Louis Weichmann

[Gene C]

In Oct 1991 and in 1992 the Surratt Courier had a few unflatering articles regarding Louis Weichmann were written by Erich Ewald.

http://archive.org/details/assassinatioxx00linc

Who is Erich Ewald, is he still alive, and how well received in the Lincoln assassination community is he?

[L Verge]

I never met Erich, only corresponded with him occasionally back in the late-80s and early-90s. If I recall correctly, he was mainly in touch with the late-John C. Brennan. Erich did a tremendous amount of research on Weichmann, especially the years that Weichmann spent in Anderson, Indiana. I believe that Erich was/is from Anderson.

He was the one that found out about Weichmann having married and also being so paranoid about Surratts following him. At the time that he was working with the Surratt Society, he was very well-received, albeit somewhat shy. I would guess him to have been in his early-30s at that time, so he may have been intimidated somewhat. However, both Hall and Brennan (with whom he dealt mainly) were always warm and welcoming to interested persons, no matter their age.

Erich failed to renew his Society membership about ten or so years ago, and I honestly don't know what happened to him. I believe that our research center has some of his work.

[Gene C]

Dave Taylor posted this fascinating link in another thread where I read this letter from Louis Weichmann from 1896
http://alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois.../show/8325

Seems to me like he was never quite able to get over the criticism of his testimony at the conspirators trial, and is still looking for validation and affirmation of his testimony and actions. Weichmann would have been in his mid 50's at the time this letter was written

And another letter asking Bingham for his support in getting a government job. "My life has been trial and persecution. Persecution by the Democratic party and I regret to say by leading church dignitaries in the Church were I was reared. This has made it all the more bitter."
http://alplm-cdi.com/chroniclingillinois.../show/8293

[RJNorton]

Speaking of Weichmann and letters can anyone post the text of the letter Father Menu wrote to Weichmann on March 19, 1865?

[Susan Higginbotham]

St Charles College
March 29, 1865

Dear Friend,

Your last letter relieved me from great anxiety, for I was not sure to have guessed well. Why do you not speak more fully? Again in the letter I have just had the honor of receiving from you, you speak in a obscure way of Mr. Surratt, as if he were a rebel; could you not have said openly what is the perilous trip point which he is soon to depart? What is that last? What is the meaning of that restrictive? Between us there should be no secret. For speaking of little Dalton, you speak of his condition as being truly deplorable, in what sense? Is it in the personal welfare, or in the spiritual? Or in both? His brother at Charlotte Hall cannot do much at present for his support; but I hope he will soon be ordained, and will not, when ordained, forget the only relation he has upon earth. I have not the wisdom of Solomon to guess his role, my faculty of understanding is rather bland than sharp; therefore if you wish me to comprehend your reticence's, you must provide me, if you can, with quite sharper visions.

As to the conditions which, you say, Mr. Dubruel joined to your admission, I think there is no need for you to be uneasy, for next September Richmond will be able to communicate with Baltimore, and therefore your Bishop will arrange the matter himself with the auspices of Baltimore.

The draft has not yet taken place at Ellicott Mills, and consequently I know not yet what will become of me. In case I am drafted, I will have recourse to your influence with the Government to obtain my exemption.

As you go next year to Philosophy, you will be pleased to hear who are those who will be with you or who may be with you in the same class. They are now in my first Latin Class; their names are J. Duffey, Galvin, McPaul, Moran, Morris, Mullin, Noonan, W. O'Brien, O'Connor, besides those others who you do not know; I do not mention Shoffey, who has left us some weeks ago on account of headache, and by neuralgia. Nor do I speak of Clarke. Dear Clarke lost his mother last year, and finds himself quite destitute, perhaps as mostly of pity as Dalton. He was working on a farm lately in the neighborhood of St. Charles, but with his incapacity and unfitness for such a work and the fear of being drafted made him fly lately. I do not know where.

You recommend me to pray for you in one of my masses. I have already told you that I pray for you in every one; it is not for the sake of making a compliment or filling up a letter I mentioned it; it is the truth. You may unite your intentions to mine at five o'clock and twenty-five minutes, it is then I present your needs to Almighty God.

My best regards to Mr. Surratt, if he is not gone already on his trip. Our College will be in jubilee this week, and we all hope to gain the grace of it next Saturday.

Your Most Devoted Friend in J.C.

J. B. Menu

(From The Lincoln Assassination: The Evidence, ed. by Edwards and Steers)

[RJNorton]

Thanks, Susan. I was asking about this because in his book Weichmann says Father Menu came to court during the John Surratt trial. Weichmann says Father Menu ignored him and sided with Surratt. Weichmann calls Father Menu his "former father confessor," but not once did Father Menu shake Weichmann's hand during the Surratt trial. He did shake John Surratt's hand in the courtroom and in the presence of the jury. Weichmann writes, "Father Menu sat in the courtroom during the entire day, right by the side of Surratt as much to say: "Gentlemen of the jury, I am a Catholic priest, you can see where my sympathies are."

During John Surratt's lecture he said, "I proclaim it here and before the world that Louis J. Weichmann was a party to the plan to abduct President Lincoln. He had been told all about it, and was constantly importuning me to let him become an active member. I refused, for the simple reason that I told him that he could neither ride a horse nor shoot a pistol, which was a fact. These were two necessary accomplishments for us."

Thus, I was curious about the correspondence with Father Menu, Weichmann's "father confessor." I was wondering if Weichmann had hinted to Menu that he was actually wanting to be part of the party planning to kidnap Lincoln.

As far as I can tell we only have John Surratt's word that Weichmann wanted to be part of Booth's "group."

As I recall Father Menu's letter was found in Booth's papers.

[LincolnToddFan]

That's a rather chilly letter from Father Menu. I needed to put on a sweater to get through it. Fascinating.

Thanks Roger and Susan.

[L Verge]

I have always suspected that the good Father was a Confederate sympathizer, like so many of his Order, and that he was trying to figure out exactly how much Weichmann knew about the "activities" and whether it was enough to harm Surratt and the Confederacy.

[LincolnToddFan]

I think you are right Laurie. That's a remarkably cool missive to ol' Louie from his "Father Confessor."

By the time of John Surratt's trial, Father Menu doubtless knew how damaging Weichmann's testimony had been to Mary Surratt.

[Pamela]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and I should introduce myself. I've visited many times and think it's a great place. Thanks to Roger for helping me get started and giving me the Weichmann avatar for the time being! I became interested in Lincoln after seeing the movie Lincoln and then reading Team of Rivals-twice. Since then I've read many books and recently got The Evidence. I'm an artist and live in White Hall MD. My husband and I and some friends took the Booth Escape Route Tour this summer and loved it. I've eaten at Wok n Roll twice, been to the Soldier's Cottage, the Lincoln Museum in Springfield, Tudor Hall in Bel Air and the Confederate White House. I'm fascinated by the personalities involved with Lincoln and the assassination. Lincoln himself, Mary Todd Lincoln, his secretaries and sons, Mrs. Keckley, Seward and his family, the conspirators and Louis Weichmann.

I read that he was married but not where the information came from so I joined Ancestry.com temporarily and did some research which I'd like to share. Annie J. Weichmann was a force to be reckoned with! She held many officer positions with the Good Templars, a Christian temperance society, over a period of 56 years, and travelled extensively on their behalf. The locations she travelled to include Minnesota, Sarasota, Chicago, New York, Pittsburg, Boston, London, England and Belfast, Ireland. She attended the convention of the Order of the Good Templars of North America in London "in pursuit of health and pleasure in connection with my duties as a duly appointed delegate...." in July 1873, less than three years after her marriage to Louis on October 25, 1870 at the Grace Church Episcopal Chapel in Philadelphia. Her passport application has her date of birth as Nov. 1 1834. She was 38. (Louis was born September 29, 1842) She was 8 years older than him. Her physical description (no photo) was height 5'3", hair brown, eyes blue, face round, chin round, nose ordinary, complexion fair, and forehead broad and medium height. I couldn't find her on a passenger list on a ship, but those records can be spotty. There's a lot more.

[L Verge]

Welcome aboard the USS Roger Norton, Pamela. It's good to have you with us! It is also wonderful to have someone who is aware that Louis Weichmann did marry after his travails of the 1865-1868 period. I know very few people who have done any research on this marriage. We have a small file on it at Surratt House Museum because of the generosity about 25 years ago of a gentleman from Anderson, Indiana, where Louis went to hide. The gentleman's name was Erich Ewald. He wrote a series of articles on Weichmann, but I don't believe that he ever wrote an article on his married life - and we have lost contact with him.

[LincolnToddFan]

Hi Pamela,

Welcome! You've come to the right place if you are interested in Abraham Lincoln and/or Civil War history. These are the some of the smartest, most well-informed posters you will ever meet...and funny and kind to boot!

[Pamela]

(02-06-2015 11:31 AM)L Verge Wrote:  Welcome aboard the USS Roger Norton, Pamela. It's good to have you with us! It is also wonderful to have someone who is aware that Louis Weichmann did marry after his travails of the 1865-1868 period. I know very few people who have done any research on this marriage. We have a small file on it at Surratt House Museum because of the generosity about 25 years ago of a gentleman from Anderson, Indiana, where Louis went to hide. The gentleman's name was Erich Ewald. He wrote a series of articles on Weichmann, but I don't believe that he ever wrote an article on his married life - and we have lost contact with him.

---

Thanks Laurie and LincolnToddFan. It's good to be on board no pun intended! I don't know if Weichmann went to Indiana to hide. He was joining his parents, brother, at least two sisters and brother in law. Some of my own ancestors headed out west in family groups. I think it was a good idea for him to get back into teaching since he had many skills to share including fluency in several languages and phonography, which Benn Pittmann took note of during preparations for the Trial.

[BettyO]

Welcome, Pamela!

You are certainly bringing a lot of interesting facets to the character of Mr. Weichmann and his wife! Want to know more! We have a wonderful group o knowledgeable folk here and we love to share information and research tips.

[Susan Higginbotham]

That's fascinating about Annie Weichmann. Did they simply go their separate ways without divorcing?