Evening journal., 1913-05-31
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Mystery Connected
With a Dispatch From
Lincoln
BY Holland

BY Holland.
The late Charles Hebard, who was
one Of the pioneer lumber manhfac-
turers Of the upper peninsula Of
Michigan. was for many years a
great influence as a trustee Of the
University of Michigan. entertained
me at his place in upper Michigan in
the summer Of 1892. His great mills
were nearly opposite the location Of
the Calumet and Hecla copper
mines. A few miles to the east we're
the great iron mines of upper Michi-
gan.
Mr.. Hebard took me upon a visit
TO these mines after having shown me
some Of the wonders Of the Calumet
and Hecla mines
Some time ago." Mr.. Hebard said,
81 was chatting with my business
associate, Mr.. Smith, whose firm
gained a worldwide reputation as
manufacturers Of revolyers, and
whose plant is at Springfield, Mass.
He was speaking of the quality that
is in these Northern Michigan iron
ores, which, as 7 understand 1t, made
these ores of value in the manufac-
tnre of gun metal.
''Mr. Smith then said to me that
there was only a few persons i'm the
United States who at the time of the
Civil War, knew why Abraham s.
Hewitt of New York city, went to
England and spent several months
there. ] happened to know why Mr.
Hewitt went to England. It was a
well-kept secret, but II was one which
was confidentially impaired to me for
business reasons.
AT the beginning of the Civil War
we did not have any satisfactory
method Of making the gun metal
which was used in the manufacture
Of the best kind of guns.
you know that at Springfield the
government had one of its large ar
senals in which great many thou
sand guns were manufactured for the
army, but in the first year or two of
the war these guns we're found to be
much inferior to the muskets and
rifles which were manufactured in
England
President Lincoln and his secre-
tary of war. Mr.. Stanton, we're anx-
ious that the American arsenals
should know how to manufacture this
gun metal The only way to find
out was to send somebody to England
who would be quick enough and
competent enough to learn this
science.
Abraham S. Hewitt who had been
associated with his brother-in-law
Edward Cooper in iron, manufacture
ing and who was known to be a man
of very high scientific attainments
was just the man. so Secretary
stanton was informed, TO undertake
this work
"Thereupon President Lincoln him.
self sent a telegram to Mr.. Hewitt
requesting him to go to Washington
on a confidential matter of great inn
portance. Mr.. Hewitt did go tC
Washington and found out what tn,
| President and secretary of war hal
to say. He consented to undertake
the somewhat delicate mission. HI
went TO England early I'm 1863 H.
stayed there long enough to learn al
the details of the process for making
gun metal. When he returned to tn
United States he placed his informa
ton in the hands of the secretary o
war. have understood that Mr.
Hewitt did not take any compensa
tion for this service. for he felt tha
he was only too glad to contribute
something to the cause of the Union
Mr.. Hewitt's visit to England ol
this secret mission gave to tn
United States it's opportunity q
match the world in the manufactur
of guns such as muskets and rifles
1T was a curious supplementary
anecdote which ] was told recentl
OF peculiar feature of Mr.. Hewitt
mission
1T appears that some time afte
MIR. Hewitt's death in 1902, a gentle
mana man OF venerable years-in
formed members OF Mr. Hewitt
family that he had in his possessio
an original telegraphic dispatch fror
President Lincoln summoning MI
Hewitt to Washington, in 1862. upo
a confidential matter That explain
something which had always bee
} a mystery to Mr. Hewitt. for whe
he called upon President Lincoln h
learned that the latter. having sun
moned him by one telegram whic
was not answered. sent a second dis
patch in such a way that it would b
sure TO get into Mr. Hewitt's hand
What had become OF that first di.
patch neither the President no
Mr.. Hewitt ever knew. nor Is IL no
known how IT, came into the hand
of the gentleman. who stated I
members Of Mr.. Hewitt's family ths
he had in his possession a telegraph
dispatch from President Lincoln sci
I'm 1862 to Abram s Hewitt