The representatives of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History discovered hidden inscriptions at the inside of President Lincoln’s watch. They say the inscriptions date back to the first day of the Civil War. But what is more interesting about the find is that even Lincoln himself wasn’t aware about the two inscriptions made at the inside surface of his watch.

Both inscriptions were made public by the representatives of the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. They were made by Jonathan Dillon, watchmaker who was repairing the timepiece in 1861 when news of the attack on Fort Sumter reached Washington. The first inscription says “April 13, 1861. Fort Sumpter was attacked by the rebels� and the second says “thank God we have a government�.

“Lincoln never knew of the message he carried in his pocket,� said Brent D. Glass, director of the National Museum of American History. “It’s a personal side of history about an ordinary watchman being inspired to record something for posterity.�

In 1906 the 84-year-old Dillon told the journalists from the New York Times about the inscriptions he made. It was difficult for him to recollect the exact text and the article with his interview shows it inn the following way: “The first gun is fired. Slavery is dead. Thank God we have a President who at least will tryâ€�.

This story had become the family legend of the Dillons, but it hasn’t been officially confirmed until now. Only last year the great-great-grandson of the watchmaker contacted the museum experts and told them about the secret of Lincoln’s watch.

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