OLD BOB AT LINCOLN'S FUNERAL CORTÈGE, LED BY BLACK AME REV. HENRY BROWN

President Lincoln's Horse, "Old Robin". Springfield, Illinois: F.W. Ingmire, [May 1865]. Printed title to mount recto. Photographer's imprint to verso.

An outdoor view of "Old Robin," also known as "Old Bob," photographed outside the Lincoln home in Springfield, Illinois on the occasion of Lincoln's Springfield funeral. Old Bob is caparisoned in a mourning blanket festooned with tassels and rosettes. His reins are held by a white bearded man wearing a top hat. An African American man, identified as Reverend Henry Brown, stands near Bob's hind flank. Both men wear ribbons on their overcoats, probably mourning ribbons. Three African American boys can be viewed leaning against the fence of the Lincoln home in the background.

Although identified here as Old Robin, the horse was more commonly known as Old Bob, with several sources suggesting the moniker was created to differentiate him from Lincoln's son, who was called "young Bob." Lincoln acquired Old Robin while in Springfield and used him often while traveling. Old Robin was sold in 1860 to local drayman, John Flynn, and by 1865 had been put out to pasture. With the jubilant news of Confederate capitulation, the horse was brought out of retirement for Springfield celebrations. Following the assassination of Lincoln, Old Robin was called into service once more to take part in the city's funeral cortège.

Old Robin was led in the procession by Reverend Henry Brown (1823-1906), shown here, an abolitionist and minister in the American Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. The two immediately followed Lincoln's hearse in the funeral procession, right before a carriage that carried Robert Todd Lincoln. Born into slavery, Brown was manumitted and became ordained in 1846. After moving to Springfield, he became a conductor on the Underground Railroad. In an effort to supplement his meager preacher's income, he performed various odd jobs, including assisting Lincoln. Brown is described as being one the Lincoln family's "many friends" in Springfield (Steers, Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of President Lincoln, p.290.).

An image held by the White House Historical Association shows the same scene from a wider angle. The Lincoln's home is visible in that view, draped in mourning bunting. The same three boys can be seen along a fence, as well as a greater crowd of mourners. (Arlington's Ceremonial Horses and Funerals at the White House; White House History (Number 19) - photo 4).

Images of Old Bob and Rev. Brown are exceedingly scarce and rarely available.

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