The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-07-12
THE CLANDESTINE JOURNEY.
1Ar. LincOin's Own Account of His sc
cret Journey From Philadelphia 4,

!
cret Journey From Philadelphia 10
Washington before his inauguration
The following is taken from LOSING s
Life of Abraham Lincoln:
While in Washington city, early in De-
| cember, 1864, the writer called upon the
President with Isaac N. Arnold, member of
Congress from Chicago, one of Mr. LincoIn's
most trusted personal friends. We found
him alone in the room wherein the Cabinet
meetings are held, lin the White House,
whose windows overlook the Potomac and
Washington Monument. AT the request of
the writer, the President related the circum-
stances of his clandestine journey between
Philadelphia and Washington. The nara
tive is here given substantially in his own
words, as follows:
Il arrived in Philadelphia on the 21st. |
agreed to stop over night, and on the fol.
lowing morning hoist the flag over Indepen-
dence Hall. In the eTening there was a
great crowd where [ received my friends,
at the Continental Hotel Mr. Judd, warm
personal friend from Chicago, sent for me
to come to his room. l went, and found
there Mr.. Pinkerton, skillful police detec-
tive, also from Chicago, who had been en-
ployed for some days in Baltimore, watch
ing and searching for suspicious persons
there. Pinkerton informed me that plan
had been laid for my assassination, the ex-
act time when | expected to go through
Baltimore being publicly known. He was
Informed as to the plan, but did not know
that the conspirators would have pluck
enough to execute it. He urged me to go
right through with him to Washington
that night. didn't like that. had made
engagements to visit Harrisburg and 90
from there to Baltimore, and | resolved to
do SO. could not believe that there was a
plot to murder me. | made arrangements.
however, with Mr.. Judd, for my return to
Philadelphia the next night. If | should
be convinced that there was danger in 90
ing through Baltimore. | told him if |
should meet at Harrisburg, as had at others
delegation to go with me to the next place
| Chen Baltluore), | should feel safe. and 90
on.
when | was making my way back TO
my room, through crowds of people, I met
Frederick Seward. We went together 70
my room, when he told me that he had
been sent, at the instance of his father and
General Scott, to inform me that their de-
tectives in Baltimore had discovered a pIot
there to assassinate me. They knew nothing
of Pinkerton's movements. | now believed
such plot TO be in existence.
1.-THE next morning raised the flag over
| Independence Hall, and then went on to
Harrisburg with Mr.. Sumner, Major (uow
GeneraD Hunter, Mr., Judd, Mr.. Lamop
and others. There met the Legislature
and people, dined and waited until the time
appointed for me to leave. In the mean
time, Mr.. Judd had so secured the telegraph
that no communication could pass to Bali
more and give the conspirators knowledge
of a change in my plans
''In New York some friend had given me
new beaver hat in box, and in it had
placed soft wool hat. | had never worn
one Of the latter in my life had this box
in my room Having informed few friends
of the secret of my new movements and
the cause, put on an old over-coat that |
had with me, and putting the soft hat in
my pocket, | walked out of the honse at a
back door, bareheaded, without exciting
special curiosity. Then put on the soft
hat and joined my friends without bein g
recognized by strangers, for | was not the
same man. Sumner and Hunter wished to
accompany me- said no, you are known,
and your presence might betray me. will
only take Lamon (now Marshal of this Dis
trict), whom nobody knows, and Mr. Judd,
Sumner and Hunter felt hurt.
1--WE went back to Philadelphia, and
found message from Pinkerton (who had
returned to Baltimore) that the conspirators
had held their final meeting that evening,
and it was doubtful whether they had the
nerve to attempt the execution of their pur.
pose. | went on, however, as the arrange.
ment had been made, in a special train
We were long time in the station at Bal
timore. heard people talking around, but
no one particularly observed me. At an
early hour on Saturday morning. at about
the time l was expected to leave Harris.
burg. arrived in Washington"