Jacob H. SNYDER
Pvt; 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry Company G

James R. O’NEAL
208^th Regiment of The Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Company K. 1^st Sgt.,
Wounded at Ft. Steadman, VA March 25, 1863 Discharged May 30, 1863

Wilson SPARKS
208^th Regiment of The Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry CompanyK,
2^nd Lieutenant from Pvt. Sept 10, 1864

Able Johnson 2nd Husband of Sarah A. O’Neal
91st Regiment of The Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Company A

John Hamilton 1^st Husband of Sarah A. O’Neal
110th Regiment of The Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Company C

Executive Mansion
Washington, November 21, 1864

To Mrs. Bixby, Boston, Mass.

Dear Madam,

I have been shown in the files of the War Department
a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts,
that you are the mother of five sons who have died
gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words
of mine which should attempt to beguileyou from
     the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot
refrain from tendering to you the consolation that
may be found in the thanks of the Republic they
died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the
anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only
the cherished memory of the loved and  lost,
and the solemn pride that must be yours,  to have
laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of Freedom.

Yours very sincerely and respectfully,
A. Lincoln