Smithsonian Uncovers Secret Message Inside Abraham Lincoln's Watch

Story Summary:

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History found a "secret" message engraved in President Abraham Lincoln's watch put there by a watchmaker who was repairing it in 1861—just as news of the attack on Fort Sumter reached Washington, D.C.

In an interview with The New York Times published April 30, 1906 Jonathan Dillon, then 84-years-old, recalled how he was working for M.W. Galt & Co. in Washington, D.C. repairing Lincoln's watch when the owner of the shop announced that the first shot of the Civil War had been fired.

The first engraving says: ''April 13, 1861. Fort Sumter was attacked by the rebels on the above date. J. Dillon.'' A second message reads: ''April 13, 1861. Thank God we have a government. Jonth [sic] Dillon.''

Professional watchmakers often recorded their work inside a watch and that record would typically only be seen by another watchmaker.

This inscription remained hidden behind the dial for almost 150 years.

After being contacted by Dillon's great-great-grandson, Doug Stiles of Illinois, the museum agreed to remove the dial to see if the watchmaker's hopeful declaration was inside.

Lincoln purchased the watch in the 1850s from George Chatterton, a Springfield, Ill., jeweler. Though Lincoln was not outwardly vain, the fine gold watch was a symbol of his success as a prominent Illinois lawyer. In the 19th century, men wore their watches in their clothing pockets. It was not until after World War I that wrist watches became more popular for use by men. The watch came to the museum in 1958 as a gift from Lincoln Isham, Abraham Lincoln's great-grandson.

Soundbites

• Brent D. Glass, Director of the National Museum of American History
• Harry Rubenstein, Curator
• George Thomas, Watchmaker
• Doug Stiles, Dillon family descendant

B-Roll Includes

• B-Roll of the watch
• B-Roll of the inscription

VIDEO PROVIDED BY: "Smithsonian's National Museum of American History"