"President Abraham Lincoln"

Taken February - April 1865, Last Photo Taken of President Abraham Lincoln 

ExecutiveMansion, Washington

November 21, 1864

MRS. BIXBY

     Boston, Mass.

Dear Madam:

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant-General 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 consolation that may be found in the thanks for the Republic that they died to save.  I pray that the 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,

                                                                                   ABRAHAM LINCOLN

An 1864 (Mathew Brady - photo)

Depicting President Lincoln reading a book

with his youngest son, TAD.