Lincoln's Grave Robbers

In the midst of the Civil War, a group of daring thieves hatched a plan to steal Abraham Lincoln's body from its tomb in Springfield, Illinois, and hold it for ransom. The thieves were not just ordinary criminals, but a group of Confederate sympathizers who hoped to use the theft to finance their cause and to damage the North's morale. The plan was to dig a tunnel under the tomb, enter through a ventilation shaft, and make off with the body. But the tomb was guarded by a group of soldiers, and the thieves were not prepared for the unexpected obstacles they faced. The story of the attempted theft of Lincoln's body is a thrilling and little-known episode in American history, and Steve Sheinkin's narrative nonfiction account is a must-read for anyone interested in the Civil War, history, and true crime. The book includes a detailed author's note, a timeline, and source notes.