The Bixby Letter

[Cliff Roberts]

The case of Mrs. Bixby was first brought to Lincoln's attention through an article in a Boston newspaper by Massachusetts Adjutant General William Schouler, appealing for assistance for families of soldiers serving in the war. The article, dated Nov. 21, 1863, referred only to "a most worthy widow lady" who lost 5 sons in the war. Whether Lincoln himself discovered the article or someone brought it to him is immaterial. That day or the next, either Lincoln himself or Hay drafted a handwritten note of condolence, addressed simply to "Dear Madam," and mailed it to Adj. Gen. Schouler with a request to forward it to the lady in question. On Nov. 25, 1863, the Boston Evening Traveller printed an article dealing exclusively with Mrs. Bixby and naming her five sons. At its conclusion, the following appears:

"Gov. Gen. Schouler’s letter, it seems, attracted the attention of President Lincoln who, by some means unknown to the General, ascertained the name of the mother, and this morning’s mail brought the following letter to the Adjutant General for Mrs. Bixby"

There follows a faithful reproduction of the complete letter from Lincoln with “Mrs Bixby” written at the bottom left, opposite Lincoln’s signature on the same line.

The fact that Lincoln’s letter is dated Nov. 21, the same day the article by Schouler appeared in print, suggests the President (or Hay) had little time to identify the “worthy widow lady” mentioned by Schouler. More likely the President mailed his “Dear Madam” letter to Schouler with a request that he forward it to the proper person. Schouler probably added the name “Mrs. Bixby” to the bottom of the letter before copying it and delivering the original to Mrs. Bixby.

As to who actually wrote the “Bixby Letter,” there’s no doubt in my mind Lincoln would have done so if he’d had time, but with the war on and other important matters demanding his attention, he may well have asked Hay to do it. Once the letter became public and associated with Lincoln’s name, it’s almost certain Hay would not step on his idol's image by claiming authorship.