Judge Lindley Rossiter McClelland

B - April 7, 1916
D - December 13, 1991

O Captain! My Captain!

by Walt Whitman
 
O Captain! My Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is
won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and
daring:

But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! My Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up-for you the flag is flung-for you the bugle trills;
For you bouquets and ribbon'd wreaths-for you the shores
a-crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces
turning:

Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;
It is some dream that on the deck,
You've fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse or will;
The ship is anchor'd safe and sound, its voyage closed and
done;
From fearful trip the victor ship comes in with object won:

Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
But I with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

EXECUTIVE MANSION
WASHINGTON NOVEMBER 21ST, 1864

TO MRS. BRADY. BOSTON MASS.

DEAR MADAM:

I HAVE BEEN SHOWN IN THE FILES OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT A STATEMENT OF THE ADJUDANT 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 WORD OF MINE WHICH SHOULD ATTEMPT TO BEGUILE YOU FROM THE GRIEF OF A LOSS SO OVERWHELMING.
BUT I CANNOT REFRAIN FROM TENDERING 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 ALTER OF FREEDOM.

YOURS VERY SINCERELY AND RESPECTFULLY,

ABRAHAM LINCOLN