A Beautiful Blunder: The True Story of Lincoln's Letter to Mrs. Lydia A. BixbyBobbs-Merrill Company, 1926 - 119 pages |
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Abraham Lincoln Adjutant-General Schouler Agnes Albert Bixby alleged Antietam appear August battle battle of Antietam battle of Fredericksburg BEAUTIFUL BLUNDER Bixby family Bixby letter BIXBY was born Bixby's sons born in Hopkinton Charles Charles N chusetts Civil copy Crater fight Cromwell and Lydia Cromwell Bixby daughter dead death deserted died dollars Dover Street Edward Bixby enlisted facsimiles five sons Folly Island George Bixby George Way Bixby Gettysburg Governor Andrew Harrison Avenue Henry Bixby Henry Cromwell honored Huber Joel John Joseph Bixby July 30 killed later Library of Congress Lincoln's letter living Lydia Bixby Lydia Parker March married Massachusetts Volunteers Milford mother mustered nephews and nieces Newhall October Oliver OLIVER CROMWELL original Oxford probably Readville record regiment Regt reproduction Salisbury sent shoemaker soldiers sorrow story Thanksgiving dinners tion Tobin Uncle Albert Union Army War Department Watie widow word write York
Popular passages
Page 20 - That the deacon finished the one-hoss shay. Now in building of chaises, I tell you what, There is always somewhere a weakest spot, — In hub, tire, felloe, in spring or thill, In panel, or crossbar, or floor, or sill, In screw, bolt, thoroughbrace, lurking still...
Page 39 - 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 overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to 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.
Page 39 - 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 words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the...
Page 39 - I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and the 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 respectfulA.
Page 29 - About ten days ago, Mrs. Bixby came to my office, and showed me five letters from five different company commanders, and each letter informed the poor woman of the death of one of her sons. Her last remaining son was recently killed in the fight on the Weldon Railroad.
Page 30 - This is a case so remarkable that I really wish a letter might be written her by the President of the United States, taking notice of so well deserved a noble mother of five dead heroes.
Page 28 - Pardon me if I add a word in regard to a still more remarkable case than the one presented by Mr. Newhall. Your Excellency may remember that I had the honor two years ago to speak to you of a widow lady, Mrs. Bixby, in the middle walks of life, who had five sons in the Union army, one of whom was wounded at Antietam, and was sent to a hospital in Baltimore or Washington. She was very anxious to go and see him, and your Excellency was kind enough to draw your check for forty dollars ($40) to pay her...
Page 118 - Republic in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln.
Page 32 - B,' 56 Reg. Mass. Vols. Mustered in March 19, 1864, killed before Petersburg, July 30, 1864. "The last named, George, enlisted under the assumed name of George Way. His name was George Way Bixby. The reason why he did not enlist under his proper name was to conceal the fact of his enlistment from his wife.
Page 114 - He said of Jefferson Davis, the Southern President, soon after the collapse of the rebellion : " It would have been ten dollars in Jeff's pocket if he had never been born." The Mormons and Brigham Young always excited his fancy ; he never comes within sight of the Salt Lake City, or any of its inhabitants, without cutting an involuntary caper. Of the Mormons generally he remarks, " Their religion is singular, but their wives are plural.