Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-14
flight In Disguise Through Bal
IimOre in February, 1861.


The vigorous denials that Mr.. Lincoln
on his way to Washington, in February,
1861, went through Baltimore in disguise,
are set at rest by his own attestatOn of the
fact. Benson LOSING, the author of the
Pictorial Book, gives from Mr.. Lincoln's
own lips his story of his journey through
Baltimore to Washington, in the winter of
1861, in disguise, and the reasons for it:
II arrived at Philadelphia on the 2lst of
February. Iagreed to stop over night, and
on the following morning hoist the flag
over Independence Hall. In the evening
there was great crowd where | received
my friends, at the Continental Hotel. Mr..
Judd, warm personal friend from Chicago,
sent for me 10 come to his room. ! went,
and found there a Mr.. Pinkerton, skillful
police detective also from Chicago, who
had been employed for some days in Bati-
more, Watching or searching for suspicious
persons there. Pinkerton informed me
that plan had been laid for my assassin
alton, the exact time when expected TO 90
through Baltimore being publicly known.
He was well informed as to the plan, but
did not know that the cOnspiratOrs would
have pluck enough TO execute it. He urg-
ed me to 90 right through with him to
Washington that night. | didn't like that.
| had made engagements to visit Harris
burg, and go from there to Baltimore, and
resolved to do so. could not believe that
| there was plot to murder me. | made ar
| rangements, however, with Mr., Judd for
my return to Philadelphia, ii | should be
convinced that there was danger in going
through Baltimore. ] told him that if
should meet at Harrisburg, as had at other
places, a delegation TO 20 with Inc to the
next place (then Baltimore) should feel
safe, and 90 on.
"When | was making my way back TO
my room, through crowds of people, met
Frederick Seward. We went together to
my room, when he told me that he had
been sent at the instance OF his father and
Gen. Scott, to inform me that their detec-
tives in Baltimore had discovered a plot
there to assassimate me. They knew moth
ing of Pinkerton's movements. | now be-
lieved such plot to be in existence.
"The next morning raised the flag over
Independence Hall. and then went on to
Harrisburg with Mr.. Sumner, Major (nOw
General) Hunter, Mr.. Judd, Mr. LamOn
and others. There met the Legislature
and people, dined and waited until the
time appointed for me to leave. In the
meantime Mr.. Judd had so secured the
telegraph that no communication could
pass to Baltimore and give the conspirators
knowledge of a change in my plans.
I'm New York sOmefriend had given me
n new beaver hat in box, and in it had
been placed a soft wool hat. had never
worn one of the latter in my life. | had
this box in my room. Having informed
very few friends of the secret of my new
movements, and the cause, put on an old
overcOat that had with me, and putting
the soft hat in my pocket, | walked out of
the houEe at the back door, bareheaded,
without exciting any special cOuriosity.
Then put on the soft hat aud Joined my
friends without being recognized by
strangers, for | was not the same man.
Sumner and Hunter wished to accompany
me. l said no; you are known, and your
presence might betray me. | will only
take Lamon tnow marshal of this District,
whom nobody knew,and Mr.. Judd, Sumner,
and Hunter felt hurt.
1--WE went back to Philadelphia and
four amessage there from Pinkerton (who
had returned to Baltimore), that the con-
spirators had held their final meeting that
evening, and it was doubtful whether they
had the nerve to attempt the execution of
their purpose. went on, however, as the
arrangement had been made, in a special
train. We were a long time in the station
at Baltimore. | heard people talking
around, but no one particularly observed
me. At an early hour on Saturday MORN
ing, at about the time l was expected
to leave Harrisburg, l arrived in Washing
ton"