The Battle Hymn of the Republic

[maharba]

Folks say that Lincoln 'rescued waifs of verse' from newspaper clippings and would memorize them, particularly fond of fatalistic or melancholy hymns and poetry. I wonder if the articles had more of the verse or the backstory to them, and if he bothered to read those. It may be that the author of 'Father whatever of earthly bliss' was a story he knew, and it resonated with his own sad experiences?