Lincoln and Ann Rutledge

[David Lockmiller]

(06-24-2014 12:06 AM)Lewis Gannett Wrote:  But I'd like to share something that might be of interest. Herndon by his own account first heard the story of Lincoln's grief for Ann Rutledge shortly after the assassination, which is to say, almost thirty years after Ann died. This is noteworthy for a number of reasons. Herndon had personally known Ann. He'd known her father, with whom his own father had had business dealings. Indeed, relatives of Herndon's were living in New Salem at the time of Ann's death. But oddly enough, Herndon had never heard of Lincoln's love for Ann until May 1865, when he launched his investigation into Lincoln's early life. Why is this odd? Herndon since boyhood had taken a great interest in local politics. He'd followed Lincoln's career from the early days of his election in New Salem to the state legislature in Vandalia. Herndon certainly had joined in the celebrations following Lincoln's great coup in Vandalia, which involved moving the Illinois state capital from that town to Springfield, where Herndon lived. In short, Herndon grew up with first-hand knowledge of Lincoln's life in New Salem. Why then had Herndon never heard of Lincoln's love for Ann and his extreme distress when she died? I'm writing a book that will discuss that question. I'd be happy to talk about it here, but for now will close with this: Herndon's "great discovery" about Lincoln's tragic love affair looks mighty funny from the very beginning

Herndon wrote: "I never became acquainted with [Mr. Lincoln] till his second race for the Legislature in 1834." Herndon's Life of Lincoln, Da Capo paperback, 1983, page 73.

Herndon also wrote: "After his return from the Legislature, Lincoln determined to remove to remove to Springfield, the county seat, and begin the practice of law. . . . I had up to this time frequently seen Mr. Lincoln--had often, while visiting my cousins, James and Rowan Herndon, at New Salem, met him at their house--but became warmly attached to him soon after his removal to Springfield. There was something in his tall and angular frame, his ill-fitting garments, honest face, and lively humor that imprinted his indivduality on my affection and regard. What impression I made on him I had no means of knowing till many years afterward. He was my senior by nine years, and I looked up to him, naturally enough, as my superior in everything--a thing I continued to do until the end of his days." Ibid. pages 145-46.

Mr Gannett also wrote: "It's worth keeping in mind that New Salem was a tiny village, and nearby Springfield was a dusty little market town. Gossip moves fast in such locales. Why did it take Herndon thirty years to learn about a pivotal episode in his hero's youth?"

Why did not Lincoln's new law partner in Springfield know about this episode in Lincoln's life if it was common gossip in Sringfield? Or, the man who was shortly to become his best friend, Joshua Speed? (Speed wrote back that "It was news to him" after Herndon sent him a copy of the Ann Rutledge lecture.) Or, how about Judge Logan or Judge David Davis? Were they all part of Herndon's "devious" conspiracy? I supremely doubt it!