General James W. Singleton: Lincoln's Mysterious Copperhead Ally

Abraham Lincoln and James W. Singleton became acquainted during the 1830s. Politics and the law became major sources of contact. Both men had served in the Illinois General Assembly, although not concurrently, and both were members of the Whig party. Their wives, also, were likely acquainted through youthful contacts in Springfield. Singleton and Lincoln had a rocky relationship that revolved around several circumstances in the 1840s. As members of the Whig party, both had been strong admirers and supporters of Henry Clay, the long-time Whig patriarch and statesman from Kentucky. However, they parted ways in 1848 as Lincoln became a supporter of Zachary Taylor for president and later joined the new Republican Party, while Singleton became a Democrat. In 1864, however, Singleton and Lincoln once again worked toward a common goal.