“Bilious” President Lincoln Still Confined to Bed on Thanksgiving Day

November 26, 1863

“The President quite unwell,” writes presidential aide John Hay in his diary.  Thanksgiving Day to which Grant’s despatches this morning give glorious significance.  I heard a sermon from Dr. Hall in which he argued that our national troubles originated from a spirit of anarc[h]y – that the affliction will not have been in vain if the war begets reverence for law.” Hay writes colleague John G. Nicolay: “The newspapers of this morning have told you all you wwant to know & so I send no telegram.  The news is glorious.  Nature was against us, but we won in her spite.  Had not the rapid current and drift swept away Hookers pontoons he would have utterly destroyed them.

Grant will immediately send a column to relieve Burnside & if possible destroy Longstreet.

The President is sick in bed.  Bilious.

President Lincoln meets Irish-borne writer Charles G. Halpine, who writes as “Private Miles O’Reilly.” Halpine had served in the army since 1861 – including stints as an aide to General Henry W. Halleck and General David Hunter.