This is the one-metre long copper sword stolen from the top of Lincoln’s Tomb in the Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Illinois. It was there sometime in September (left) and now is gone (right).
The sword was brandished by a Civil War artillery officer on one of the four bronze statues groups atop the monument, which represent the four military corps during the Civil War: artillery, cavalry, infantry and navy.
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency’s spokesman Dave Blanchette said this is the first theft since 1890, when the same Civil War artillery officer’s sword was stolen. At the time, it was made of bronze, casted from melted-down Civil War cannons. The replacement was casted in copper. Now it’s gone too. Way to go. Now return the damn thing. [Free Republic via CBSLocal via Drudge Report]
Photo: Zol87.