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President Lincoln sent a letter of thanks to the widow of the late Rev. Joseph Stockton, of Pittsburgh, Pa., a lady eighty years of age, for knitting a great number of stockings for the soldiers. To this favor of the President Mrs. Stockton has sent the following reply:

To His Excellency, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States:
Your kind letter was duly received. My labors in behalf of our gallant soldiers, I fear, are somewhat exaggerated. I have endeavored to do what I could for those who battle to crush this wicked rebellion.

Every grandson I have capable of bearing arms is now in the army--one acting as brigadier-general in Western Virginia; one as colonel, commanding under General McPherson; one as captain, One Hundred and Fortieth Pennsylvania volunteers; one as lieutenant, in the Fourteenth Pennsylvania cavalry; and another, who was disabled as a gunner in the Chicago Light Artillery, I have at home with me, and he is yet anxious to again join his command.

At my time of life I cannot expect that many more years will be given to me; yet it is my sincere desire that ere I close my mortal life peace may be restored to our whole land.

And now, my dear sir, in concluding this letter, (perhaps the last I shall ever write,) permit me to say that my earnest prayer for you is, that you may long be spared to enjoy the blessing of a grateful nation, when Freedom shall have enthroned herself truly over the entire land.

Committing you to the care of our Heavenly Father, I remain your sincere friend,


Van Nostrand. New York, New York. 1862.

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