Mae McGraw’s February 2026 Newsletter: Noteworthy Birthdays
Civil War Fun Facts: Our February calendar includes both Presidents’ Day (2/16) and Black History Month with 2026 as the 100th Anniversary of its observance. February features birthdays for two Civil War era men: Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12 and Frederick Douglas’s chosen birthday February 14.
Abraham Lincoln
Frederick Douglas
Abraham Lincoln called for an executive order, which declared that enslaved people in the Confederate states be freed, the Emancipation Proclamation.
As an escaped slave, Douglas was unaware of his actual birth date. Frederick Douglas was a brilliant orator, abolitionist, writer, and statesman.
To celebrate this month, a few facts about the Emancipation Proclamation, which took effect on January 1, 1863, and signed in the midst of the Civil War.
Before signing the document on New Year’s Day, Lincoln shook hands until his arm and shoulders hurt. Because of this, Lincoln was afraid his signature on the Emancipation Proclamation would cause him to have a shaky signature, and he wanted to be sure his signature revealed his confidence in doing what was right. So, Lincoln rested his arm for a few moments and carefully signed it with a steady hand.
It was a bold move by Lincoln. For many this document caused mixed feelings. The slaves and abolitionists were ecstatic, but mutiny broke out in the army. Many men who had enlisted deserted and recruitment fell. Many felt that they had joined the army to keep the Union together and not to free the enslaved. Unfortunately, Lincoln’s proclamation was then followed by several battle losses and many Union casualties. Republicans in the Senate revolted, calling for Lincoln’s resignation.
Lincoln was devastated. His comments to a friend about the situation give us a glimpse of his feelings at that time: “We are now on the brink of destruction. It appears to me that even the Almighty is against us. I can hardly see a ray of hope.”
But the tide of war changed after several Union victories, especially those led by Generals Grant and Sherman. This good news and a period of social adjustment put Lincoln in good graces again. Lincoln won the election for his second term as President in November of 1864.