In honor of the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's second inauguration, which took place on March 4, 1865, the Battle of Richmond Association staged a reenactment of the event at the Madison County Courthouse.
When Abraham Lincoln was sworn into office for the second time, he gave an address that denounced slavery and called for an end to the Civil War.
It was not just the people playing Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln who got into the spirit of reenactment. Several of the spectators in the courtroom dressed for the occasion, wearing garments that would have been appropriate back in 1865.
The event, the likes of which are often publicized with postcard printing and Flyers, was more than just a reenactment of what happened on that fateful day. Larry Elliott, who portrayed Lincoln, editorialized about the address before getting into character.
He told the assembled audience that he believed the speech was the most important one Lincoln ever gave, overshadowing the Gettysburg Address made in 1863. Elliott cited the time and location of the speech for its importance, noting that it was made as the war was ending and as people on both sides were beginning to look forward to a new start.
Although the Madison County Courthouse was not the original site of the inauguration, the building was in existence at the time, having been constructed 13 years before Lincoln was reelected. Get a Free Quote for Flyers
