For nearly 150 years, a story has circulated about a hidden Civil War message engraved inside Abraham Lincoln`s pocket watch. On Tuesday, museum curators confirmed it was true. A watchmaker used tiny tools to carefully pry open the antique watch at the National Museum of American History, and a descendant of the engraver read aloud the message from a metal plate underneath the watch face.
`Jonathan Dillon April 13 - 1861,` part of the inscription reads, `Fort Sumpter (sic) was attacked by the rebels on the above date.` Another part reads, `Thank God we have a government.`
The words were etched in tiny cursive handwriting and filled the space between tiny screws and gears that jutted through the metal plate. A magnifying glass was required to read them.
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Text: AP
Images: (Copyright AP/AFP. Any unauthorised reproduction is prohibited).
Image: This picture provided by the National Museum of American History in Washington shows a `secret` inscription inside a watch owned by 16th US President Abraham Lincoln. The message was inscribed by watchmaker Jonathan Dillon who was repairing it when the Civil War broke out in April 1861. (Copyright AFP. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.)
