In the fall of 1864 the Governor of Massachusetts John A. Andrew wrote to President Lincoln asking him to express condolences to Mrs. Lydia Bixby who lost five sons during the Civil War.
As it turns out, it was later learned that two of Mrs. Bixby’s five sons died in battle, Charles and Oliver. Of the remainder, one deserted the army, one was honorably discharged and another deserted or died a prisoner of war.