More Powerful Than the Sword

                For this week, I wanted to bring to everyone’s attention a small piece of ephemera that was found from the nineteenth century. Essentially, a small letter was discovered from a chaplain, who also participated in the Civil War. From this supposedly obscure letter, the true placement of one of Abraham Lincoln’s family cabins may have been discovered. In a few passages, the letter describes the town, its name, its population, and where others claimed the Lincolns’ cabin to be.

                This may seem like a minor and inconsequential discovery; however, the location of the Lincolns’ cabin has been a mystery among historians for decades now. A lack of written documentation (due to the low literacy and writing capabilities in that region of the United States) has left modern historians with very little information to solve this dilemma. This, combined with a plethora of towns and cities that have over time wished to claim a part of Lincoln as their own, has led to a muddled research pursuit. This letter, though, gives historians new hope.

                Of course, this letter is still being verified, preserved, and further investigated. It will take time to see if this letter sheds more light on the topic. Yet, just the idea of a new piece of information about Abraham Lincoln gives excitement to us enthusiasts and Civil War die-hards.

                Link to the article featuring the letter here: http://www.bnd.com/2013/04/11/2572900/letter-from-civil-war-addresses.html