By Andrew Dalton, President & CEO of Gettysburg History
22-year-old Sergeant Hugh Paxton Bigham, of Gettysburg, was serving with Company B, 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry in November of 1863 at the time of President Abraham Lincoln’s visit to town.
Assigned to guard the door of Lincoln’s bedroom at the David Wills House on the evening of November 18, 1863, Bigham was one of the few eye-witnesses to the completion of the Gettysburg Address: “For a considerable time he seemed to be copying his speech, for it is well known he had prepared his speech in the White House ten days before, but as I understood it he was revising sentences so as to improve the force and strength of this address.”
Later in the evening, Lincoln decided to visit Secretary of State William Seward who was staying in a nearby home: “Lincoln came to the door of his room and said ‘Guard, do you know where Secretary Seward is stopping? I want to go there only for a few minutes.’ …. When we reached the street throngs of people were seen every where. I think none of them knew who was with me. Mr. Lincoln walked behind, taking hold of my soldier blouse.” When Lincoln emerged after conferring with Seward and other advisors, he addressed Bigham again: “I wish to return to my room, you clear the way and I will hold on to your coat-tail.”
Thus, the 6 foot 4” tall President of the United States was safely ushered back and forth anonymously through the massive crowd by a young sergeant from Gettysburg. Bigham lived to be 85 years old – passing away on September 23, 1926.
To hear more stories like Bigham’s, visit Gettysburg Beyond the Battle Museum at 625 Biglerville Road.
