Lincoln, Mary Todd (1818-1882) to Sally Orne
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09395 Author/Creator: Lincoln, Mary Todd (1818-1882) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 November 1869 Pagination: 8 p. Order a Copy
To Sally Orne regarding her pension fight with Congress, friendship with Senator Charles Sumner, and Lincoln: "My bright little comforter Taddie, is of course with me today… The darkness is very great - we can only pray - that the dawn is at hand…If we fail, I fear, I shall sink under the blow. I have grown so nervous."4 p.
With additional 4 pages, headed "Private & Burn." Though Turner calls this a separate incomplete letter, which he dates to 12-12-1869, it may be a lengthy postscript to the first letter:
"My husband was so richly blessed with all these noble attributes that each day makes me worship his memory - more & more - Tomorrow is the anniversary of my birthday - I will be 46 and I feel 86 - my husband always so playfully and tenderly reminded me of the day, if I affected to forget it. He was 14 years and 10 months older than myself, & was from my eighteenth year - Always - lover - husband - father & all all to me - Truly my all."
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.