Lincoln's Birth

[RJNorton]

Sandburg probably used the Richard Creal version as recorded by William E. Barton. In 1906 Barton interviewed Judge Richard W. Creal who had been present at the 1864 picnic where Peggy Walters told her story of the birth. (The picnic was on the Creal family property.) Creal was 11 years old at the time of the picnic. Barton took notes of his interview with Judge Creal, and Peggy Walters' words are from the notes Barton took during the interview. Creal said Peggy had a broken hip and was on crutches at the time of the picnic. She died later that same year. Barton stated, "It constitutes the only reliable narrative we have of the birth of Abraham Lincoln."

Despite what Barton said, I feel it should be kept in mind that Peggy Walters gave her version 55 years after Lincoln's birth, and Creal told Barton what she said 42 years after that.