Abraham Lincoln's Most Famous Letter

On November 21, 1864; Abraham Lincoln wrote a letter to a widow named Lydia Bixby upon learning that she had lost 5 sons in the Civil War. The letter was published in the Boston Transcript on Nov. 25, 1864; the same day she received it. There has been a great deal of controversy over this letter. Some even say Lincoln did not write it.
I believe part of the controversy stems from the fact that in the letter he states his belief in God by stating: "I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement..." Many Lincoln scholars attempt to downplay, ignore or discredit Lincoln's faith in God. I, as a life long student of history, the American Civil War and the life of Lincoln; continue to be persuaded that Abraham Lincoln's faith in God and in God's Word has contributed greatly toward Lincoln being the greatest American President. Here is the letter:

"Dear Madam, I have been shown, in the files of the War Department, a statement of the Adjutant-General of Massachusetts, that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously in the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any words of mine which should attempt to beguile you from a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering to you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice on the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,
Abraham Lincoln."

"To Mrs. Bixby, Boston, Mass."