Wheeling Compiler

From the N. Y. Gazette.

ORIGIN OF 'UNCLE SAM.'

Immediately after the declaration of the last war with England, Elbert Anderson, Esq. of this city, then a contractor visited Troy, on the Hudson where the army was concentrated and where he purchased a large quantity of provisions—beef, pork &c. The inspectors of these articles at that place, were Messrs Ebenezer and Samuel Wilson. The latter gentleman (invariably known as 'Uncle Sam') superintended in person a large number of workmen, who, on this occasion, were employed in overhauling the provisions purchased by the Contractor for the army. The barrels were marked 'E A.—U. S.' This happened to fall to the lot of a facetious fellow in the employ of the Messrs Wilsons, who, on being asked by some of his fellow workmen the meaning of the mark, on the barrels, either through ignorance or facetiousness, replied that he did not know unless it meant Elbert Anderson, and Uncle Sam'—alluding very wittily, then to the said 'Uncle S.' The joke took among the workmen, and passed current; and Uncle Sam himself being present, was occasionally rallied upon the increasing extent of his possessions. Many of these workmen were shortly after following the recruiting drum, and their old joke of 'Uncle Sam's' soon took a more extensive range, and was recognized in every part of the country, and will no doubt, continue as long as U. S. remains a human designation. It originated precisely as above stated, as the writer of this article distinctly recollects remarking, at the time when it first appeared in print, to a person who was really aware of its origin, how odd it was that we should build this joke eventually become national cognomen.