The Bixby Letter

[RJNorton]

Thanks, Cliff. Your thinking makes a lot of sense.

I do not know if anyone has posted exactly what information Lincoln was given regarding the sons. I was able to find it in Sandburg's War Years. Here is what Sandburg writes regarding the information that came to Lincoln's desk in mid-October, 1864:

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"1. Sergeant Charles N. Bixby, Company D, Twentieth Regiment, mustered in July 28, 1862; killed at Fredericksburg, May 3, 1863.

2. Corporal Henry Bixby, Company K, Thirty-second Regiment, mustered in August 5, 1862; killed at Gettysburg, July, 1863.

3. Private Edward Bixby, recruit for Twenty-second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers. Died of wounds in Hospital at Folly Island, South Carolina. He ran away from home and was mustered in the field.

4. Private Oliver C. Bixby, Company E, Fifty-eighth Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers. Mustered March 4, 1864. Killed before Petersburg, July 30, 1864.

5. Private George Way Bixby, Co. B, 56th Reg. Mass. Vols. in March 19th. 1864. Killed before Petersburg, July 30, 1864.

The last named, George, enlisted under the assumed name of George Way. The reason why be did not enlist under his proper name was to conceal the fact of his enlistment from his wife."