The Bixby Letter

[RJNorton]

Some authors, such as Dr. Mark Neely, have stated that Lincoln was the author because in a letter to New Hampshire politician William E. Chandler, John Hay, himself, said "the letter of Mr. Lincoln to Mrs. Bixby is genuine." This was in 1904.

Maybe I am missing something, but I do not necessarily interpret that statement as an admission by Hay that he did not write the letter. To me, Hay is saying all the fascimilies that were printed were not genuine (the original being lost). How do others interpret Hay's statement? Is he saying Lincoln was the letter's author?