Lincoln's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

Discussing Lincoln's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, Lincoln biographer Carl Sandburg says:

Three days after Lee's escape and eleven days after the repulse of Lee at Gettysburg and the surrender of Pemberton's army to Grant at Vicksburg, there was issued from the White House a document entitled "Proclamation for Thanksgiving, July 15, 1863, but the President of the United States of America." In the flowing text and the undeniably mystic spirit that ran through this document, in the announcements that marched in diapasons of Old Testament prose, in the attitude of piety in which the name of Almighty God in various appellations was invoked, Lincoln set forth the Chief Magistrate of the Republic as a man of faith. Some could read a belief in fate and foreordination, or gambler's luck, or a superstitious individual's obedience to hoodoos and mascots, in this proclamation, but these were isolated philosophers.

"It has pleased Almighty God to hearken to the supplications and prayers of an afflicted people," ran the opening chords, "and to vouchsafe to the army and navy of the United States victories on land and on the sea so signal and effective as to furnish reasonable grounds for augmented confidence that the union of these States will be maintained, their Constitution preserved, and their peace and prosperity permanently restored." Those who had brought these winnings should be mentioned. "These victories have been according not without sacrifices of life, limb, health, and liberty, incurred by brave, loyal and patriotic citizens. Domestic affliction in every part of the country follows in the train of these fearful bereavements."

Then came a long paragraph composed entirely of one sentence, the longest in either a private letter or a state paper having the signature of Abraham Lincoln. In it was noticeable some of the tone and style of the churchman Seward, and proclamation may have been a joint product as in the closing paragraph of the first inaugural address. It employed three different appellations for the Deity, and was a formidable effort at delivering the impression that the Union of States and its Chief Magistrate were in possession of dignity, security, and high calm purpose in the midst of tumult, red-handed violence, and the smoke of desolate destruction. The sentence read:

"Now, therefore, be it known that I do set apart Thursday, the 6th day of August next, to be observed as a day for national thanksgiving, praise, and prayer, and I invite the people of the United States to assemble on that occasion in their customary places of worship, and, in the forms approved by their own consciences, render the homage due to the Divine Majesty for the wonderful things he has done in the nation's behalf, and to invoke the influences of his Holy Spirit to subdue the anger which has produced and so long sustained a needless and cruel rebellion, to change the hearts of the insurgents, to guide the counsels of the government with wisdom adequate to so great a national emergency, and to visit with tender care and consolation throughout the length and breadth of our land all those who, through the vicissitudes of marches, voyages, battles, and sieges have been brought to suffer in mind, body, or estate, and finally to lead the whole nation through the paths of repentance and submission to the Divine Will back to the perfect enjoyment of union and fraternal peace."

January 1, 1860, Augusta, Georgia - Part II

Didn't get up till next evening, and then to be on the couch in her room. As she gave the next entertainment, I used my room for a drawing room. Wm was down. She had Alice Cogg and L. Wolf and Mrs. Lumb where I was one evening. Mr. Cook and Tucker attended all. Mr. and Mrs. Potter gave one, and Mr. Wheelock and others. And none cured my cold with all the Champaign, egg nog, wine cake, candy apples, grapes, etc. I ought not to come up today. It is as much as I can do to write, I feel so bad -- a severe cold and sore throat.



Agnes and Mag send their respects. With much regard,

January 1, 1860, Augusta, Georgia - Part I

Much Respected Mr. & Mrs. W,



I have just received the long looked for letter. I wish you both a happy New Year. Very glad to hear you are well & happy. I really began to worry about Lizzie. She, having a bad headache & a long journey before her & looking for a letter before you had tome to accomplish your journey, made it appear really longer than it was. I thought she would say, now don't write 'till I get well. So as the days would come and go and no letter, I really was confirmed in my opinion.



You say you are in a great dearth for letters & papers. We will send you some, who was very glad to hear from Lizzie as well as yourself. In regard to news, Bill Lawhon has just been in saying all the companies here are ordered to leave at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning for Charleston. It is what we have expected. Oh! The horrors of War! Who can tell where and when it will end, but once beloved country, the greatest and best on earth, is to be torn asunder.



Once Christmas has or would have been a dull one had not Mrs. Knapp come over from Edfield Friday before and leaves today. For I have had a bad cold and could not hear her but two days for a week. Mrs. Charles Wheatlock gave the first evenings entertainment. I was not there. Mrs. Copeland unlocked the door that separated us, gave me a hot bath -- compassion -- and bathed my throat with Radway's syrup -- done all she could for me, her husband prescribed and she administered. I'll then go to the party after this.

July 16, 1859, Augusta, Georgia

My Dear Little Alice:



I have just written a letter to Beckie and it makes me think about you, so I will write and it won't matter if your letter is very much like Beckie's, will it? I told her first what a hot day this is down here in Georgia. How hot? The sun shines down on our broad dusty streets, the brick houses and pavements, the rusty trees, the umbrellas and parasols. How hot? The pavements and streets shine up on people in light clothes, sweating very much about the shoulders, under the umbrellas and parasols. How the brick houses shine in with a prefect blaze on all sides. There is no breeze, and the very weathercock looks like it were sun-struck and never would move anymore. I believe somebody else has noticed one in the same condition before me. Maybe it was Dickens -- Nellie knows. The street is never sprinkled on this day, and, like so many fat chickens we all seem to be saved through the week to be broiled on Sunday.



The negroes looking generally nice and clean -- the women with those turbanish bandages on their heads which are so peculiar and becoming to them -- congregate in the market houses and all shady places, and enjoy themselves very much, after their own fashion.



And I -- in the shop, with back doors and windows open for the fresh air -- which never comes in -- my floor sprinkled -- coat, vest and necktie hanging on chairs and door-knobs, shirt collar unbuttoned and very much turned down and suspenders slipped off my shoulders, enjoy myself, as much as I can, after my own fashion.



I must tell you, as I did Beckie, of two new and very pleasant acquaintances that I -- and all of us in the store have made -- little girls from the hotel over the store -- about as large as you was when I saw you last -- 3 years ago. They come into the store to see us everyday, and are very pretty and charming company, but finding that they were about to extend their visits to the shop, which would not do at all, you know I was obliged to invent a Bear and keep him in my little sleeping room (which is not in the shop). Not a bear of the rampant, child-drowning kind such as Elijah (or Elisha I never can tell which) called out of the wood, that frighten children into fits with jumping out from behind doors and skulking under counters, but a mild, benevolent animal with the wool very much grown over his eyes, that eats nothing but grass and melon rinds, and sleeps all the time unless someone wakes him up with making too much noise in the front store. For a day or two Mr. Osborne ignored the Bear, but, seeing that he was a gentle beast who never excited anything of a spasmodic nature, and withal was needed very much he now acknowledges him. So the sweet little girls come in to gladden our eyes often, while the silent influence of the Bear preserves our sanctuary.

January 6, 1861, Homer, Iowa

Dear Lizzie,



May I presume to call you "Lizzie" dear sister? Do you think "Mrs. Williams" would be more appropriate? I must confess I do not, and will therefore call you Lizzie, at least until requested not to.



When James sent your daguerreotype accompanied by a letter acquainting us with his intended marriage, which we learned by day before yesterday's mail was consummated on the 14th ult, and spoke in such high terms of you. I felt so enthusiastic that I determined to become acquainted with you thro' the medium of the post forthwith, but when I saw my poor scrawl on paper was it any wonder I turned away saddened and disgusted? I think not, but I thought of you both constantly, and morning and evening breathed a silent but heartfelt prayer for your happiness.



I gave James an account of our Christmas from which you will no doubt draw the inference that our amusements are very primitive and tame -- my description was certainly the latter -- and probably they are, but we nevertheless enjoyed ourselves thoroughly on the occasion referred to, or at least I did.



New years was a most beautiful day and we had a sleigh ride which we enjoyed as much as our sense of the beautiful and delicious would admit of.



There was a public ball in the evening, but tho' we believe dancing to be harmless and pleasant in itself, yet we have grave objections to the persons who invariably attend such gatherings here, and therefore we did not go.



Our houses are surrounded by immense banks of snow, but on the open prairie it is pretty equally distributed. Soon after the snow fell we had a very heavy sleet which secured the snow from blowing and made the surface of the drifts as smooth and firm as could be desired, affording a fine opportunity for sledding, which Rebecca and George have improved to its full extent.



It is cloudy today and is thawing some. Ma and pa and indeed all of us send our love.



Your proud and happy sister-in-law.



Bella



P.S. I wish to add a few lines for James.



Dear Brother, I wish you joy! O how I wish I could see you and Lizzie and talk to you! This way of putting one's ideas on paper seems so senseless and I cannot express half what I want to, so I will leave you to imagine the rest.



I believe I told you that Mary Hartman married Mr. Hollowday, which was a mistake, her husband's name being Ammond. The misunderstanding arose from the fact of their both being lawyers, both teach in the same neighborhood, each marrying one of their pupils and being married at about the same time. Mr. Ammond is very gentlemanly and appears to be well educated. I have seen him several times and the oftener I see him the more I wonder what could have induced him to marry her. They were only acquainted three months, part of which time he was sick and she took care of him. I send you a "poem" written by him, which, by the way don't speak much for his poetic powers; the theme is the post office at Webster City about which there has been great excitement -- everyone wanting it.



I suppose you remember that Clarindy Heartman moved away to Des Moines about a year ago! Well she was married a short time ago to a stage driver, said to be a respectable man. I do not know his name. James Heartman has a daughter who was a week old last Wednesday; they are very proud of her. Martin Heartman has got entirely well of his wound which they thought would prove fatal. Emily Pemberton was at the New Year's ball, as well as every previous one within the past year. Her boy is a pretty, bright little fellow, and they seem very fond of him.



Your affectionate sister,



Bella



Pa wishes you to read the article marked with a cross in the leaf of the Crisis, enclosed.

March 15, 1861, Mobile, Alabama

$40.75



Rec'd Mobile, March 15th, '61, from Mr. J. M. Williams, Forty & 75/100 dollars in full for board for self & wife up to date.



M. T. McLelland

February 1861, Homer, Iowa, Press Clipping

Death of Dr. J. J. Miller



We are deeply pained to record the death of this estimable man, which occurred at Kosta, Iowa County, on the 15th instant. Dr. Miller resided nearly five years at Homer, in this County, and at the time of his death, was only temporarily absent. His health had been poor for several months, but an attack of pleurisy finally carried him to his premature grave. Dr. Miller was a gentleman of fine education, thoroughly honest and upright, and possessed of the most kindly traits of character. He died, as he had lived, a sincere Christian, beloved and respected by all who knew him. He was 37 years of age at the time of his death.

No Date

Dear Beckie,



If I had heard of that great prairie fire before, I might have supposed that you were all burned up entirely: So far as my letters were concerned you might as well have been for from Ma's letter of 28th Sep. till yours rec. day before yesterday I had not one line to assure me that all was right at home. I won't threaten to stop writing for eight or nine weeks just to let you experience the uneasiness and disappointment that I have felt, for it would be a cruel experiment.

November 26, 1859, Augusta, Georgia

Received Augusta Novbr 26 1859. Ten dollars of Mr. James M. Williams for tuition on Dancing, for one term ending Decbr 12, 1859.



Duesberry & Gans