They look like bulging head veins.

[longnine009]

This is my latest Lincoln Cracked Skull 1956P. I think poor Abe must be thinking about General George (McMullet) McCullen right now. 

http://www.knightsofthecointable.com/kotctgallery/main.php?g2_itemId=2401

[scottishmoney]

Actually all the while the Generals were not performing, Mary was, up in New York City blowing dough on 300 pairs of kid gloves.  She was the Imelda Marcos of the 1860's.  So now you know the real source of his frustration.

[NoHope587]

Actually all the while the Generals were not performing, Mary was, up in New York City blowing dough on 300 pairs of kid gloves.  She was the Imelda Marcos of the 1860's.  So now you know the real source of his frustration.

Not that I think you put your foot in it Scottishmoney but its my understanding Imelda had a shoe fetish......

[scottishmoney]

Actually all the while the Generals were not performing, Mary was, up in New York City blowing dough on 300 pairs of kid gloves.  She was the Imelda Marcos of the 1860's.  So now you know the real source of his frustration.

Not that I think you put your foot in it Scottishmoney but its my understanding Imelda had a shoe fetish......

Indeed both ladies did, but shoes were not bought by Mary Lincoln in such quantities as her kid gloves.  Lincoln actually got past due notices from several New York merchants, they billed her, instead of cash on the counter.  Guess that was a privilege of a President's wife then, but Lincoln apparently didn't think so.  That poor man, wracked by a wife that was off of her kilter, and having to deal with the American Civil War.

[longnine009]

Was the glove buying after  Willie died? 

[scottishmoney]

Was the glove buying after  Willie died? 

No.  After Willie died she probably stopped that, but then started conducting seances etc. in the White House and spooking the servants with her behaviours.  She was committed to an institution in 1875 by her son Robert, and was institutionalised until her death in 1882.

[longnine009]

There were several occasions when Old Abe had to pay a visit to con-gress to convince them that she wasn't a confederate sympathizer. Bet those veins were really bulging then. Can you image a president doing that today? Tomorrow, the way things are going in this country, it won't be too long before  who the First Lady is,is a secret.

I think I'm going to name this one the McMullet failure, failing die.

[scottishmoney]

There were several occasions when Old Abe had to pay a visit to con-gress to convince them that she wasn't a confederate sympathizer. Bet those veins were really bulging then. Can you image a president doing that today? Tomorrow, the way things are going in this country, it won't be too long before  who the First Lady is,is a secret.

Most of Mary Lincoln's family were on the Confederate side during the war, and on several occasions during the prosecution of the war she wore black in mourning for Confederate relatives lost in the conflict.  At one point in 1863 or so, she received a visitor through the lines, they had gotten a pass to come through Union lines so they could visit her, I believe it was a sister of hers.  The sister stayed with the Lincolns for about a month, and the rumours fanned like wildfire.

In essence the Lincolns were much like any family from their part of the country, they had relatives on both sides of the conflict, and it made the conflict that much more divisive for the families.