Like most veterans at the conclusion of the Civil War, Sickles’ primary concern was just getting on with his life. Much of the late 1860s was spent on Reconstruction Duty. Meanwhile, his wife, Teresa, died unexpectedly in 1867. Although his marriage had done little to curtail philandering, Dan now found himself free to pursue the ladies as a widower.
Ever the political opportunist, Sickles managed to secure an appointment from President Grant as Minister to Spain in 1869 after the Senate tabled the appointment of Henry Shelton Sanford. In Spain, Sickles gained notoriety for his lavish style of entertaining. Soon, it was also rumored – and reported in the French Press – that Dan had begun a romantic affair in Paris with the deposed Spanish Queen, Isabella II. However, in November 1871, he married one of Isabella’s attendants, Caroline de Creagh. Caroline was in her twenties and considerably younger than Sickles. Friends speculated that each had married the other thinking they possessed considerable wealth because they had little in common and were known to disagree with each other frequently. Daniel Sickles was a habitual philanderer and his marriage did not change his habits. He was accused of various illicit affairs and even participation in prostitution.
Following a disagreement with the Secretary of State in late 1873, Sickles resigned his post in Spain and moved to Paris for a few years. His family grew with the birth of a daughter, Eda, in 1875 and the birth of a son, George Stanton, in 1876. At fifty-seven years of age, when many men were starting to contemplate retirement, Daniel Sickles was beginning a new family. In late 1879, he decided to return to the United States. His return would be the beginning of a long-term estrangement from his family.
As with so many events in his life, Sickles timing for a return to America was very fortuitous. Many veterans of the War Between the States were now ready to commemorate the conflict and Sickles threw himself fully into the cause of veterans' affairs. His popularity continued to rise as he defended his Gettysburg decision. In 1886 he was appointed chairman of the New York Monuments Commission for the Battle of Gettysburg. This meant securing and placing monuments for all New York divisions and commanders who were present at the battle. Of course, each placement and commemoration afforded another opportunity for Sickles to speak to enthusiastic crowds.
George Sickles, Dan’s father, died in 1887 and left an estate of investments and real estate valued at more than four million dollars. Daniel was appointed administrator of the estate and had commercial and rental properties all across New York City. It appeared that he would not ever again need to worry about financial matters.
In 1892 Sickles was again elected to Congress – over thirty years after his disgrace as a congressman on trial for the murder of Phillip Barton Key. His involvement in the New York Monument Commission continued but most of his time was spent on veterans’ affairs in Congress. During his last session as a congressman, Sickles introduced legislation to authorize the establishment of a National Military Park at Gettysburg Pennsylvania. The bill was signed into law by the President in February 1895.
Sickles closed out his Washington political career and returned to New York where he lived across the street from Mark Twain. He remained active in veterans' affairs and escorted Teddy Roosevelt on a tour of the Gettysburg battlefield in 1904.
In 1909 Sickles became the last surviving corps commander of either army at the battle of Gettysburg. He relished the attention and enjoyed his celebrity status. Unfortunately, his reputation was soon to be tarnished anew. Sickles had become attached to a housekeeper, Eleanor Wilmerding. In 1908 Sickles’ wife Caroline and now-adult son, Stanton, had sailed from Europe to New York. Despite their near three decade estrangement, both Daniel and Caroline appeared to desire reconciliation. However, Caroline demanded that Dan fire Mrs. Wilmerding but he refused. Caroline and Stanton were banished from the home to a nearby hotel. The local press enthusiastically chronicled this latest Sickles soap opera to the delight of readers. Dan Sickles’ marital life was again newsworthy for the wrong reasons.
Extravagant spending had continued to be a trait of Daniel Sickles and, amazingly, he managed to deplete his multi-million dollar inheritance. By 1912, Dan was broke and his creditors had begun legal action including foreclosure. Even though estranged, Caroline and Stanton pawned her jewels at a New York pawnshop and paid an $8,200 judgement to prevent foreclosure. Eleanor Wilmerding refused to allow them to enter when Caroline and Stanton went to advise Dan Sickles of their payment. The event was widely covered by the press.
The fiftieth anniversary of the Gettysburg battle was in 1913 and Sickles’ hoped for renewed positive celebrity status. A few months before the official commemoration, the New York Controller audited the New York Monuments Commission and reported $28,000 as unaccounted for. In his nineties and unable to manage his own affairs, Sickles was still responsible for the shortfall. Caroline and Stanton tried to help with Stanton paying $5,000 of the shortage and Caroline making a public appeal for the remainder. Still, an arrest warrant was issued in January for Dan’s arrest. His lawyer arranged bail prior to the arrest and Dan was not jailed. Ultimately, his war-hero image helped him avoid jail time but the state never recouped the missing $23,000.
Daniel Sickles arrived at the fiftieth Gettysburg anniversary with Wilmerding and a valet. Confined to a wheelchair and unable to make extended speeches, he was still afforded celebrity status and newspapers updated readers regularly on his movements and activities.
In February 1914, six months after returning from Gettysburg, Wilmerding became ill and died. Two months later, Daniel Sickles suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and lapsed into semi-consciousness. He was surrounded by Caroline, Stanton, an attorney, and a nurse when he died on May 3rd 1914.
The journey of Daniel Sickles is one of a villain, a hero, a soldier, a public servant, a philandering family man, a celebrity, and a flawed human being.