The link between Lincoln and the Donner Party

A recently discovered document penned by Abraham Lincoln was found among artifiacts belonging to a member of the fateful Donner Party.

Apparently James F. Reed, co-founding member of the Donner Party, served in the US Army along side a younger version of the future US President Abe Lincoln. After their enlistment, the two friends kept in regular contact through the mail service.

Mr. Reed avoided the party's sufferring, however, first by stabbing another member of the group who intended to beat him with a bull whip and then again after being exiled from the group for stabbing the man. If not for being exiled, he too would have also been trapped by the blizzard

Unfortunatly for Reed's wife, she stayed with the party. Incredibly she survived, and although not confirmed, it is beleived Mrs. Reed brought the letter to safety by stuffing it in her bosom during her rescue.