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Lincoln's Final Letter Home

This letter is the last surviving hand-written correspondence between President Lincoln and Mary Todd (GLC 08090). Far from a personal missive between husband and wife, this letter reads like a military dispatch, updating Mrs. Lincoln on the advances of the Army of the Potomac and forecasting the fall of the Confederacy. In fact, Lincoln ends the letter by noting "Copy to Secretary of War." This letter demonstrates Lincoln’s active, hands-on role as commander in chief of the armed forces.

At the time this letter was written, Mrs. Lincoln had just returned to Washington after cutting her family vacation short. In the excitement following Sheridan’s victory at Five Forks on April 1st, Lincoln reported from Grant’s Headquarters at City Point, VA. With great optimism, Lincoln wrote of Grant’s intention to order a full attack on Petersburg. However, the President had not yet received word that Grant’s campaign was a success and Lee was already abandoning Petersburg. Later that afternoon Lee sent word to President Davis to evacuate Richmond. The end of the war was in sight when the Capital of the Confederacy fell under Union control within two days and its four armies would surrender in two months time.

Brian Riggs
Research Associate
The Gilder Lehrman Collection

Item Description and Credits

GLC 08090 Lincoln's last letter to Mary Lincoln, 2 April 1865.

For more information or to obtain copies, contact Ana Ramirez-Luhrs at reference@gilderlehrman.com or call (212) 787-6616 ext. 209.

Transcript

Mrs A. Lincoln,
Washington, D.C.

Head Quarters Armies of the United States
City. Point, April 2. 7~45[a.m.] 1865

Last night Gen. Grant telegraphed that Sheridan with his Calvary and the 5th Corps have captured three brigades of Infantry, a train of weapons, and several batteries, prisoners amounting to several thousands - This morning Gen. Grant [inserted: having ordered an attack along the whole line] telegraphed as follows

“Both Wright and Parks got through the enemies lines - The battle now rages furiously. Sheridan with his Cavalry, the 5th Corps, & Miles Division of the 2nd Corps, which was sent to him since 1. this A.M. is now sweeping down from the West. All now looks highly favorable. Ord is engaged, but I have not yet heard the result in his front”

Robert yesterday wrote a little [inserted: chaefe] note to Capt. Penrow, which is all I have heard of him since you left. Copy to Secretary of War

A Lincoln