Dear Madam

[Huscarl]

Executive Mansion,
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.

Dear Madam,--

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln











I get chills every time I read the famous Bixby Letter, just wanted to share.  Some argue that one of Lincoln's secretaries actually wrote it and he simply signed it, but we'll never know for sure unfortunately.  It does have Lincoln's piercing and affecting style, made all the stronger by the letter's brevity.  It's always fascinated me how Lincoln could say more in a few paragraphs than most men can in whole books.  His deep faith and dedication to his beliefs is an example for us all.

[maple]

Famous eh? I've never heard it :( Is there a famous story that goes behind it?

[Wrongway]

Famous eh? I've never heard it :( Is there a famous story that goes behind it?

Hiya Maple,

It's a letter written by A. Lincoln during the Civil War, after learning that their five sons had died in battle. They were all in the same regiment, & were basically wiped out.

There were no more offspring for this family to continue it's name. A pretty horrendous loss if you ask me.

This letter wasn't really well known until the movie "Saving Private Ryan" came out & a 3 star General quoted it as the reason to go & get this family's last remaining Son.



Huscarl said -> I get chills every time I read the famous Bixby Letter, just wanted to share.  Some argue that one of Lincoln's secretaries actually wrote it and he simply signed it, but we'll never know for sure unfortunately.  It does have Lincoln's piercing and affecting style, made all the stronger by the letter's brevity.  It's always fascinated me how Lincoln could say more in a few paragraphs than most men can in whole books.  His deep faith and dedication to his beliefs is an example for us all.

To me personally, it doesn't matter who wrote it. A good man who held the office sent it. But I don't think it reduced her grief at all. Their Family is the one I feel for in this tragic instance of history.

But you're right, it's a great letter & a profound statement of his faith & reaching out to this Family.

Regards,

W-W

[Huscarl]

The family should of course be the ones to sympathize with most, I just found Lincoln's way of putting things quite powerful.

I thought the letter was used to great affect in "Saving Private Ryan."  The scene from that film I remember the most vividly is when the mother is working in the kitchen and you see a car off in the distance driving to their farmhouse.  When it arrives in her driveway she's standing in the doorway and a military officer and a priest both step out of the car, and as soon as she sees the priest she collapses on her porch and bursts into tears....it's a true story, and she must be one of the few people who could understand Ms. Bixby's pain

I almost started crying just remembering that scene