Mary was a leaker

[RJNorton]

(10-29-2017 06:23 PM)kerry Wrote:  Almost all the books from the last few decades or more say the Conduct of the War committee

Hi Kerry. For me it's basically been just the opposite. For many years I accepted the older version, such as in Carl Sandburg's biography, which has Lincoln coming before the Conduct of War committee and saying, "'I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, appear of my own volition before this committee of the Senate to say that I, of my own knowledge, know that it is untrue that any of my family hold treasonable communication with the enemy."

I held Sandburg's view until about 10 years ago when two books came out. One was Gerald J. Prokopowicz' Did Lincoln Own Slaves?: And Other Frequently Asked Questions About Abraham Lincoln. Prokopowicz calls the story a legend and answers "no" to the question of whether it ever happened.

Around the same time Ed Steers' Lincoln Legends: Myths, Hoaxes, and Confabulations Associated with Our Greatest President was published. Did Lincoln go before the Conduct of War committee? Steers concludes, "As of this writing, however, the myth remains an orphan, but an interesting one. Lincoln never appeared before the committee."

And recently I read Mary Neely's article entitled "Abraham Lincoln did NOT Defend His Wife Before the Committee on the Conduct of the War."

Thus, I have tended to change my mind and feel that the story of Lincoln appearing before the Conduct of War committee was apocryphal.

The reason I would like to know the truth is that folks write me through my Lincoln website. I cannot recall anyone ever asking about this story, but if someone does in the future, I want to do my best to answer with the truth.

And because I do not know the truth I have been very curious about the research of other forum members. I would love to get to the bottom of it, if possible. (David, I know how you feel, and I thank you for your input.)