ForFor thethe PeoplePeople A N e w s l e t t e r o f t h e A b r a h a m L i n c o l n A s s o c i a t i o n Volume 1, Number 1 Spring, 1999 Springfield, Illinois

Abraham Lincoln, John Hay, and the Bixby Letter

by Michael Burlingame Moreover, this beloved Lin- Although no direct, firsthand coln letter was almost certainly testimony shows that Hay claimed ost moviegoers are aware composed by assistant presidential authorship of the Bixby letter, that Abraham Lincoln’s secretary John Hay. Several peo- Hay did in 1866 tell William H. M letter of condolence to ple, including the British diplomat Herndon that Lincoln “signed Lydia Bixby, a widow who pur- John Morley, literary editor without reading them the letters I portedly had lost five sons in the William Crary Brownell, United wrote in his name.” Civil War, looms large in Stephen States Ambassador to Great Brit- Most Lincoln specialists have Spielberg’s recent film, Saving Private Ryan. Dated November 21, 1864, the letter reads as fol- lows: “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 words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so over- whelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the conso- lation 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 alter of Freedom. Yours, very sin- cerely and respectfully, A. Lin- coln.” Although extravagant praise has been lavished on this docu- ment, it is surrounded by ironies. The original copy of the Bixby Letter has never been located. Mrs. Bixby was deemed “the best specimen of a true-hearted Union” ain, Walter Hines Page, Louis A. doubted that Hay composed the ever seen, yet she was in fact a Coolidge, a Washington corre- Bixby letter. In 1982, Mark E. Confederate sympathizer who ran spondent for a Boston newspaper, Neely, Jr., declared: “There is not a whorehouse. In addition, Mrs. and Spencer Eddy, Hay’s personal a scrap of reliable evidence to Bixby lied about her sons; despite secretary, testified that they heard prove” Hay’s authorship of the her claim that five of them had Hay claim authorship or had Bixby letter. been killed, she had really lost heard that assertion made by a But there is. Hay’s papers at only two boys in the war. third party quoting Hay. continued on page 3 2 For the People

For the People: A Newsletter I Can’t Recall of the Abraham Lincoln the Name but Association the Face is Familiar President’s Column he earliest known image of Abraham Lincoln is housed by Donald R. Tracy T in the collections of the time to read all there is to read Library of Congress. Generally hen I had the good for- of Lincoln, to nevertheless be attributed to Nicholas H. Shep- tune to be elected as involved and interested through herd and taken in 1846 or 1847, W your President, I set relatively short articles and book the daguerreotype is a companion forth four goals in my term that reviews that can be consumed in image to that of Lincoln’s young I believe are worthy, realistic, short order during breaks in attractive wife, Mary Todd. and attainable. 1. To increase action. Robert Todd Lincoln recalled membership from seven hundred With these goals in mind, I both photographs being hung in to one thousand members, which am extremely proud to present the parlor of the Springfield home is the level recommended by the to you this our first ever when he was growing up. Robert publisher of our journal, the newsletter, an issue that takes a also remembered them being the University of Illinois Press. 2. gigantic first step toward the first images of his father and To put our publications, The goals aforementioned. My opin- mother. But a number of other Collected Works of Abraham ion on this, however, does not Lincoln and Lincoln Day By Day, matter. What matters is your on our website on the Internet opinion. Therefore, please let us by February 12, 1999, and know what you think about this February 12, 2000, respectively. newsletter, whether you believe 3. To encourage greater involve- we should continue, and give us ment by younger people in the your ideas and suggestions for study of Abraham Lincoln. 4. improvement. To publish a first-rate quarterly In considering this, please newsletter. keep in mind that the newsletter There is no scarcity of is not an inexpensive proposi- newsletters in today’s world. In tion. It is estimated that this my profession, the law, I am in- newsletter will cost the Associa- undated with newsletters as I am tion $10 per member. Our min- sure you are in your profession. imum annual membership is only Likewise, newsletters abound $25 and most of that is already and multiply in the historical committed to paying for our community, particularly the Lin- Journal, symposium, and other coln community. Nevertheless, I endeavors. If we are to maintain believe there is a need for our a quality, quarterly newsletter we own newsletter for the following will need to either convince the images have been recently ad- purposes: To promote greater majority of our members to vanced asking scholars and the participation by our members in upgrade their membership (as public alike to accept the likeness- our works and functions, partic- many already have) or generate es as genuine photographs of ularly our annual symposium additional revenues in other Abraham Lincoln. The Hoffman and banquet; to promote our ways. In sum, I hope you enjoy “Lincoln” daguerreotype had a scholarly publications; to pro- this newsletter and I hope your computer imaging analysis sup- vide our members with an addi- will write us with your views port its claim while a vein pattern tional opportunity to communi- and suggestions. Also, remem- analysis rejected it. The image cate with one another; and to ber to check our website at was rejected in a non-scientific allow our nonacademic mem- www.alincolnassoc.com for oth- public poll at the Old State bers, who might not have the er news and information. continued on next page For the People 3

continued from previous page Abraham Lincoln, John Hay, and the Capitol with people voting eight Bixby Letter to one against it. The same image was withdrawn from auction when continued from page 1 Lincoln’s works; others appear it did not meet the minimum Brown University and at the Lib- much less often in Lincoln’s works rary of Congress contain scrap- than in Hay’s. They include “be- books full of newspaper accounts guile,” “I pray that our Heavenly of Hay’s own writings. Nestled Father,” “I cannot refrain from among various poems and notices tendering you,” “glory,” and of Hay’s lectures and books is a “cherish.” copy of the Bixby letter in each of This evidence suggests that it two scrapbooks. Moreover, Hay is highly probable that Hay, not frequently used words and phrases Lincoln, is the true author of “the that appear in the Bixby letter, most beautiful letter ever writ- some which never appear in ten.”

reserve bid, adding collectors and institutions to the ranks of the image’s naysayers. A recent pho- tograph surfaced claiming to be taken in 1836 or 1837 showing Lincoln holding his law certifi- cate. The main problem with this claim is that the photographic process was not invented until 1839. Perhaps the oral tradition is mistaken about the date. But unless further credible evidence surfaces to make a case for the image, it is yet another added to the list of questionable Lincolns.

The Abraham Lincoln Association

Donald R. Tracy, President Molly Becker, Vice-President Richard Hart, Vice-President Richard Mills, Vice-President Thomas F. Schwartz, Secretary Judith Barringer, Treasurer

For the People is published four times a year and is a benefit of membership of the Abraham Lincoln Association 1 Old State Capitol Plaza Springfield, Illinois John George Nicolay, John Milton Hay, and Abraham Lincoln 62701-1507 From Harper’s Weekly, June 11, 1864 4 For the People

ters “denouncing the forgery.” Lincoln Never Said That According to Nicolay’s daughter, Helen, an exchange of letters by Thomas F. Schwartz ey Publishing Company, 1896). ensued between her father and Caroline Thomas Harnsberger’s, George C. Hackstaff of the hile Abraham Lincoln The Lincoln Treasury, cites Shibley Caldwell Remedy Company, re- may be one of the most as her source but also warns the garding the propriety of using a W quoted American Pres- reader that “this letter, often quot- spurious Lincoln quotation to idents he is unquestionably the ed is considered by the Abraham promote patent medicines. Hack- most misquoted. More times than Lincoln Association to be spuri- staff took umbrage at Nicolay’s not, the origin of the spurious ous.” Archer Shaw’s, The Lincoln accusations and demanded that quotation is elusive. When one is Encyclopedia, also includes the let- Nicolay prove the utterance to be able to locate the source of the ter without any editorial warn- false. Nicolay countered that one non-Lincoln sayings, an interest- ings. Shaw cites Emanuel Hertz’s, could not prove a negative and it ing and often entertaining story Abraham Lincoln, a New Portrait, was incumbent upon Hackstaff to results. It is hoped that this col- as his source. Hertz offers no prove it was from an authentic umn might shed some light on source. And so depending on Lincoln letter. some of the more egregious quo- which reference work one con- In spite of the efforts of tations attributed to Abraham Lincoln, and in the process pro- vide some levity. A number of years ago, folk singer Pete Seeger sent a fax to the Abraham Lincoln Association try- ing to verify the following excerpt supposedly contained in a letter written to Thomas Elkins on November 21, 1864: “We may congratulate ourselves that this cruel war, which has cost a vast treasure of blood and money, is almost over. But I see in the future a crisis approaching which fills me with anxiety. As a result of the war, corporations have become enthroned, and an era of corruption in high places will fol- low. The money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its rule by preying upon the preju- dice of the people, until all wealth Pete Seeger is concentrated in a few hands, and the republic destroyed. I feel sults, the quotation will be found Nicolay and Hay, the quotation at this time more anxiety for the with and without editorial com- would not disappear from print. future of my country than at any ment. Robert Todd Lincoln was asked time in the past, even in the midst The item does not appear in about it on several occasions and of war.” The Collected Works of Abraham took the opportunity on March The tone and content fore- Lincoln nor is there any reference 12, 1917 to set the record straight shadows Dwight Eisenhower’s to it in the newspapers for that in a letter to Henry Clifford warning of the dangers of the period. John G. Nicolay was fre- Stuart. It is worth quoting in its “military and industrial complex.” quently asked about it in 1890 and entirety for it expresses both But is it from the pen of Abraham he traced its origins to a pamphlet Robert’s detailed research into Lincoln? by the Caldwell Remedy Company trivial matters regarding the mem- A widely quoted early source issued on May 10, 1888. Nicolay ory of his father, and it also pro- for the quotation appeared in claimed that both he and John vides a glimpse of Robert’s dry George H. Shibley, The Money Hay, Lincoln’s other personal sec- wit. Question (Chicago: Stable Mon- retary, responded to dozens of let- continued on page 5 For the People 5

Lincoln Never Said That but are held by myself, by Jessie W. Weik and by the Hay family; continued from page 4 some copies made by one of his about Mr. Weik I know nothing, “Your letter of the 8th inst., secretaries at the time. These pa- but I doubt whether Mr. Hay’s enclosing a copy of one addressed pers were all carefully searched in children have any such letters. by you to Dr. Howard Taylor, regard to the quotation in ques- They did have two important reaches me here. Referring to tion and nothing whatever was manuscripts which were properly them both I must reply that I can- found. The originals of his letters owned by Mr. Hay and which they not in the special way you suggest give you a basis for discontinuing your denial of Abraham Lincoln’s greatness. The quotation which you describe as being in ‘Lin- coln’s letter to his personal friend Elkins, of Illinois, 1864,’ is essen- tially like, and perhaps exactly like, a supposed quotation which has in past years been brought to my attention many times and with varied citations and I have exam- ined the question of its authentic- ity with care. My own private pa- pers and memoranda in which the results of that examination are preserved are at my summer home in Vermont and not accessible at the present time so that I cannot reply to your letter in the fulness that I would like and must depend upon my memory, and am doing so entirely in writing to you. The expression in question first appeared, so far as I know, a good many years ago as being part of one of President Lincoln’s mes- sages to Congress; that was incor- rect as is easily proved; then I saw it in various ways and lastly, I think, a few years ago in a speech in the United States Senate in which, as I remember, the senator used it as an expression of President Lincoln’s without dis- cussing its authenticity. I suppose that he will hereafter be quoted as vouching for it. Robert Todd Lincoln It is not so easy to dispose of it as being a part of a private let- were of course sent by him to the have presented to the Congres- ter as it is as being a part of any persons to whom they were writ- sional Library here. message to Congress. I have sub- ten; scores of such letters have I cannot remember just when stantially all of President Lincoln’s been sold by the persons to whom it was, but it is a number of years papers which were in his posses- they were addressed or by their ago that I discovered what I think sion at the time of his death. It representatives; only a few days is the true and only source of the was not his habit to preserve ago I saw the notice of a sale of supposed quotation. It originat- copies of letters; he had no letter five such letters. You say that you ed, I think, at what is called a pressbook, but in his papers are a were informed that his letters Spiritualist Seance in a country number of drafts of his letters and ‘were not where they belonged’ continued on page 6 6 For the People

Lincoln Never Said That been raised since January, 1998. Work has already begun on continued from page 5 tions or of combinations of corpo- Lincoln Day By Day. Individuals town in Iowa, a number of years rations and I do not believe that should be able to access The ago, as being a communication by there was then any feeling whatev- Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln President Lincoln through what is er adverse to corporations large or by February 12, 1999. called a Medium, and belief in its small. Yet in the quotation Pres- It is not too late to contribute authenticity should therefore be ident Lincoln is made to say that to this worthwhile project. held only by those who place con- ‘as a result of the war, (which was Donations at any level may be fidence in the outgivings of so by no means then ended,) corpo- made payable to the Abraham called Mediums at the gatherings rations have been enthroned,’ and Lincoln Association/Library, One held under their auspices. to express a dread on his part in Old State Capitol Plaza, Spring- As to the letter mentioned in regard to a condition, the alleged field, Illinois 62701. Our thanks your communication to Dr. description of which to me seems to the following individuals and Taylor, I can only say that I have as much of an anachronism as is organizations who have so gener- no recollection of any personal shown in the famous ivory carving ously supported the project in friend of my father named Elkins. at Antwerp representing soldiers 1998. There may be or may [not] have with muskets as being present at President’s Club: Mr. and been such a person; and if he the Adoration of the Magi. Mrs. Benjamin Shapell; Cabinet received such a letter, as he is In short, I regard the quota- Members: Illinois Historic Pres- probably no longer living, perhaps tion as being simply an impudent ervation Agency; Ambassador’s an advertisement that his repre- invention.” Club: Mr. and Mrs. Dan sentatives could obtain an exceed- Robert never sent this letter Bannister, Molly Becker, Richard ingly good price for it might lead but took his father’s advice and let E. Hart, Fred Hoffmann, Mr. and to its discovery, but personally I the matter rest for two days. The Mrs. Paul Schanbacher; Library do not believe it could be discov- letter he sent to Stuart on March Patrons: R-Lou Barker, Robert ered by such means or any other, 14, 1917, was much shorter and Eckley, Donald R. Tracy, The for I do not think it ever existed. simply stated his dismissal of the Tracy Foundation, Josephine In considering the subject quotation’s authenticity: “With- Saner; The Keyboard Club: yourself it does not seem to have out attempting to give the details Brown, Hay and Stephens, occurred to you to take into of my examination.” As an attor- Willard Bunn, Jr., George Craig, account the condition of public ney for the so-called “Robber Harlan Davidson Publishers, affairs in 1864 and for a consider- Barons,” Robert’s initial response Cullom Davis, David Herndon, able time after President Lincoln’s shows a marked defensiveness of John Hoffmann, Illinois State death. I am old enough to corporate America. That aside, Journal Register, Dr. and Mrs. remember that time very well, but the preponderance of evidence Todd Janus, Hon. Richard Mills, I do not recall that there was then, undermines the credibility of the James Myers, Matthew Pinsker, or for a good many years there- quotation as originating with James Rawley, Mr. and Mrs. after, any public discussion of the Abraham Lincoln. Quite simply, Raymer, Thomas Vince; Wide danger to the public of corpora- he never wrote it. Awake Club: Winifred Barringer, Norman Boas, Paul Bremer, Richard Cain, Herbert Channick, Virtual Library Update Hon. Linda Cook, Lenore Farmer, Thomas Farrish, Paul Findley, Elbert Floyd, William Hanchett, he Abraham Lincoln Asso- ment with WordCruncher Tech- Walter Hartsfield, Stanley Herrin, ciation Board approved the nologies, a user can search the Charles Keaton, Daniel Kennedy, T creation of an electronic entire eight volumes by an indi- Mr. and Mrs. Lowe, Michael Lincoln Library that would begin vidual word or a series of words. Mattingly, Thomas O’Mara, Mark by placing The Collected Works of The words do not need to be in Plummer, Carl Volkmann, Robert Abraham Lincoln and Lincoln Day immediate proximity with one Wernle, Kenneth Winkle; Library By Day, two of the most valued another. Another great advantage Friends: Rita F. Amer, Gary reference works created by the of WordCruncher is that it shows Greenberg, Mark Hoyt, Robert Association, online. To date, the which words are most frequently Jeffers, O. J. Keller, Jerry Kluetz, first eight volumes of The Collec- used to modify the word or words Joseph McMenamin, Arseny ted Works have been converted to a being searched. Melnick, LaVerne Millstead, S. digital format. Through an agree- To date, over $26,000 has Felton Mitchell, and John Waugh. For the People 7

Concerning Mr. Lincoln

hen Harry Edward lection at the Illinois State Having Heard that James Pratt, one of the great Historical Library. Buccannon was furnished with an executive secretaries of “Persifer December 21st 1860 Eagle quill to write his Inaugeral W address with And believing that in the Association, published a com- Hon A Lincoln, pilation of letters offering descrip- Dear Sir 1860 a Republican would be tions of Lincoln, he entitled it Please accept the Eagle quill (I Elected to take his place. I deter- Concerning Mr. Lincoln: In which promised you) by the Hand of our mined to save this quill & present Abraham Lincoln is Pictured as he Representative A A Smith The it to the fortunate man whom he Appeared to Letter Writers of his might be Report tells us that the Time. The following letter was bird which furnished Buccannons written as part of a series of corre- quill was a Captive bird. Fit spondence with Abraham Lincoln, emblem of the man that used it. first as candidate and then as pres- But the bird from which this quill ident-elect. Rufus W. Miles, the was taken yealded the quill onely author, lived in Knox County, with its life Fit Emblem of the Illinois, and was first elected to man who is expected to use it. the Illinois General Assembly in For all true Republicans believe 1858. As a loyal Republican, he that you would not think life offered to send candidate Ab- worth the Keeping after the raham Lincoln an Illinois eagle Surrender of principle Great diffi- quill to pen his inaugural address culties surround you. Traitors to if he won the presidential election. their Country have threatened John G. Nicolay responded to your life And should you be called Miles’s first request on June 11, upon to Surrender it at the post of 1860 indicating that Lincoln, if duty your memory will live forev- elected, would “be glad to have er in the Heart of every Freeman. you forward him the quill.” And that is a grander monument True to his word, Miles sent than can be built of brick or mar- the quill enclosed in the following ble ‘For if hearts may not our memo- letter. From our perspective, it is John George Nicolay surprising how prophetic Miles ries keep Oblivion haste each ver- would be in his description. All bird from whose wing the quill tage sweep And let our memories spelling and punctuation remains was taken was shot By John F. end.’ as found in the original letter in Dillon in Persifer Township Knox Yours truly the Henry Horner Lincoln Col- Co Illinois in February of 1857. R W Miles”

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

Please enroll me as a member of the Mail this application (or a photo- Abraham Lincoln Association in the copy) and a check to: category indicated: The Abraham Lincoln Association 1 Old State Capitol Plaza ___ Individual ...... $ 25.00 Springfield, Illinois ___ Patron ...... $ 50.00 62701-1507 ___ Sustaining ...... $ 125.00 ___ Benefactor ...... $ 250.00 Name______Corporate ...... $ 500.00 Street ______City ______Website: www.alincolnassoc.com Members residing outside the U.S State ______add $3.00 Zip ______8 For the People

In Memoriam

he Abraham Lincoln As- the Illinois State Historical Li- living Illinoisans. In 1982, the sociation lost its best friend brary, the Lincoln Museum, and academy honored Ralph along T and longtime supporter the Tokyo Lincoln Center were with jazz artist Bobby Short, with the death of Ralph Geoffrey often the result of Ralph New- newspaper columnist Mike Royko, Newman. He suffered a heart at- man’s sleuthing. and distinguished lawyer Thomas tack last fall and continued to Ralph was interested in culti- R. Mulroy. fight various ailments until his vating the mind and imagination. A colleague of mine who had death at 86 on July 23, 1998. Books and historical manuscripts never met Ralph but occasionally Those in the Lincoln field were gateways to exciting stories talked to him on the telephone need little introduction to Ralph. and past lives and events. His en- thought him to be in his thirties He was a rare individual who cyclopedic knowledge of each or forties because his voice could claim more accomplish- book and manuscript he sold “sounded young.” Indeed, his ments and friends in his long and made collecting more than a hob- voice and manner reflected energy full life than most of us could by: it was an adventure. He was and intellectual curiosity. It was achieve in several lifetimes. Born always the center of attention not surprising that even when I on November 3, 1911, Newman because of his charm, quick wit, visited him in the hospital, Ralph began his career in minor-league and engaging stories. It is not focused on talking about the baseball. An injury cut short his surprising that Ralph was one of future and what needed to be athletic career but he never lost the founders of the Civil War done in the Lincoln field. his interest in America’s national Round Table and was frequently Our condolences go out to his sport. At the height of the Great asked to head historical commis- wife Patricia, daughters Maxine Depression, Newman purchased a sions and organizations. He also Brandburg and Carol Parry Fox, failing bookstore and turned it served as president of the Chicago and stepson Scott Simon. As was into one of the most vibrant intel- Public Library board. stated in his memorial service, lectual centers in Chicago. Reg- One of Ralph’s great interests “Ralph was an American origi- ular customers included newspa- was not only the study of past nal.” A memorial has been estab- per giants Carl Sandburg and events and people, but also being lished at Lincoln College in Lloyd Lewis. Every major and aware of the “living” history Ralph’s honor. Contributions to minor collector sought out Ralph. around us. He, along with a the Ralph G. Newman Chair can Major documents and rare printed handful of others, encouraged the be made out to Lincoln College materials that graced the collec- State of Illinois to establish the and sent to Dr. Jack Nutt, Lincoln tions of Carl Haverlin, Philip Lincoln Academy, whose purpose College, 300 Keokuk St., Lincoln, Sang, Oliver Barrett, Alfred Stern, is to honor the achievements of IL 62656.

Nonprofit Organization For the People U.S. Postage A N e w s l e t t e r o f t h e A b r a h a m L i n c o l n A s s o c i a t i o n PAID 1 Ol d St a t e Ca p i t o l Pl a z a Springfield, Illinois S p r i n g f i e l d , Il l i n o i s 62 7 0 1 - 1 5 0 7 Permit No. 263