Blog Posts about Mary Lincoln

[RJNorton]

(03-05-2020 03:09 PM)Amy L. Wrote:  1. What happened on the 'Fatal First'?

I believe authors' opinions differ on the meaning of these two words. I think the majority of books say that this is a reference to the day the engagement between Abraham and Mary was broken. I feel this is especially true of what is written in the older books. I am not sure if anyone has a 100% answer with certainty. As far as I know, the only reference Abraham made to it was when he wrote Speed (March 27, 1842), "I am not going beyond the truth, when I tell you, that the short space it took me to read your last letter, gave me more pleasure, than the total sum of all I have enjoyed since that fatal first of Jany.'41." On the other hand, Wilson feels the reference has to do with Speed, not the broken engagement. I believe Wilson view is shared by others.