George S.E. Vaughn
Encyclopedia
George S. E. Vaughn (1823 – August 26, 1899) was a convicted Confederate
spy
during the American Civil War
who claimed to have been pardon
ed by Abraham Lincoln
an hour before Lincoln's assassination in the President's last official act.
Vaughn's claim was widely circulated at the time of his death in 1899, including in the New York Times. However, in 2011, David Blanchette, director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
in Springfield, Illinois
said there is no formal document in the archives verifying the claim. Interest in the claim was spurred in January 2011, when the National Archives announced that Thomas Lowry, a "longtime Lincoln researcher," confessed on January 12, 2011 to changing the date of a pardon in the National Archives of a different soldier from April 14, 1864 to April 14, 1865 in order to enhance his credentials as a historian.
According to his obituary, Vaughn was born in Virginia
and moved to Canton, Missouri
. He was recruited into the Confederate Missouri State Guard
by Martin E. Green
, brother of U.S. Senator James S. Green
.
Green, while camping at Tupelo, Mississippi
, dispatched Vaughn to deliver letters to his wife in Canton. Vaughn was captured six miles south of Canton at La Grange, Missouri
. The letters were found, and Vaughn was accused of being a spy and was sentenced to be shot.
Missouri Senator John B. Henderson
intervened with Lincoln to get a new trial, but the verdict was the same. Henderson got Lincoln to approve yet a third trial and again the verdict was the same.
On the afternoon of April 14, 1865, Henderson appealed again to Lincoln, telling him, "Mr. Lincoln, this pardon should be granted in the interest of peace and conciliation."
Lincoln was said to have replied, "Senator, I agree with you. Go to Stanton and tell him this man must be released."
Henderson went to the office of Edwin M. Stanton
and Stanton refused, saying the execution was to be carried out in two days. Henderson returned to the White House
, where he met the president dressed to go to Ford's Theatre
.
Lincoln wrote a message on official stationery—an order for an unconditional release and pardon—allegedly telling Henderson, "I think that will have precedence over Stanton."
After the war, Vaughn moved to Maryville, Missouri
, where he died in 1899.
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
spy
SPY
SPY is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* SPY , ticker symbol for Standard & Poor's Depositary Receipts* SPY , a satirical monthly, trademarked all-caps* SPY , airport code for San Pédro, Côte d'Ivoire...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
who claimed to have been pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
ed by Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
an hour before Lincoln's assassination in the President's last official act.
Vaughn's claim was widely circulated at the time of his death in 1899, including in the New York Times. However, in 2011, David Blanchette, director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum documents the life of the 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln, and the course of the American Civil War. Combining traditional scholarship with 21st century showmanship techniques, the popular museum continues to rank as one of the most visited...
in Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
said there is no formal document in the archives verifying the claim. Interest in the claim was spurred in January 2011, when the National Archives announced that Thomas Lowry, a "longtime Lincoln researcher," confessed on January 12, 2011 to changing the date of a pardon in the National Archives of a different soldier from April 14, 1864 to April 14, 1865 in order to enhance his credentials as a historian.
According to his obituary, Vaughn was born in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and moved to Canton, Missouri
Canton, Missouri
Canton is a city in Lewis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,557 at the 2000 census. Canton is the site of Culver-Stockton College, a small liberal arts college affiliated with the Christian Church...
. He was recruited into the Confederate Missouri State Guard
Missouri State Guard
The Missouri State Guard was a state militia organized in the state of Missouri during the early days of the American Civil War. While not initially a formal part of the Confederate States Army, the State Guard fought alongside Confederate troops and, at times, under regular Confederate...
by Martin E. Green
Martin E. Green
Martin Edwin Green was a Confederate brigadier general in the American Civil War, and a key organizer of the Missouri State Guard in northern Missouri.-Early life:...
, brother of U.S. Senator James S. Green
James S. Green
James Stephen Green was a United States Representative and Senator from Missouri.-Early life and education:...
.
Green, while camping at Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo is the largest city in and the county seat of Lee County, Mississippi, United States. It is the seventh largest city in the state of Mississippi, smaller than Meridian, and larger than Greenville. As of the 2000 United States Census, the city's population was 34,211...
, dispatched Vaughn to deliver letters to his wife in Canton. Vaughn was captured six miles south of Canton at La Grange, Missouri
La Grange, Missouri
La Grange is a city in Lewis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,000 at the 2000 census. Since the 2000 census the population has been dwindling. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Police Scandal:...
. The letters were found, and Vaughn was accused of being a spy and was sentenced to be shot.
Missouri Senator John B. Henderson
John B. Henderson
John Brooks Henderson was a United States Senator from Missouri and a co-author of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution....
intervened with Lincoln to get a new trial, but the verdict was the same. Henderson got Lincoln to approve yet a third trial and again the verdict was the same.
On the afternoon of April 14, 1865, Henderson appealed again to Lincoln, telling him, "Mr. Lincoln, this pardon should be granted in the interest of peace and conciliation."
Lincoln was said to have replied, "Senator, I agree with you. Go to Stanton and tell him this man must be released."
Henderson went to the office of Edwin M. Stanton
Edwin M. Stanton
Edwin McMasters Stanton was an American lawyer and politician who served as Secretary of War under the Lincoln Administration during the American Civil War from 1862–1865...
and Stanton refused, saying the execution was to be carried out in two days. Henderson returned to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, where he met the president dressed to go to Ford's Theatre
Ford's Theatre
Ford's Theatre is a historic theater in Washington, D.C., used for various stage performances beginning in the 1860s. It is also the site of the assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865...
.
Lincoln wrote a message on official stationery—an order for an unconditional release and pardon—allegedly telling Henderson, "I think that will have precedence over Stanton."
After the war, Vaughn moved to Maryville, Missouri
Maryville, Missouri
Maryville is a city in Nodaway County, Missouri, United States. The population was 10,581 at the 2000 census. The town, organized on February 14, 1845, was named for Mrs. Mary Graham, wife of Amos Graham, then the county clerk. Mary was the first Caucasian woman to have lived within the boundaries...
, where he died in 1899.
Further reading
- Lincoln in story; the life of the martyr-president told in authenticated anecdotes,by Silas Gamaliel Pratt - New York, D. Appleton and co., 1901 (available on print.google)]
- George E. Vaughn Dead - Lincoln's Last Official Act Was To Pardon Him As Spy - New York Times - August 28, 1899
- Kansas City Public Library Profile