The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-08
LlNColHs LETTER.

| In 1862 a lady called AT the executive
chamber at the State House seekihg an
| says the Boston Herald. She stated that
| she had five sons In the Union army and
| that she desired pass to Visit ono OF
| them. then sick Ia a hospital I'm Wash
ington. Governor Andrew was all kind
ness, ana. AZ is remembered by Colonel
Capelle. now OF Governor Cranes STAN.
then member OF the stan Of Governor
Andrew. the latter handed her the de-
sired pass. a sum Of money 10 assist I'm
defraying her expenses aud extended
every courtesy IN his power.
In 1894 President Lincoln's attention
was called TO the case, and he wrote
most kindly communication 10 Mrs Blk
loss OF Der five sons, all having died eth
er on the field or, In the hospitals. This
letter has been copied all over the world
as a splendid testimonial of the martyred
presidents sympathy TO those who gave
their all that the country might live.
Recently this letter was quoted by an
amba sssdor of the United States in a
speech delivered across the water and
within a month the war department has
been endeavoring 80 ascertain the Chris
tan name OF this lady.
nee at the State House ten the whole
story and cast shadow on the dramatic
and otherwise loyal story of the Bixby
family.
'fhc fan name OF the lady in question
Is, or rather was, for she died in 1878.
Mrs. LYDIA BiNby. and during the war
The records show that she had five
follows:
Sergeant Charles n. Blxhy. Company n.
| Twentieth Massachusetts regiment, mus
! tered in July ~. 1861; killeu at Freder-
ickshurg May q 1863,
Corporal Henry Bixby, Company X
| Thirty-second Massachusatts regiment.
mustered ~ AGgggs' s. lss2, Killed at Get
| Private Edward Iixhy. recruit for
TUnptN- sacnnH Nuecsghtseatta
| died OF wounds in hospital al Folly ISL
| and. =. &. Edward ran away from home
! and was mustered IN he 1eld
! Fhty-eighth Massachusetts rsgiment
Petersburg July 80. lssi.
| u. Fifty-siNth Massschnsctts regiment
| mustered in March 10 1884 enlisted under
| the assumed name of George Way as the
records have II, TO conceal the fact from
II was this George Way who ruined
I the loyal record OF the family OF Mrs
| Lydia biNby. According To the records
! of the record and pension Office under
| date OF December q. 1863. this man enlist
I ed ~ Chelsea. March 10, 1864 I'm the
! fnty-siSth regiment lie was = member
command. Captain Galucia Is az presen,
| clerk IN the office OF ths adiutant-gen-
| bers the man well tbs records state that
he was captured as a private July 01SGi
| near Petersburg. Va. confined at nich.
mond, Va: August 3. 1864, and at Sails
| bury, y. G.. October 2 1864 Deserted "a
the enemy from Salisbury, y, c.. date not
| shown.
Captain Galucia believes that Way q,
| BiNby died while In North Carolina al
| though there II nothing TO show This tc
| have been the case. Ever eiilce the kind.
hearted Lincoln wrote his bcautiful letter
| of sympathy. at intervals OF few
! months. there come 90 the war depart.
nlent aud 10 the state adjutant-general
| ouiCc, Inquiries and REQUESTS for the rec.
! ords OF the BlNby family.
The records also show that Mrs. Bixby
| was not alone nv giving nvs sons 20 the
| Union cause. one OTIS Nevhal hsvinp
made the same sacrifice
| The letter written hy President Lincoln
! which attracted SO much attention az the
| time and which has boen frequentl,
| quoted IN works bearing upon the civi
war and by orators : annended
| "Washiugton Nov II 1864
| Dear Madam. ! have hcen shown IN
! the files Of the War DEPARTMENT state.
| ment OF the adiutautsenersl of MasSa
chusetts that YOU are The mother OF iys
! field Of battle. feel how weak ard
| fruitlcss must b any words of mine
| which should sttempt 10 beguile vou
| from the grief ~ loss 20 ovrrwhein1.
| ing. But ! cannot refrain from tendcrinc
I 90 yQu he consolation that mag be found
/ In nc thanks ~ the republic they died ~
save. 4 pray that our Heavenly Ia NieT
may assiagc the snguish % vour ee-
| rcavsment ard lesye you only thr cher.
| ished memory of the loved aud lost. and
| tho solemn pride thar must ne yours "a
| have lnid az costly = sacrifice upon ths
nfsr of freedom icurs very sincerely
-, ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
4 To Mrs Eixby, Bpstou. Mass.