The Birthday of Eternity

Daniel Sickles, died May 3, 1914

Daniel Sickles had an important part in efforts to preserve the Gettysburg Battlefield,  sponsoring legislation to form the Gettysburg National Military Park, buy up private lands, and erect monuments. One of his contributions was procuring the original fencing used on East Cemetery Hill to mark the park's borders. This fencing came directly from Lafayette Square Park, Washington, D.C. (where he had shot and killed Phillip Barton Key, son of Francis Scott Key). 

Sickles (center)  visiting the site of his Gettysburg wound

Of the principal senior generals who fought at Gettysburg, virtually all, with the conspicuous exception of Sickles, have been memorialized with statues at Gettysburg. When asked why there was no memorial to him, Sickles supposedly said, "The entire battlefield is a memorial to Dan Sickles." However, there was, in fact, a memorial commissioned to include a bust of Sickles, the monument to the New York Excelsior Brigade. It was rumored that the money appropriated for the bust was stolen by Sickles himself; the monument is displayed in the Peach Orchard with a figure of an eagle instead of Sickles' likeness.

Carmina Sickles

Sickles had become attached to his housekeeper, Eleanor Wilmerding.  Sickles’ wife, Carmina, and his son, George Stanton Sickles, had sailed from Europe to New York in 1908. Despite the fact that they had been separated for nearly three decades, the couple seemed to genuinely hope for a reconciliation.  Carmina demanded, however, that in order to reconcile, Sickles was to dismiss Wilmerding from the house. Sickles refused to fire Wilmerding,so Mrs. Sickles and son Stanton resided instead at a nearby hotel. The soap opera was replayed in the New York newspapers, and once again Sickles’ marital life was in the news.

Sickles and Wilmerding

When Oliver Howard died in 1909, Sickles achieved venerated status as Gettysburg’s last surviving corps commander in either army.

In June, 1911, his daughter, Mrs. Edna Sickles Crackenthorpe, wife of a British diplomat, sued Sickles to prevent a disposal of properties to which she believed she was entitled.

Sickles remained busy in retirement, specifically continuing to chair the New York Monuments Commission. Unfortunately, in late 1912, the state controller did an audit of the commission’s books and found approximately $28,486 missing.  Sickles was now in his early nineties, in failing health, personally bankrupt (he had squandered a large inheritance from his father), and embroiled in a messy public squabble between his estranged wife and his housekeeper. His creditors began legal actions, including placing his home in foreclosure. In 1912, Caroline learned that an $8,200 judgment had been placed against Sickles, and his household goods were to be sold at auction. Despite their continuing estrangement, Carmina pawned her jewels to pay his debts. But although her sacrifice received extensive press coverage, it did not lead to reconciliation. When Carmina and Stanton journeyed to Dan’s home to notify him of the payment, they were refused admittance on orders of Wilmerding. An exasperated Stanton complained, “My father is completely in the clutches of this woman.”  A few days later, Sickles issued a statement attacking his wife's motives, and asserting that it was not necessary for her to pawn her jewels.  Although many veterans, and James Longstreet’s widow, were among those who came to his assistance,  Sickles was facing potential jail time. But fifty years worth of battlefield speeches paid off for him.  He was a celebrity and bona fide war hero. 

Helen Dortch Longstreet

New York was facing a public relations nightmare. New York State’s attorney general actually intended to initiate criminal proceedings against the entire eight-man commission. But Sickles requested that he be the sole target of the legal proceedings. The state was serious about recouping the money, but ultimately realized that prosecuting a popular ninety-something war-hero was sensitive business. He was deposed as chairman of the commission.  Sickles’ attorney, Daniel P. Hayes, (whom Dan’s son believed was partially responsible for the missing money) arranged for Sickles to remain free on bond and he avoided jail time. But New York never received the money, and it was an embarrassing end to several decades’ worth of Sickles’ positive preservation work. Not surprisingly, today it historically overshadows all of his better efforts.

Stanton paid $5,000 out of his own pocket. Carmina issued a public appeal for the remaining $23,000. “I wish the public would come to the aid of General Sickles. If I can forgive General Sickles, I think the general public can.”  

One member of the commission stated, “It is most unlikely that the shortage was incurred with dishonorable motives or that there will be any criminal prosecution. General Sickles allowed the shortage to occur through laxness rather than design.”

The Gettysburg battle’s 50th anniversary celebration was held in July 1913.  Newspapers across the country covered the massive Blue and Gray reunion of at least 50,000 veterans. The camps were officially open from June 29 through July 6.

Sickles, signing autographs

Sickles returned to the battlefield that he had helped preserve, and he knew it would be for the last time. “We don’t say it, but ‘my boys’ know, and I know, that we shall probably never meet again.” He was the center of attention, and told newspapers, “I believe I am living right now the happiest days of my life.”

Sickles at the 50th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Battle

Only a few months shy of his ninety-fourth birthday, Sickles arrived in a wheelchair accompanied by Wilmerding and his valet. Sickles was also accompanied by his old Excelsior chaplain, Joe Twichell.  As Sickles and Twichell looked out over the field together one final time, Twichell is said to have expressed surprise that there was still no Sickles statue on the field. A monument to his old Excelsior brigade had been dedicated in 1893 with the understanding at that time that a Sickles statue would be added to it after his death. As late as 1907, Sickles had still hoped for a monument on the battlefield, writing, “if at some future time it may be the pleasure of the State of New York to place some memorial of myself on that battlefield I should prefer to have it on the high ground at or near the Peach Orchard.” Battlefield legend tells us that Sickles allegedly replied to Twichell that the whole damned battlefield was his monument. 

Joseph Twichell (right) at Mark Twain's Birthday Banquet

Approximately six months after returning from Gettysburg, Wilmerding became ill and died in February 1914.

On March 29, 1914, there was rumor was spread that he was at the point of death. Late that night, a New York Times a reporter called up  Sickles's house over the telephone to make inquiry about his condition. The voice at the other end of the wire said: "Yes; this is Gen. Sickles. Am I ill? Nonsense. I was never better in my life. There's nothing to that story. It's all a lie."

Sickles died at his home on Fifth Avenue in New York City on May 3, 1914 at the age of 94. He had been unconscious for several days, following a cerebral hemorrhage.  At his bedside were Mrs. Carmina Sickles and his son, Stanton Sickles, who had been with him constantly for nearly two weeks, following a reconciliation that ended an estrangement of twenty-nine years. His attorney and a nurse were also present.

His funeral was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan on May 8, 1914. 

He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Sickles' Tombstone

He died bankrupt. His will named as his heirs his three grandchildren: Daniel E. Sickles, 10-year-old son of Stanton Sickles, who lived with his mother at 36 Avenue Henri Martin, Paris; George Christopher Crackenthorpe, 13 years old;  and Ida Blanche Crackenthorpe, 11 years old, children of Mrs. Ida Sickles Crackenthorpe.  However, apart from his home on Fifth Avenue, there was little to distribute to his grandchildren or to the servants to whom he left bequests.

Sickles' Amputated Leg

Sickles' amputated leg is at the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command headquarters building at Fort Detrick, Maryland.