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245. Benjamin F. Irwin to William H. Herndon.
Pleasant Plain, Sept 22 1866
Wm H Herndon
I am told by one of Lincoln's Company Robt Plunkett that Lincoln was in no Battle in the war at the time of the Badax fight he was Stationed at Dixon Some 14 Miles Distant if you will examine Congressional globe 1st session 30th Congress 1848 you will see in a Congressional Speech Lincoln said he was in No Battle also you will see the same on page 46 of Barretts Life of Lincoln
In regard to Miss Rutledge this I learn to be true Lincoln Samuel Hill (Now Dead) and one McNamer was all paying their Respects to her at the same
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time she did not seem to be very favorably Impressed with Lincoln at Least he so thought. Lincoln was then young poor and awkward the other two was up in the world she Married Neither of the Men in addition she was verry hansome so considered at the time Lincoln took his luck to heart as was thought to such a degree that he was thought to be partially crazy and did really seem strange at the time my Informants differ as to her death one who pretends to know says she died but Cogdal says she was livng in Iowa in 1860 as Lincoln told him and Lincoln did say in 1860 that he really did love the woman in 1834 and loved her still in 1860 and Could not help itNB There is two of the Rutledges Still in or near Petersburg that is relation of the woman to Wit, Wm & McGrady Rutledge they can tell if she is living still or died as combs
I will see you soon soon as the road dries up till I can get to Town
Respectfully
Ben F Irwin
Library of Congress: Herndon-Weik Collection. Manuscript Division. Library of Congress. Washington, D.C. 2676 — 77; Huntington Library: LN2408, 1:565 — 67