President Abraham Lincoln’s pocket watch carried a hidden historical inscription for over a century before conservators at the Smithsonian Institution revealed its true message. According to the National Museum of American History, watchmaker Jonathan Dillon carved a note inside the timepiece in April 1861 to document the outbreak of the American Civil War.
The Discovery at the Smithsonian
Conservators at the National Museum of American History opened the gold pocket watch in March 2009 after receiving a call from Jonathan Dillon’s great-great-grandson, Doug Dillon. According to Smithsonian curator Brent Glascow, museum staff used specialized tools to access the inner movement of the Tiffany & Co. timepiece, confirming the handwritten inscription scratched into the brass plate beneath the dial.
The scratched message reads: “Jonathan Dillon April 13 1861 Fort Sumpter [sic] was attacked by the rebels on the above date J Dillon.” A second inscription discovered during the same examination reads: “Jonathan Dillon April 26 1861 / Washington / thank God we have a government.” According to Smithsonian documentation, Dillon used a sharp instrument to mark the metal while repairing the watch in a Washington, D.C., shop.
Historical Context of the Inscription
The dates inscribed inside Lincoln’s watch align directly with the opening engagements of the Civil War. According to historical records maintained by the National Park Service, Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor on April 12, 1861, forcing the fort’s surrender on April 14. Dillon made his first entry on April 13, reflecting the immediate panic and realization in the Union capital that hostilities had begun.
According to an 1906 interview with Dillon published in The New York Times, the watchmaker recalled the political tension in Washington when news of the bombardment reached the city. Dillon stated that Lincoln frequently brought his watch in for repairs or regulation, though historical evidence confirming whether the 16th president knew about the hidden message remains absent.
Watch Specifications and Ownership
The timepiece is an English-made pocket watch featuring an 18-karat gold case and a movement produced by Anson Hardy, according to Smithsonian collections data. The watch was sold to Lincoln by the Washington jewelry firm M.W. Galt & Co. shortly before his inauguration in 1861.
According to the Smithsonian Institution, Lincoln never carried another pocket watch during his presidency. Following Lincoln’s assassination in April 1865, the watch descended through the Lincoln family until descendants donated it to the museum in 1958.
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