Lincoln's Anger Revealed in Civil War Letter

Oct. 6, 2008 -- Abraham Lincoln's emotions ran high during portions of the Civil War, suggests a newly documented letter, written by the former U.S. president, in which he harshly chastises a couple for disloyalty, at one point even suggesting their line of reasoning is insane.

The letter, written Feb. 13, 1864 to a Mr. and Mrs. Vch (sic) Neagle, only recently surfaced in preparation for an upcoming Sotheby's auction of important U.S. presidential and political books and manuscripts.

Part of the letter reads, "As I understand it your husband…knowingly and willingly helped a rebel to get out of our lines to the enemy to join in fighting and killing our people…You protest, nevertheless, that you and he are loyal, and you may really think so, but this is a view of loyalty which it is difficult to conceive that any sane person could take, and on which the government cannot tolerate and hope to live…"

Selby Kiffer, senior vice president of books and manuscripts at Sotheby's, told Discovery News he thinks Mrs. Neagle "must have approached Lincoln personally," begging him to pardon her husband, who was likely imprisoned for treason.

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"Remember that Lincoln was trained as a lawyer, so usually he maintained a more neutral "sober" demeanor, so "it is uncharacteristic for Lincoln to allow himself to become so emotional. His frustration clearly comes out."

The story, however, doesn't end there. When the letter is flipped over, yet another note that Lincoln wrote to himself at a later point is revealed.

Lincoln mentions that Senator James Harlan of Iowa was "well acquainted with the (Neagle) family" who were "diligent friends." The senator proposed that Mr. Neagle's parole be enlarged so that he could visit Washington. General Edward Canby then endorsed the letter, so it is assumed that Mrs. Neagle's request was granted in the end.