Lincoln’s friend and personal body-guard was Ward Hill Lamon. Abraham Lincoln was in constant danger from his earliest forays into politics and especially after he was elected President in 1860. Lamon recognized this vulnerability and accompanied the candidate wherever he traveled.
Abraham Lincoln and Ward Hill Lamon became acquainted in 1847, both were lawyers practising in Illinois. Soon thereafter they became partners and opened an office in Danville,Illinois. This partnership lasted until 1857, when Lamon moved to Bloomington and became the county District Attorney.
Ward Hill Lamon, was an imposing presence, boisterous, hard-drinking, would fight at the drop of a hat and usually came out on top in physical confrontations. Lincoln and he were an odd pair, one that wore his temper on his sleeve and the other calm and compromising. The future President developed a trust in the former Virginian that lasted his lifetime.
Lamon accompanied Lincoln everywhere and assisted in his failed Senate bid in 1858. Lincoln was 18 years older than Lamon, but appreciated his exuberance and loyalty. In 1860, Ward Hill Lamon played a critical roll in his friends’ Presidential nomination by forging tickets to the National Republican Convention at Chicago, in order to pack the floor with Lincoln supporters.
After Lincoln’s victory, hoping for a post as Minister to Paris, Ward Hill Lamon cleared his calendar in Illinois, closed his office and prepared to leave for Washington. After realizing the dangerous state of the current political climate Lincoln summoned Lamon to Springfield and related;
“On the 11th I go to Washington, and I want you to go along with me. Our friends have already asked me to send you as Consul to Paris. You know I would cheerfully give you anything for which our friends may ask or which you may desire, but it looks as if we might have war. In that, I must have you. So get yourself ready and come along. It will be handy to have you around. If there is to be a fight, I want you to help me to do my share of it, as you have done in times past. You must go, and go to stay.”
Ward Hill Lamon and detective Allan Pinkerton accompanied Lincoln on the train to Washington. Lamon and Pinkerton disagreed on the logistics of protecting the new President. Rumors of an assassination attempt were rife and Lamon offered a revolver and a bowie-knife to Lincoln, an offer that both the President and Pinkerton rejected. The stealthy planning of Lincoln’s journey to Washington was released to the press and Pinkerton alleged that Lamon had given a drunken interview to a reporter with the New York Herald. Many of the disagreements that Lamon and Pinkerton had, would haunt the President’s friend for remainder of his life.
Despite the death threats, Lincoln arrived in Washington safely and after the inauguration, appointed Ward Hill Lamon, U.S. Marshal for the District of Columbia. In addition to his many administrative duties as Marshal, his foremost concern was the life and safety of President Lincoln. It has been often related that Lamon could be found patrolling the grounds adjacent to the White House or lying wrapped in his cape, asleep, outside of the Presidents bedroom.
Because of his close friendship with the President, Lamon was the brunt and target of negative rumor, jealousies and innuendo regarding his position as Marshal in the District. Lamon’s hard-drinking and boisterous demeanor fueled much of the dissention in political circles and drove many to seek his resignation.
One of the less than flattering events involving Ward Hill Lamon was when President Lincoln sent him to Ft. Sumter, South Carolina, to gather, first hand, facts from the commander of the fort, Major Robert Anderson and Governor Francis Pickens. It was later discovered that Lamon’s visit was a cover for the official visit of another of Lincoln’s friends Stephen Hurlburt, sent to gauge Union sentiment in North Carolina. Congress had a field day with Lamon’s supposedly failed visit and used this as fodder to further sully his reputation.
Ward Hill Lamon was fighting an uphill battle against the power elite of Washington. Probably his heavy drinking didn’t endear him to the sophisticates of the Capitol, but no one could question his devotion to the President. Lamon’s instructions to the President included that Lincoln never attend any public event without his presence. On April 14, 1865, Ward Hill Lamon was on an assignment from Lincoln in Richmond and at the urging of his wife, Mary, President Abraham Lincoln attended the theater that evening.
After Lincoln’s assassination Ward Hill Lamon wrote;
“No one knew Mr. Lincoln better, none loved him more than I. My friendship did not begin with his official career. I was near him in private life; I was near him in all the darkest hours of the late struggle; I was near him when the first rational hope of peace dawned upon the land. In truth, I might say without offense to the people of his State and mine, that I retained his confidence unshaken as he retained my affections unbroken, until his own life was offered up the last great sacrifice to domestic discord, on the very threshold of peace, and in the actual blaze and glory of the nation’s triumph.”
Bummer
04/01/13 re:Lincoln and “Hill” Lamon’s close relationship was not ‘unique”! In his one volume biography of Lincoln, the eminent Harvard Historian, David Herbert Donald, portrays Lamon rather candidly and critically…e.g., “disputatious, egotistical, braggart, suspicious, bawdy” etc. However,several others, also very close to Lincoln were similar characters …namely Billy Herndon, Judge David Davis, Stuart, Judd, etc. Early on Lincoln ‘favored’ and even relied on such “Western” characters in his ‘political’ endeavors. In his 1846 Cong. election, Lincoln, personally relied on and requested the “rowdies” from Cole County to ‘stir things up’ at his campaign events,speeches, etc. Some of these ‘rowdies’ were distant relatives by marriage originally form KY.
John,
Thanks for the additional info on Lamon. He was definitely a character, not pure, but Lincoln may have been shrewd and savvy enough to have a partner like Lamon in the rough and tumble world of politics during that era. Bummer feels that the Lamon tale, true or not, rumor or innuendo, makes for good copy and spices up a sometimes depressing American saga.
However the story of Lamon is told or defined, this “old guy” believes that Ward Hill Lamon probably made many people uncomfortable among the Power Elite of D.C.
Thanks again for the read and info.
Bummer
Bummer, well done, suh! Hill would’ve loved this post. I would add but two facts for your readers: first, the pass Lincoln wrote for Lamon on April 11, so that he could pass through the lines to Richmond, can be seen at the Huntington Library in Pasadena, and has come to be known as Lincoln’s Death Warrant. And second, they can see Lamon and Lincoln’s tale come vividly to life in a couple of months when Saving Lincoln is released. See http://www.SavingLincoln.com
Sal Litvak,
Bummer is honored by your visit and comment. Anticipating the release of “Saving Lincoln”, proves to be a highlight in this “old guy’s” near term. Traveling to a city that has a theater is quite an adventure for this family. “The pass Lincoln wrote for Lamon on April 11, so that he could pass through the lines to Richmond, can be seen at the Huntington Library in Pasadena, and has come to be known as Lincoln’s Death Warrant.” Next time Bummer visits family on the coast the Huntington Library will be a definite destination. Thanks again and good luck in your venture.
Bummer
I’m sure he blamed himself for not being at Ford’s Theater that night every day for the rest of his life. Every president seems to have someone with this total loyalty to his boss. I’m not going out of my way to look for typos but I feel certain Fort Sumter is not in North Carolina.
Louis,
Thanks for the editing, sincerely. Sometimes when Bummer proof reads he reads right by the obvious. The feelings are mutual regarding Ward Hill Lamon. The conspiracy twinge also ran rampant, thinking it was mighty strange that Lamon was out-of-town on that particular night. Oh well so much for theory.
Thanks again,
Bummer
He and his brother rank among those who might be considered “superstars” of Shenandoah Valley Southern Unionists… high-profile folks, but not always clearly associated with the Valley (despite place of birth, final resting place, and place of upbringing). He’s just down the road, not 20 minutes from me. Thanks for the post!
Robert,
Bummer had often read about Ward Hill Lamon and after seeing him mentioned by Brooks Simpson on Crossroads, decided to attempt a blurb regarding his relationship with the President. He really took a beating, all in his best effort to protect Lincoln. Glad that you enjoyed the read and this “old guy” will stop by your Site in the morning.
Bummer