Letter to Lincoln (1863)

Newport native Sarah Josepha Hale appeals to President Lincoln in the midst of the Civil War, and instigates an official national holiday!

<< BEFORE: Thanksgiving, 1862

NEXT: Hale’s 1864 Thanksgiving editorial >>

I’ve heavily excerpted the original letter to make this comics-format version.  For further reading, see these notes & links:

• Hale’s letter of Sept. 28, 1863 >>
• Hale sent Lincoln several papers along with her letter; you can page through the entire package HERE, at the Library of Congress’ Thanksgiving Primary Source Set … (Printable PDF)
• … although this TRANSCRIPTION of the letter is a bit easier to read.
• Read Lincoln’s 3 October 1863 THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION here.
• Note how Hale employs some of the same language and political reasoning that went into Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1862…
• Also, take a moment to consider WHY this appeal may have moved Lincoln to such quick action.  Note the events that surround the letter:
  • Gettysburg & Vicksburg (July)
  • Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (November)
  • the coming election of 1864 …
• Hale refers to her 15+ year campaign for the official designation of a National Day of Thanksgiving; you can read all Hale’s editorials from “Godey’s Lady’s Book” (1847 through the Civil War & beyond!) HERE!
• Sarah Josepha Hale’s bio @ NewportNH.net >>
• Sarah Josepha Hale’s bio on WIKIPEDIA >>