President Deals with Lemons and Oranges

August 16, 1862

President Lincoln and his wife take particular concern about the welfare of Union soldiers in Washington’s many army hospitals: He writes the New York collector of customs, Hiram Barney: “Mrs. L. has $1000.00 for the benefit of the hospitals; and she will be obliged, and send the pay, if you will be so good as to select and send her two hundred dollars worth of good lemmons [sic], and one hundred dollars worth of good oranges.”