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Summary Of Mary Todd Lincoln By Katie Helm

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Katie Helm, in The True Story of Mary, wife of Lincoln, provides a unique view into the life of the First Lady during the Civil war as only a family member could. Since she was the daughter of Emile Todd the half-sister of Mary Lincoln, Ms. Helm was able to collect information for her aunt’s biography directly from her mother’s memory and her access to the Todd family diaries and letters. Therefore she reveals through the knowledge she gained from her family, the struggles Mary Lincoln faced during the Civil War. As men were falling continuously in battle, Mrs. Lincoln inevitably felt the pain of losing three of her own brothers who had fought on the side of the Confederates. Devastatingly, she dared not show her grief over her losses …show more content…

Baker, a historian and professor of history at Goucher College and who was also featured in the Alexander Street American History video on The First Ladies: North and South, provides insight into the life of Mary Todd Lincoln during the Civil War. In her book Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography, Jean Baker describes how Mary Lincoln showed her bravery and loyalty to her husband during the terrors of the Civil War. When Washington and the White House was under threat of an attack from the Confederates, she refused to flee for safety and leave her husband’s side. Furthermore, she would accompany Lincoln in reviewing the troops and regularly visit the Washington hospitals. During her visits, she would attempt to cheer and comfort the wounded soldiers as well as compose letters to the families of those who were unable to write for themselves. As if the events of the war and the responsibilities of First Lady were not enough for her to bear, her little boy, Willie, died of typhoid fever. Through the grief of losing her son, Mary began to host séances which would become yet another target for her critics. Moreover, she watched helplessly as her husband’s health began to deteriorate under the stress and pressure of being president. Her sorrow for the wound soldiers, the death of her little boy and decline in her husband’s high spirits and health all contributed to the effects the war had Mary Lincoln’s

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