Fanny McCoullogh letter

[Rhatkinson]

I have begun to collect letters from Lincoln to hang in my law office. I have begun with the Nicolay copy of the Gettysburg Address and it turned out beautiful (I even had one partner ask me if it was the actual copy. Good grief. I explained that no, the actual copy resided in a place called the Lincoln Bedroom
Anyway, Lincoln's letter to young Fanny McCoullough is important to me for very sentimental personal reasons. I would like to frame it, but I cannot find a picture of the original letter in Lincoln's hand. Can anyone help?

Thanks,
Heath

[RJNorton]

Heath, there is an image of the letter here.

[Rhatkinson]

Thank you so much. If a more touching letter of condolence has ever been written, I have never seen it.

[Gene C]

A very touching letter. When I read that, I wish I could have known Mr. Lincoln, not just because he was President, but because of his personality. He truely cared about others and took the time (that he didn't have enough of) to try to help and comfort those in need. His visits to army hospitals to visit wounded soldiers is a perfect example. This country needs more people like him as leaders.

[LincolnMan]

This is a Lincoln document I frequently use in therapy sessons with depressed patients-as I find the words very comforting to them. Any other similar Lincoln writings come to mind that I might use?

[David Lockmiller]

(07-15-2013 05:54 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  This is a Lincoln document I frequently use in therapy sessons with depressed patients-as I find the words very comforting to them. Any other similar Lincoln writings come to mind that I might use?

You might be interested in these words of President Abraham Lincoln:

"This extraordinary war in which we are engaged falls heavily upon all classes of people, but the most heavily upon the soldier. For it has been said, all that a man hath will he give for his life; and while all contribute of their substance, the soldier puts his life at stake, and often yields it up in his country's cause. The highest merit, then, is due to the soldier." Address at Sanitary Fair, March 16, 1864.

In today's NY Times there is a well-written article on the conscription riots in New York City in July,1863 by Jon Grinspan, a doctoral student in history at the University of Virginia. Near the end of the article, he cites an amazing statistic about the composition of the Union forces that was due (in my opinion) in large measure to the leadership of President Lincoln in the Civil War:

"The image of a Union Army made up of conscripted foreigners is false; 92 percent of Union soldiers were volunteers, and immigrants were proportionally underrepresented in general."

[LincolnMan]

Thanks David. I can see the use of the document with my patients who are veterans. I have veteran patients that have served in WW II- all the way to the current conflicts.

[RJNorton]

Bill, I do not know if this will help or not, but I thought of another letter that I feel is beautifully written. After Elmer Ellsworth was killed in Alexandria, Lincoln wrote this letter to his parents:

Abraham Lincoln's Letter to Ephraim D. and Phoebe Ellsworth
Washington, D.C., May 25, 1861:

My dear Sir and Madam, In the untimely loss of your noble son, our affliction here, is scarcely less than your own. So much of promised usefulness to one's country, and of bright hopes for one's self and friends, have rarely been so suddenly dashed, as in his fall. In size, in years, and in youthful appearance, a boy only, his power to command men, was surpassingly great. This power, combined with a fine intellect, an indomitable energy, and a taste altogether military, constituted in him, as seemed to me, the best natural talent, in that department, I ever knew. And yet he was singularly modest and deferential in social intercourse. My acquaintance with him began less than two years ago; yet through the latter half of the intervening period, it was as intimate as the disparity of our ages, and my engrossing engagements, would permit. To me, he appeared to have no indulgences or pastimes; and I never heard him utter a profane, or intemperate word. What was conclusive of his good heart, he never forgot his parents. The honors he labored for so laudably, and, in the sad end, so gallantly gave his life, he meant for them, no less than for himself.

In the hope that it may be no intrusion upon the sacredness of your sorrow, I have ventured to address you this tribute to the memory of my young friend, and your brave and early fallen child.

May God give you that consolation which is beyond all earthly power. Sincerely your friend in a common affliction --

A. Lincoln

*******************************************

Lincoln received a reply from the father:

*******************************************

Mechanicville June 19 1861

Dear Sir

Pardon us the long delay in answering your kind and sympathizing letter. It has not occurred through want of inclination to write, but from the many calls made upon our time. The fact that Elmer succeeded in gaining the love & esteem of those with whom he was associated is to us one of great joy, and the reception of a letter, expressing such sentiments, from one whom we all so much respect is highly gratifying.

It would be useless for us to attempt to describe our feelings upon the receipt of the sad news of Elmers death. Although the blow was severe, how severe God only knows, yet through his goodness & mercy we are enabled to say "thy will not ours be done" The sympathy of all true Christians, and lovers of that country in whose defence he perished has done much to assuage the intensity of our grief We sincerely believe that God has removed him from a life of strife to one of eternal peace.

He was indeed toward us all you represented him, kind loving & dutiful Our present comfort and future happiness always seemed uppermost in his mind. But he is gone and the recollections of his goodness alone is left us. We trust he did not die in vain, but that his death will advance the cause in which he was engaged.

With these few words accept our most grateful thanks for your kindness to and interest you have shown in our beloved son May it never repent you,

We would always be pleased to hear from you

We are with respect

Yours &c

E. D. Ellsworth

*****************************************

Bill, you might be interested in the website here.

[Rhatkinson]

Really beautiful, both letters. One can't help but wonder if Lincoln had Elmer's father's "die in vain" line in mind when he wrote the G.A. Maybe not, but it is a thought.

[RJNorton]

Heath, your comment got me to thinking regarding Mr. Ellsworth's letter to Lincoln. Mr. Ellsworth used the word "assuage" with regard to grief. Months ago we had a debate/discussion on whether Lincoln or Hay wrote the Bixby Letter. I think one argument that Hay wrote it was that Lincoln had never previously used the word "assuage" in any letter he wrote. I argued Lincoln, not Hay, wrote the letter. I am wondering if Lincoln was thinking of Mr. Ellsworth's use of the word when (if) he wrote the letter to Mrs. Bixby. A stretch, I suppose, but it came to mind.

[J. Beckert]

I don't think it's a stretch, Roger. I thought the same as soon as I saw the word. Mr. Ellsworth must have been a very educated man.

[David Lockmiller]

(07-15-2013 12:24 PM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Thanks David. I can see the use of the document with my patients who are veterans. I have veteran patients that have served in WW II- all the way to the current conflicts.

The words were meant for everyone.

"This extraordinary war in which we are engaged falls heavily upon all classes of people, but the most heavily upon the soldier. For it has been said, all that a man hath will he give for his life . . . . Ninety-two percent of Union soldiers were volunteers."

I was drafted at the end of the Viet Nam war. I was against the war, but I served as an accountant in Okinawa because of my college education. Many of the young black men with whom I shared basic training probably went to Viet Nam as infantrymen and a few probably died or were wounded. I did not volunteer; they did not volunteer.

"Ninety-two percent of Union soldiers [in the Civil War for the preservation of the Union and democracy] were volunteers." It was much more likely that a volunteer for the Union cause in the Civil War would be wounded or killed. It was a very hard life even for those that lived and were not wounded in battle. And, yet all volunteered and risked their lives for a cause in which they believed strongly at great potential sacrifice to themselves and their family and friends. How noble!

The great leader of the Union cause in the American Civil War, who himself suffered very greatly, was President Abraham Lincoln and he once said: "It is difficult to make a man miserable while he feels he is worthy of himself and claims kindred to the great God who made him." August 14, 1862.

Altogether, the life of Abraham Lincoln, and especially his Presidency during the American Civil War, should be inspirational to the most depressed of persons.

[LincolnMan]

(07-16-2013 08:13 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Heath, your comment got me to thinking regarding Mr. Ellsworth's letter to Lincoln. Mr. Ellsworth used the word "assuage" with regard to grief. Months ago we had a debate/discussion on whether Lincoln or Hay wrote the Bixby Letter. I think one argument that Hay wrote it was that Lincoln had never previously used the word "assuage" in any letter he wrote. I argued Lincoln, not Hay, wrote the letter. I am wondering if Lincoln was thinking of Mr. Ellsworth's use of the word when (if) he wrote the letter to Mrs. Bixby. A stretch, I suppose, but it came to mind.

Roger, I think it's certainly a reasonable possibility. I've never linked the two together-but it makes sense.