Diary of Mary Todd Lincoln

Prologue thing: I wanted to do this project through the eyes of Mary Todd. She didn't have an actual diary, but her sister did. I took that idea and gave Mary a diary that she receives as a gift. Some background for Mary Todd is she grew up rich in the south. Married Lincoln, later on, many people say their marriage is garbage but they made it work because they love each other.

November 4, 1863.

Dear Diary, I don't know where to start. I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Mary Todd Lincoln. I was given this journal by one of my helpers to deal with the passing of little Willie. She said that my erratic behavior as the First Lady of America will surely hurt Lincoln's political career. I didn't care. There goes not one day where the newspaper doesn't mention my name.  The people in their editor office can believe what they want. However, it doesn't hurt to try to use the journal that was gifted to me by my dear friend. It is a little awkward to be talking to myself like this and will be taking some time to get used to it.

            -Mary

November 9, 1863.

Lincoln wanted to go see the play “The Marble Heart” at the Ford theater as an effort to get me out of bed. It was quite a delight. Afterward, the actor who played Phidias and Duchalet came up to us. He wanted to ask Lincoln about the state of the war. He was rather enthusiastic about it. I felt that he was quite menacing, but I paid no attention to it. He wanted to know if Abraham would do anything to win the war. In which, Abraham replied he would do anything to keep the Union together.

            -Mary

February 14, 1864.

No one will believe me... Willie was here! He was smiling at me. Standing by my bed like he always would. Let me start from the beginning. I woke up to a cold breeze in my room. And there he was. Standing at the side of the bed, smiling at me. I ran to tell my sister, Emily. I said to her that Willie lives. She doesn’t believe me. No one believes me. I will prove it once and for all tomorrow.

            -M

February 15, 1864.

I went to visit my good friend Charles Colchester. He is a well-known medium known throughout Washington. He comforted me shortly after Willie had died. He has been there whenever I needed him.  I thought he would give me clarity into my vision of Willie from last night. My dear Lincoln had offered to accompany me. It’s awful sweet of him. When we arrived, we had begun right away. Charles had told me that little Willie wasn’t able to be found within the realm of the dead, But, rather he is currently living in paradise. My dear Willie is gone. Before we left, Charles stopped Abraham. He warned him about a potential assassination attempt and the fact that a lot of people want his head. I can’t say I’m not worried, but it’s not anything new I haven’t heard of.

            -M

July 18, 1864.

The world is becoming increasingly more hectic, and I'm stuck in between sides. I'm questioning whether I should continue supporting my husband in his pursuit to fight the war or side with my family in the south. I do believe that what we are fighting is right. However, I do not wish to attend any more of my brother's funeral. What will become of them once the war is over? Somedays, I just don't want to get out of bed. I wish my son was here with me. 

            -M

November 15, 1864

I’ve been told that the war is nearing the end. General Ulysses has ordered an immediate stop to the trading of prisoners. They are trying to deprive the Confederacy of the manpower. Especially after the razing of Atlanta, the Confederacy is running low on resources. I fear what the future holds for my family, who still reside in the south. 

            -M

December 8, 1864.

Charles came to visit today. It was a pleasant surprise. He wanted to check up on me along with delivering me a warning about Abraham's safety that he was made aware of using his powers in predicting the future. I, once again, told him that Lincoln has plenty of protection, and he needs to worry. There was a sign of disappointment in his face, but I checked it off to me, not believing in his prediction. I told him that we were going to visit the Campbell General Hospital for a play for my upcoming birthday. He told me not to go but not to give me a reason why.

            -M

December 20, 1864.

It’s been a week since my birthday. I have settled down a bit and can talk about it better. Abraham has been kidnapped. When we got out of the carriage at the hospital, we were ambushed by 2 men. One was quite muscular with a chiseled face and brown hair in his 20s, and the other one had a mustache and looked like he was in his 40s. They overpowered the guards and took Abraham away. The police said they are doing everything to find them. I told them everything I knew. They asked me if there was anything I know that could help them. I told them about Charles. I thought his behavior was rather odd. 

            -M

December 25, 1864. 

I don’t know what to feel. I don’t know what to do. When I checked the newspaper, there was contact from the kidnapper. Next to it, I saw a photo of Charles with the headline: “Conspirator Captured!” Next to him was a familiar face. I’ve seen him somewhere, but I couldn’t place his name. His name was John Wilkes Booth. The kidnapper sent their demands. They want the exchange of prisoners, or they will kill him. I couldn’t believe that he had done it. Why would he do it!? I can’t lose my husband. I can’t lose both my son and my husband. 

            -M

December 26, 1865.

Oh, I hope they don’t kill him. There was further action today made by the confederates. Attempts assassination on Vice-President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward made headlines. Vice President Johnson died 2 hours after the gunshot wound, and Secretary William died on the same day. I have nothing else if they kill him…

December 28, 1864. 

I can't breathe... Why did this have to happen?! I should have warned him of Charles. It was all my fault. It should have been me, not him. They killed him just to turn the tide of the war—the cruel bastards.

January 1, 1865. 

Goodbye. I will join my Willie and Aberham in paradise.

Works Cited

Alford, Terry. "The Spiritualist Who Warned Lincoln Was Also Booth's Drinking Buddy." Smithsonian Magazine, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-spiritualist-who-warned-lincoln-was-also-booths-drinking-buddy-180954317/. Accessed 11 May 2020.

History.com Editors. "Abraham Lincoln's Assassination." History, edited by History.com Editors, A&E Television Networks, 27 Oct. 2009, www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/abraham-lincoln-assassination. Accessed 11 May 2020.

Lindarte, Laura Castro. "John Wilkes Booth's Abduction Plot Gone Wrong." Boundary Stones: Weta's Local History Blog, 8 Mar. 2018, blogs.weta.org/boundarystones/2018/03/02/john-wilkes-booths-abduction-plot-gone-wrong#footnote-14. Accessed 11 May 2020.

Snyder, Anna. "PLAYBILLS: JOHN WILKES BOOTH PERFORMED AT FORD'S BEFORE ASSASSINATING LINCOLN AT FORD'S." Ford's Theatre, www.fords.org/blog/post/playbills-john-wilkes-booth-performed-at-fords-before-assassinating-lincoln-at-fords/. Accessed 11 May 2020.