The gentlemen pictured were Elmer Ellsworth's best friends, John Hay (sepia) and George Nicolay (b & w). They met him in Illinois, campaigned for Lincoln together, worked for Lincoln as secretaries (Hay & Nicolay) and law clerk (Ellsworth), and kept each other's spirits high. When they all got safely to Washington, DC, it was Hay and Nicolay who nursed Ellsworth back to health when he got measles. And--it was hay and Nicolay who, along with Lincoln, wrote some of the most heartfelt, grieving words ever written about another man's death. Hay and Ellsworth hit the town regularly together, while Nicolay, who was engaged and a more serious sort of guy, let Ellsworth use his address at the White House for Ellsworth's fiancee to write to him. These were good men.Here is the news about First Fallen: I was invited to do a guest blog for emergingcivilwar.com which is another, more followed blog than mine. There is a link to this fine effort below, under "My Blog List,"so scroll down. My blog, "A Curious Case of the Measles," will be published this Thursday, September 22. Please check it out, comment, and start following emergingcivilwar.com. It is with your support that this book will find a publisher. Thanks in advance.
Your Obedient Servant, Meg Thompson
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