Wilson, Douglas L., ed.; Davis, Rodney O., ed.; McNamar, John. 'John McNamar to G. U. Miles' in 'Herndon's Informants: Letters, Interviews, and Statements About Abraham Lincoln' . Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1998. [format: book], [genre: letter]. Permission: University of Illinois Press
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=herndon252.html

196. John McNamar to G. U. Miles.

May 5th 1866

My Dear Sir

I have Seated myself in order to answer Some of the Enquiries made by Mr Herndon Esq Respecting Mr Lincoln My Self and other persons, My answers must necessarily be unsatisfactory for the reason that I was absent from here when the affairs transpired in which he Seems Most interested

I left here in 32 ^[1] and came to the State of Newyork for the purpose of assisting My Father's family my coming west being principally to obtain the means I did not go by steamboat nor Stage if that has any thing to do with the Matter, but rode old Charley a hero of the Black Hawk war, who had one Grievous — fault he would go to Sleep accasionally fall on his nose and pich me over his his head which occasioned some profanity no Doubt, about it, Circumstances beyond my controll detained me Much longe away than I intended

Mr Lincoln was not to my knowledge paying any particular attention to any of the Young Ladies of my acquaintanc when I left there was no rivalry between him and myself on that score on the contrary I had every reson to consider him my Personal friend untill like Andy Johnson's Tailor Partner in Tennessee ^[2] I was left so far behind on his rapid and upward strides to that imperishable fame which

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