Mary's Reputation

[Deb@Library]

Mary's favorite brother Alecks was killed at the Battle of Baton Rouge. She later told her half-sister Emilie that he and Willie came to visit her "in her dreams." The Northerners believed her a spy because of her Confederate roots and the Southerners believed her a traitor because she was married to Lincoln. Plus, Washington Society (including Miss Harriet Lane, the former White House First Lady) ascribed many of Lincoln's rough qualities to Mary despite her fluent French, aristocratic family, education, and impeccable manners. The girl couldn't win!