Long-Hidden Message FinallyRevealed in Lincoln's Pocket Watch

Abraham Lincoln's Inscribed Pocket Watch

For generations it has been rumored that there was a secret message engraved by a watchmaker in 1861 inside the case of a gold pocket watch that belonged to Abraham Lincoln.

On Tuesday, March 10, at the request of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, NAWCC member George Thomas opened the back of the timepiece to formally investigate the claim that there was a hidden message on the underside of the watch movement.
The following inscription was found:
"Jonathan Dillon April 13- 1861 Fort Sumpter was attacked by the rebels on the above date. J Dillon," and the brass underside of the watch movement reads: "April 13- 1861 Washington thank God we have a government Jonth Dillon."

The back of the watch movement also bears two other inscriptions: "LE Grofs Sept 1864 Wash DC," presumedly engraved by another watchmaker, and what appears to be "Jeff Davis." Jefferson Davis was the president of the Confederacy and may have been engraved there as an expression of a later repairman's pro-Confederacy sentiments.
Sadly, the pocket watch is no longer functional. "It's frozen," Mr. Thomas said. "It hasn't been touched in a hundred years."
After the internal workings were photographed for posterity, the watch was carefully reassembled. It will be placed back on exhibit at the Smithsonian, now accompanied by a closeup photograph and a written transcript of the engraving.