Grant's 38-year-old great-great-grandson, Ulysses S. Grant VI, had seen the picture before, but didn't examine it closely until late January. A tall figure in the distance caught his eye, although the man's facial features are obscured.


I know there was a JEB Stuart IV. Is there a PGT Beauregard VII? Man, I'd love to read an article tracing down the generational namesakes of Civil War Generals.

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Posted by Clay Travis at 10:25 AM

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

My great-great-great grandfather was Union General George H. Thomas, and while I'm not named after him, all my friends call me 'the Rock'.

March 10, 2009 11:32 AM  
Blogger Clay Travis said...

If all of your friends truly know that George H. Thomas was the Rock of Chickamauga, know that you are his direct descendant, and call you the Rock because of it...

golf clap.

I demand that one of them use the word Chickamauga in a pick-up situation at a bar.

March 10, 2009 12:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"If all of your friends truly know that George H. Thomas was the Rock of Chickamauga..."

Luckily, and I think this is for the better, absolutely none of my friends know who George H. Thomas, otherwise I don't think I'd have too many friends.

One my friends does believe he is a very distant relative of Grant, though he cares nothing about the possible connection. I keep trying to call him Sam or Unconditional Surrender and have it stick, but he's not warming to it.

March 10, 2009 2:45 PM  
Blogger Joshua said...

would that mean its the most recent photo? not the oldest.

March 12, 2009 7:41 AM  

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