ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S INVITATION TO SPEAK AT GETTYSBURG

In November of 1863 President Abraham Lincoln was invited to attend the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Seventeen acres adjacent to the town's regular cemetery had been purchased for the burial of the soldiers killed in the Battle of Gettysburg. The chief orator was to be the eloquent Edward Everett of Massachusetts. Mr. Lincoln would then add a few appropriate remarks in honor of the dead. Everett ended up speaking for about two hours; Lincoln spoke for less than three minutes. While in Gettysburg, where would the president stay? David Wills, a Gettysburg attorney, was the chairman of the cemetery board. His home fronted on the public square. Wills invited the president to stay overnight at his home. Lincoln arrived by train in Gettysburg at 5:00 P.M. on November 18. He ate dinner and spent the night at Wills' mansion before giving his famous address the next day. To read the Gettysburg Address Click Here. To the right is an image of the first page of Wills' personal invitation to President Lincoln. Click Here to view the only photograph of Lincoln at Gettysburg.