Surratt Society Meeting and "Conference" 2021

[wpbinzel]

(03-06-2025 06:40 AM)Steve Wrote:  

(04-19-2021 05:21 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  I apologize to Scott if he clearly answered this question in his excellent talk. What surprises me is that there is even a debate on this. All 3 primary sources (John Hay, Dr. Charles Sabin Taft, and James Tanner who were present at the death scene) agree on Stanton saying "ages." No one who was present when Lincoln died claimed Stanton said "angels." So why is there a debate? In many instances what we know of the details of the Lincoln assassination saga is due to only one primary source, but in this case we actually have 3. So can someone clearly enunciate why the 3 primary sources are questioned?

Scott mentioned the names of many authors who use "ages" and many of whom use "angels." But somehow I missed the root cause of the debate.

Sorry about using a thread from 4 years ago out of the blue, especially about the 2021 Surratt Conference. But a thought about the whole "Ages" quote by Stanton came to me. It first appeared quoted by Hay in 1890, followed by Dr. Taft in this 1893 article in Century magazine, right?:

https://www.google.com/books/edition/The...frontcover

Taft said he composed the article using notes he made the day after Lincoln's death. Has anybody examined Taft's original notes to see if they include the quote? I know it's a small detail that could've just been added to article based on memory (or what Taft thinks is a memory of his). But we won't know for sure until someone looks (if the original notes survive).

Steve - Great question, which I have researched and written an article that is far too long to post here (but I would be happy to send it to you privately). You are correct. The source of "Ages" is Nicolay and Hay in 1890; and Dr. Taft concurred in 1893. Of those present in 1865 at Lincoln's death, and who were still alive 25 years later, I have not found an original source that refutes Nicolay and Hay. In 1965, the Kunhardts published Twenty Days with "Angels." Unfortunately, they did not cite their source. If Dr. Taft's original notes from April 15, 1865 still exist, I have not seen them or even know where they might be. It may be a case of where "If the legend becomes fact, print the legend." Bill