What is remarkeable about the article is that many of the myths are hard to call myths as such. For example the first one, "Lincoln was a simple country lawyer". Of course he became famous, successful and therefore did not limit himself to the cases that we would link to the work of a "simple country lawyer". However, you do not usually start a legal career with the big cases of nationwide importance. Of course you won't be hired for crucial tasks in huge cases by clients who have the money to hire the best and most reputable lawyers available unless you are just that. He was a lawyer, but throughout his career he dealt with simple as well as larger cases. So where does the myth come in?
As for the case of "Lincoln was depressed" it is once again the question of where to draw the line of medical depression and if people really think of the very worst case scenario when they say say he was depressed (or if everyone who says "I'm depressed!" is thinking of it for that matter). There are plenty of sources suggesting that Lincoln was often melancholic and had his depressive moments. But that is all the the supposed myth is saying I think.
Being "too compassionate" once again is a matter of personal opinion. I think this section however contains the worst blunder in this article by the mention of the exectution of 38 indians as a case to disprove Lincoln as being a compassionate person. What the author totally misses is that the execution of 38 indians (the largest mass execution in American histroy for all I know) happened after the uprising of the Sioux in 1862 and what the circumstances were. There had been attacks on towns from which the civilian population in particular suffered. I'm not making a case against the general right of the indians to defend against the breaking of treaties and the theft of their land, but it is important to understand that after the defeat of the indians the original plan was for all captured indians charged of murder were to be executed. That plan found great support by the outraged settlers at the time and under the circumstances of the war and the original plan would have meant that no less than 303 indians would have been hanged. Lincoln however commuted 265 of the prisoners and approved of the execution only of those who were charged with the killing or raping of women and children. The majority was outraged against this clemency, but Lincoln stood firm on the view that he would not have men hanged for votes. That other scandal mentioned in the article about the fortfeit document was simply about the pardon to a deserter granted by Lincoln in 1864 rather than 1865. Whatever it tells about the historian who did fake the number, I do not see it as telling much about the compassion of Lincoln.
As for the point of Lincoln being mortally I'll I'm looking forward to learn some more of the arguments in this debate through a documentary I have recently been sent by Kacie (thank you very much Kacie
).
And thank you very much for sharing the article with us Chronicler
Please do not mistake my critical view of some of what the article says for lack of appreciation for your bringing it up here
Did anybody by the way hear about any events to take place near his or her home in in the upcomming month (150th anniversary of the outbreak of the war)? I'm really in a blue funk about being unable to attend the events taking place in the US this year and therefore I really appreciate any observations, reports, or materials which I may recieve from you about the events surrounding the 150th anniversary of the outbreak fo the civil war.
