The Bixby Letter

[ELCore]

Thank you, gentlemen.

As to the issue of the actual situation of Mrs. Bixby's family, I had given some thought to expounding on that, perhaps in an "Appendix" before the bibliography. But after reading Robert Lincoln's Jan. 4, 1918, letter to Markens, in which he discusses that issue, I agree with him:

Quote:I think, however, that it would be rather a pity at this late date to go into that, for it would only distract attention from whatever there is of admiration for the character of the letter itself.

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(01-07-2021 08:56 AM)Gene C Wrote:  For me, the interesting feature to the Bixby letter is whether or not the circumstances behind the letter are true.
Did Mrs. Bixby have five sons who died on the field of battle?

If we are to examine who wrote it, examining John Hay's direct answer to that question carries more weight in my mind than second and third hand comments
or computerized stylometric analysis.

I do not know if John Hay ever addressed that issue, though I may have overlooked that. As Roger has already noted, some of her sons did survive. We don't really know if she knew that at the time, though, I don't think.