The Most Famous Letter Abraham Lincoln Never Wrote, Or Perhaps He Did

Cultures · Published 10 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: President Lincoln’s 1864 condolence note to Lydia Bixby is a masterpiece of American prose, yet it remains shrouded in mystery. Was it penned by the President or his secretary? Did the recipient even deserve the honor? The truth is a tangled web of military errors, forged facsimiles, and enduring historical debate.

The Bixby letter was delivered to Lydia Bixby on November 25, 1864, after Massachusetts Adjutant General William Schouler informed the War Department that she had lost five sons in the Union army. The message, which praised the mother for her immense sacrifice, was published in Boston newspapers that same day. However, the premise was deeply flawed. Military records reveal that at least two of her sons survived the conflict, and others had deserted or were captured, contradicting the narrative of five combat deaths.

Authorship remains a subject of intense academic scrutiny. While some scholars argue the letter reflects Lincoln's signature style, others point to his assistant private secretary, John Hay. Proponents of Hay's authorship highlight linguistic patterns, such as the frequent use of the word 'beguile' in his other writings, and a 2018 computer analysis by Aston University researchers that identified Hay as the likely writer. Conversely, stylistic studies by other experts have suggested the work aligns more closely with Lincoln's own established voice.

The legacy of the letter is further complicated by its physical history. The original manuscript is lost, and its disappearance fueled a market for forgeries. In 1891, a print dealer named Michael F. Tobin copyrighted a lithographic facsimile that contained numerous errors, including misspellings and structural changes. This version was later displayed in a New York dime museum as the genuine article. Despite these controversies, the letter’s poignant language continues to resonate, appearing in memorials and films like Saving Private Ryan, cementing its status as a cultural touchstone.

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