Looking back at Lincoln: On February 6, 1861

On this day in 1861, Mary Todd Lincoln held a reception at the Lincoln home in Springfield, Illinois in preparation for the family's departure for Washington. She was assisted by four of her sisters, and it appears that most of the town turned out to see the Lincolns off.

A newspaper reports "The levee lasted from seven to twelve o'clock in the evening, and the house thronged by thousands up to a late hour. Mr. Lincoln received the guests as they entered and were made known. They then passed on, and were introduced to Mrs. Lincoln, who stood near the center of the parlors, and who . . . acquitted herself most gracefully and admirably."

Another reporter writes, "Behind [Lincoln] on the sofa were his two little boys, about eight and four years of age respectively, the youngest of whom was as noisy as a cub wolf. After a considerable time, the noise of the little urchin attracted the father's attention. Thereupon, turning about, and stooping down . . . he had some of the pleasantest words for the little fellow, that can be imagined. Thereafter there was no noise while I remained. Mrs. Lincoln, who is a squatty, pleasant little woman, receives her visitors with an easy gracefulness that makes all feel comfortable."

Sun (Baltimore, MD), 8 February 1861, 2:3; Illinois Daily State Journal (Springfield), 9 February 1861, 2:3; Henry County Chronicle (Cambridge, IL), 26 February 1861, 2:3-5.

(I finally found an online, day-by-day Lincoln calendar! That said... I'm having so much fun researching these historical entries that I'm going to continue doing my own version in honor of the Lincoln Bicentennial.)