Letter from Benjamin G. Owen to Abraham Lincoln, November 29, 1861
[Note in pencil: Mr Webster]
Washington D. C. Nov 29th [in pencil:1861]
Hon. A Lincoln President of the United States
Dear Sir
I notice by the New York Herald that you have received from Fortress Monroe certain papers implicating Lord Lyons. When I saw this I was not much surprised on account of a little circumstance which came under my observation on the 2d of July last. When coming to this place on the cars beyond Baltimore
Letter from Benjamin G. Owen to Abraham Lincoln, November 29, 1861
[Page 2]
I got into conversation with a man who said he was the bearer of dispatches from the vice consul at Charleston S. C. to Lord Lyons. He had a large bag full of papers and showed me a paper purporting to be a pass from some one of the consular officials there. Said paper was not very satisfactory to me and the man whose name I now disremember was very much afraid of being arrested and asked me to do what I could to save him from arrest until he could reach Washington
Letter from Benjamin G. Owen to Abraham Lincoln, November 29, 1861
[Page 3]
He was so very nervous that my suspicions were somewhat aroused concerning the papers he had. After changing cars at Baltimore I introduced the said bearer of dispatches to Gov Wickliffe of Ky explaining the business of the man to him. I think I also introduced him to other members of Congress Since reading the item in the Herald I am of the opinion that this man was the bearer of some treasonable documents. Otherwise why should he have been so much afraid of arrest. He was a man perhaps sixty years of age, with one eye, and long
Letter from Benjamin G. Owen to Abraham Lincoln, November 29, 1861
[Page 4]
white hair. I think I would recollect his name should I hear it again. He said he was directly from Charleston via Nashville, Cairo &c.
This is a matter pure circumstantial but it may chance to be of use to you in forming an opinion in the case and therefore I thought it best to communicate the same to you
Very Respectfully Yours
Benjamin G. Owen
To Hon. A. Lincoln
