Abraham Lincoln and his family often sought solace at the Soldier's Home in Washington DC. It was to this mansion that the president often retreated to escape the summer's heat and withdraw from the problems of the war. For a weekend excursion in 1864, the Lincolns invited Joshua Speed to be their guest. Shortly after sunrise, Speed entered the library unannounced. There he found the president sitting before an open window, enjoying the morning's light, intently reading his Bible. Speed complimented the president's faith, then reaffirmed his own skepticism regarding religion.
