Civil War Quilt Squares are aptly name, I am finding out. One of the first I found was a plain square, with a bue centre, edged with grey strips and dark blue outer strips, and named the "Old Abe Lincoln". Not very pretty, very practical. It was made as a memorial to the assassinated president. In the centre a photograph of Lincoln usually resides on the blue fabric.
I recently purchased quite a few civil war books with letters and quilt squares. The letters are graphic, sad, tumultuous and shocking. All from women who lived during the Civil War and penned their thoughts, displeasures and ideas.
This letter was written by Emma Florence LeConte Furman......opposite the Old Abe Lincoln square........a rather scathing and surprising letter. It may shock you .......read on:
"April 21st, 1864
Hurrah! Old Abe Lincoln has been assassinated! It may be abstractly wrong to be so jubilant, but I can't help it. After all the heaviness and gloom of yesterday this blow to our enemies comes liek a gleam of light. We have suffered till we feel savage. There seems no reason to exult, for this will make no change in our position...will only infuriate them against us. Never mind, our hated enemy has not the just reward of his life. The whole story may be a Yankee lie.
The dispatch purpors to be from Stanton to Sherman. It says Lincoln was murdered in his private box at the theatre on the night of the 14th....(Good Friday, at the theatre). The assassin brandished a dagger and shouting 'Sic semper tyrannis.Virgina is avenged.' He shot the president through the head. HE fell senseless and expired next day a little after ten. The assassin made his escape in the crowd.
No doubt it was regularly planned and he was surrounded by Southern sympathizers. 'Sic semper tyrannis.' Could there have been a fitter death for such a man? At the same hour nearly Seward's house was entered...he was badly wounded as also his son. Why could not the assassin have done his work more thoroughly?
That vile Seward...he it is to whom we owe this war....it is a shame he should escape."
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