In what is easily the most interesting historical news of late, historian John Richter found the above photo while surfing online through the Library of Congress’ digital archives, and found it among more than 5,000 Civil War images that were made available. Richter, a director for the Center for Civil War Photography, seeing something that caught his eye in the photo, enhanced the image with the help of a powerful computer program. After closer inspection, he believed he found a new photo of Lincoln.
Some experts agreed it could be Lincoln, but cautioned it may never be known for sure because the image does not offer a clear view of the man’s face.
I meant to approve the following comment, but instead deleted it, sorry:
David Tooley wrote:
Evening….could just as well be WARD HILL LAMON, who was just 1-2 inches shorter than Pres Lincoln….as Pres Lincoln’s height was because of his long legs, his trunk length and LAMON’s could very well have been the same when viewed ON HORSEBACK…as to the stovepipe hat and beard: stovepipe hats were worn by many that day….the beard? is it a good accurate image OR a shadow…i’ll allow it to be a full beard….
To see a very good image of WARD HILL LAMON at the ceremony, wearing his stovepipe hat and sporting a full beard, see the 6 VOLUME SET: THE IMAGE OF WAR: 1861-1865, NHS, 1980′s, hardcover,
VOLUME 3- The Embattled Confederacy, pages 448-449….see the gent to the RIGHT of the circle around Pres Lincoln????? that person has been identified as WARD HILL LAMON, unofficial BODYGUARD to Pres Lincoln….LAMON was 6’4″, 240lbs, had an arsenal stashed on his person, and LOVED to fight……
CORRECTION: WARD HILL LAMON’S height was 6’2″ NOT 6’4″ as i INCORRECTLY typed..