One of the classroom assignments I recall as a child growing up in southeastern Ohio was a task to write a brief letter to the President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson. I penned a few lines, but I honestly don't recall what I said -- probably something along the lines of "have a nice day, Mr. President," and "greetings from Ohio." I have no clue if our teacher even mailed the letters, as we never heard anything back from the White House.
Back in the spring of 1863, a group of patients and staff members at the U.S. Army Hospital in York, Pennsylvania, got together and passed a series of resolutions avowing their support for the war effort. The cover letter was signed by the three-man executive committee. However, due to military protocol, it could not be mailed until endorsed by the senior post commander and sent up the command chain.
Here is the text of that letter from York sent so long ago to a man who at the time was embroiled in controversy as the "Copperhead" movement gained momentum, threatening to forever split the Union.
