Lincoln's Private Secretary Recalls Lincoln's 1862 Letter to Greeley

James C. Welling 

 

John Nicholay

Private secretary to President Lincoln, John Nicholay recalled: 

'On August 22, 1862 President Lincoln wrote an open letter to Horace Greeley, editor of New York Tribune.This letter, which has become famous in history, he sent to the National Intelligencer for publication.

James Clarke Welling was at that time the editor in charge, and he did what few young editors would have ventured upon.

Suggested omission from page 2 of Lincoln's Greeley Letter

 

He wanted to make a change to Lincoln’s text so he immediately carried the manuscript back to the President, and suggested its omission.'

'President Lincoln good-naturedly complied, not that he was convinced of the alleged imperfection, but because he never stubbornly resisted advice where only trifles were concerned.'
John Nicolay

President Lincoln's 
Private secretary
 
Princeton College

Bulletin.Vol. VII. April, 1895. No. 2.
 

 

Family Lore: Lincolns' friendship with E.L.Dixon

So the family legend went like this...

After President Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theater, Mary Lincoln was hysterical and sent for a lady friend who stayed with her all night. In the morning, the lady friend took Mary back to the White House, alone. 

This story was our family legend. 

The lady friend who stayed with Mary Lincoln and witnessed Lincoln's death was our great-great grandmother. Was the legend true or merely family lore?

The Death of Lincoln,  
Alonzo Chappel, 1865
 (CHS 1971.177)

 

 Historical paintings depict the people present the night Lincoln died. The key to the paintings give the answer.

Who was the woman seated in front next to Mary? What about the woman across from her? Or the woman behind that woman? Which was Clara Harris? Just who were these nameless faces?

 

The Last Hours of Lincoln,  Alonzo Chappel,  Brown Univ.  

The Last Hours of Lincoln, is the earlier version of the same painting. In this the woman in the center has her head turned slightly. Now look at a picture of our great grandmother. 

You can see her face -- and looking side by side with our great-great grandmothers?

Is there a resemblance? Perhaps there is. 

It was like finding history. Lost and found history. 

E.L. Dixon, Mary Lincoln's friend

1862 Feb Lincoln White House Dinner Invitation

Dixon-Welling collection at CHS Ms 46829

The President and Mrs Lincoln

request the honor of
 Sen. and Mrs. Dixon at dinner.

Mrs. Lincoln also hosted a reception for an old acquaintance of the Dixons, Gen. Tom Thumb with his bride, Lavinia  Warren. Tom Thumb and Mrs. Dixon met on board the Great Western steamship heading to their 1841 European Grand Tour. 

1862 Lincolns Proclamation Draft Preserved

Original Manuscript of Lincoln's Proclamation was written July 25, 1862, a prelude to the Emancipation Proclamation was donated by National Intelligencer editor, James C. Welling to raise funds at the 1864 Great Fair of Philadelphia. This favorite of American history treasures is exhibited at the Library Company of Philadelphia.

The lucky bidder was Anne Hampton Brewster, who later donated it to the Library Company. 

Coincidentally, (noted on left) the biography of Anne Hampton Brewster, published by The Library Company, the "Genevieve" who gave AHB the nickname of "social outlaw" was Genevieve Welling, daughter of Dr. James Clarke Welling, the original donor of Lincoln's Proclamation. 

1861 July 27 Lincoln letter published by Welling,

July 27, 1861

From the Archive of James C. Welling, editor of the National Intelligencer: 

The original draft written by President Lincoln in reply to letter from  Maryland Members of the House of Representatives both dated July 27, 1861

Ms 64990 Abraham Lincoln letter, 27 July 1861

EXECUTIVE MANSION, July 27, 1861. 

Hon. Edwin Webster, J.W. Crisfield, C.S.S. Seay, Charles B. Calvert 

   
Gentlemen:---

Yours of to-day, with the enclosure from Mr. Ridgely, has been received and referred to General Scott, as I know nothing whatever of the particular case.

May I beg you to consider the difficulties of my position and solicit your kind assistance in it? 

Our security in the seizing of arms for our destruction

will amount to nothing at all, if we are never to make mistakes in searching a place where there are none.

I shall continue to do the very best I can to discriminate between true and false men.

Ms 64990 Abraham Lincoln letter, 27 July 1861

In the mean time, let me, once more, beg your assistance in allaying initiatives which are unavoidable. 

Yours, very truly, 

A. LINCOLN.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 New York Times reprint transcript below

continues the conversation. 

THE ADMINISTRATION AND MARYLAND 

Published: August 9, 1861

From the National Intelligencer. 

The subjoined correspondence will be specially interesting to our readers in the State of Maryland, as serving to show the zeal and efficiency with which the interests and rights of that State are guarded by its Representatives in Congress, as also the promptitude with which a favorable response was received from the Executive and the General-in-Chief. 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, July 27, 1861.

To the President of the United States:

SIR: The undersigned beg leave to lay before you the inclosed letter of JAMES L. RIDGELY, Esq., of Baltimore County, in the State, of Maryland.

Mr. RIDGELY gives a circumstantial account of a visit to his premises, and of a search thereof, made by a party of soldiers of the United States, professing to act by authority of this Government, which seem to us to be very extraordinary and unnecessary.

Mr. RIDGELY is a distinguished citizen of Maryland, well known for his private virtues and for his uniform and consistent loyalty to the Union and the Constitution. Any statement proceeding from him is entitled to full consideration.
In bringing this letter and the facts detailed to your notice, we avail ourselves of the occasion to express our regret that similar cases of military visitation and search, sometimes accompanied by arrest, have been permitted in Maryland, without just reason or necessity. Such visits, searches and arrests, more than any thing which has occurred, keep the minds of our people excited, and afford to the enemies of the Union means of continued agitation.

We respectfully suggest the propriety of having the military restrained to acts in support of the civil authority; or, if cases arise in which the public welfare requires prompter action, then that no visit, search or arrest be made, except upon the order of the officer in command of the district, in writing, setting forth the cause of the visit, search or arrest, and the proof upon which the order is issued. We have the honor to be, yours, &c.,

EDWIN H. WEBSTER,
J.W. CRISFIELD,
C.L.L. LEARY,
CHARLES B. CALVERT.

P.S. -- Messrs. MAY and THOMAS are not in the city, and hence they could not be consulted.

Donated by James Clarke Welling's daughter on September 24, 1957

Ms 64990 Abraham Lincoln letter, 27 July 1861, Executive Mansion, to Edwin Webster, et. al.     Donated by Miss Elizabeth D. Welling+  on 24 September 1957.

1861 July 20 Sen. Dixon of CT witnesses Bull Run

Saturday, July 20, 1861 

Sec. Simon Cameron returns from Gen. McDowell's  headquarters at Manassas, Va., and reports orally to President on preparation of army for impending battle.

 

Sunday, July 21, 1861. President Lincoln returns to White House about 7 P.M. and learns from Sec. Seward that battle has been lost. Remains awake all night, listening to stories of senators and congressmen returning from battlefield.

1861 July 1st

July 1 1861

 

CONTENT INFO: Content associated with this blog was created by Caroline Welling Van Deusen.  1, such as Civil War papers, ephemera, textiles, furniture, journals, photographs, letters, family antidotes, memorabilia descend from Sen. James Dixon (1812-1873) from Connecticut, his wife Elizabeth Lord (Cogswell) Dixon (1818-1871). Their daughters Elizabeth L. Dixon (1843 -1942). Clementine (Dixon) Welling (1845-1911) and husband, James Clarke Welling (1825-1894) 

Blog creator hopes these forgotten relics passed down from her great grandparents offer a glimpse into the Civil War and the lives of the Lincolns from a new vantage point.

1861 Lincoln's 1st Inauguration

March 1861

1860 National Intelligencer announces: Welling managing editor

In 1860, Hon. William Seaton, surviving editor of the National Intelligencer

announced James C. Welling as editor of editorial content. 

Intelligencer_endorsed_by_Buchanan

Ex-President Buchanan supports National Intelligencer 
Official organ for the Administration

* Aside: Now 150 years later reading through those historical Civil War manuscripts preserved by the editor of the National Intelligencer, James Clarke Welling, it seems a bit like touching history...  so fascinating... fertile soil and seed from which this blog hath bloomed.

Connecticut Life Before and After

Rose-Mount

For a glimpse into their lives of the Sen. James Dixon before and after the Civil War, head to Hartford, Connecticut, and head west from the downtown area.

On the left side of Farmington Avenue, in what is now historical neighborhood of Asylum Hill, you will see the site where once stood Rose-Mount, the grand estate of Senator James Dixon, his wife, Elizabeth and their children.

The Dixons purchased the tract of 14 acres of land in 1840 and built was a large mansion, several small out-buildings and a barn. Their beautiful gardens, inspired them to name their home: Rose-Mount. Mrs. Sigourney wrote in of the the Dixon's wonderful home;

Lydia Huntley Sigourney 1791–1865
Close friend and mentor of Elizabeth L.C. Dixon

"Many of the residences on Asylum Hill are conspicuous for their elegance and grace. Among these, Rose-Mount, the seat of James Dixon, Esq., is particularly distinguished by the.extent and arrangement of its grounds. Fourteen acres, highly cultivated, are divided into lawns, gardens, and groves, and embellished with parterres of flowers, hedges, and a variety of shrubs, fruits, and forest-trees. All is found here to constitute a delightful retirement for the man of letters and of taste, where cultivated intellect may enjoy the luxuries of literature, or woo the willing muse." Scenes In My Native Land [1]

Mrs. Sigourney also wrote "a women's conversation should adhere to three rules:

1. It should give pleasure
2. It should be instructive
3. It should comforting. 

Sigourney also made a case for the value of silence at times, and argued that part of a woman's role is to be a good listener[2]. Perhaps this was valuable the night Elizabeth Dixon comforted her friend, Mary Lincoln, the night Lincoln died. 

Undoubtedly this sage advice endeared Mrs. E.L. Dixon as a friend to the Lincolns and helped Mary Lincoln summon her faithful friend the night Lincoln died. 

The Dixon–Welling Place

Over the years, Rosemount became known as the Dixon–Welling Place, daughter Clementine married James C. Welling, editor of Washington, D.C newspaper National Intelligencer and was host to many of our nation's most celebrated writers, poets, dignitaries and military leaders of the day. For more than 70 years the Dixon and Welling family lived here until 1929 when they sold the 12 acre property to the Aetna Insurance Company.

Today, the only remnants of this paradise lost are several copper beach trees on the grounds and the Dixon’s large bell that hung outside the main house to summon the gardeners.

Lost Footprints Found

Soon I understood why no member of my family has attempted to delve into our past to learn about the Civil War friendship the family shared with the Lincolns.


The painting The Last Day of Lincoln, at John Hay Library and Last Hours of Abraham Lincoln,  Chicago History Museum confirmed Elizabeth L. Dixon, my great-great grandmother was present at the Petersen House and witnessed Lincoln's last moments of life. 

Over the last decade, after discovering dozens and dozens of Civil War relics, papers, diaries, photographs in our family's basements, attics and historical societies it has become clear that our family has needed these 150 years to heal -- Elizabeth L. Dixon must have been an archetype for the following generations and we have had to wait until her children's children's children were grown that her relics would be found and details of her friendship with the Lincolns finally shared, publicly.

Her collection retraces their footprints and events of the Civil War... truly a glimpse into the lives of the Lincolns from a new vantage point.  

Sadly, found within the pages of her 1845  journal recounting her first days in Washington,   twenty years before she witnessed Lincoln's deathbed she wrote at the end of her diary;

 

" I wonder if this will be of interest in after years, for that was my intent on writing it, a giddy life but my head was not turned by it". 

A stark contrast to her words in 1865, she never could have imagined what was in store for her. But we know, don't we?

+ The Last Hours of Abraham Lincoln, 1868 Alonzo Chappel (1828-87) Chicago Historical Society purchase 1971. 177 
++ The Last Day of Lincoln (1865-68) John Badger Bachelder (1825-94) and Alonzo Chappel (1828-87) John Hay Library, Brown Univ,  RI