Abraham Lincoln's Watch

via Reuters
"An inscription inside a watch owned by President Abraham Lincoln is seen after the watch was opened in Washington March 10, 2009.

A gold watch owned by Abraham Lincoln bears a message marking the start of the U.S. Civil War, but the president never knew of the 'secret' inscription uncovered on Tuesday at the National Museum of American History.

The engraving, by watchmaker Jonathan Dillon, is dated April 13, 1861, and reads in part: 'Fort Sumpter was attacked by the rebels' and 'thank God we have a government.'"