NOTE. The address as here printed is as it finally appeared after Mr. Lincoln had revised the original draft on his return to Washington. There are three other versions of the address Mr. Lincoln's original draft, the Associated Press report, and a report taken down at the time by Hon. Charles Hale one of the Massachusetts commissioners at the consecration services. By permission of the author, Major Henry S. Burrage, we reprint from a volume on Gettysburg and Lincoln (G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York and London, 1906) the four versions now extant: Mr. Lincoln's Original Draft. Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, Associated Press Report. Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth Mr. Hale's Version. Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth Mr. Lincoln's Revision. Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and upon this continent a new Nation, conceived in Liberty, and upon this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that "all men are created equal." dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. [Applause.] dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can that Nation or any Nation so conceived and so dedicated can that nation or any nation, so conceived and so dedicated-can that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it, as as a final resting place for those who died here, that the resting-place of those who here gave their lives that that resting-place of those who have given their lives that that resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. nation might live. nation might live. nation might live. we should do this. This we may in all propriety do. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. we should do this. we can not con But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, The brave men secrate The brave men, The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it far living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. above our above our The power to add or detract. [Applause.] The power to add or detract. above our poor power to add or detract. The The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here; world will little note nor long remember what we say here; world will very little note, nor long remember what we say here; world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, while it can never forget what they did here. but it can never forget what they did here. [Applause.] but it can never forget what they did here. but it can never forget what they did here. It is rather for us, the living It is It is for us, the living, rather to be dedicated here to the for us, the living, rather, to be dedicated, here, to the It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished' work that they unfinished work that they have thus far so have thus far so unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly carried on. [Applause.] nobly carried on. nobly advanced. we here be It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that, from dedicated to the great task remaining before us, that from dedicated to the great task remaining before us; that from dedicated to the great task remaining before us - that from (1) In the Associated Press report of Mr. Lincoln's address which appeared in the New York Herald, November 20, 1863, the word refinished was used instead of unfinished.' these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion— for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion; for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion; for which they gave the last full measure of devotion that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have that we here highly resolve that the dead shall not have that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have that the nation died in vain; died in vain; [Applause.] that the nation shall, under God, died in vain; that the nation shall, under God, that this nation, under God, shall died in vain have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the have a new birth of freedom; and that governments of the have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the have a new birth of freedom people, by the people, people by the people and people, by the people, and that government of the for the people, shall not perish for the people, shall not perish for the people, shall not perish for the people, shall not perish people, by the people, from the earth. from the earth. [Long-continued applause.] from the earth. from the earth. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, D. C., November 20, 1863. MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Army of Potomac: If there is a man by the name of King under sentence to be shot, please suspend execution till further order, and send record. A. LINCOLN. TELEGRAM TO GENERAL MEADE. EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, November 20, 1863. MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE, Army of Potomac: An intelligent woman in deep distress, called this morning, saying her husband, a lieutenant in the Army of Potomac, was to be shot next Monday for desertion, and putting a letter in my hand, upon which I relied for particulars, she left without mentioning a name or other particular by which to identify the case. On opening the letter I found it equally vague, having nothing to identify by, except her own signature, which seems to be "Mrs. Anna S. King." I could not again find her. If you have a case which you shall think is probably the one intended, please apply my dispatch of this morning to it. A. LINCOLN. |