Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-06-20
THE CLANDEsrrNE JOURNEY.

Mr.. Lincoln's Own Account Of his Secret
Journey from Philadelphia to Wash
ington. .I...a
The following is taken from Losing
Life of Abraham Lincoln: "
While in Washington City, early in
December, 1864, the writer called upon
the President with Isaac N. Arnold,
member of Congress from Chicago, one
OF Mr. Lincoln's most trusted personal
friends. We found him alone in the
room wherein the cabinet meetings are
held, lin the White House. whose win
dows overlook the Potomac and WASH
ington monument At the request of
the writer, the President related the cir
cumstances of his clandestine journey
between Philadelphia and Washington
The narrative is here given substantially
in bis own words, as follows 500 f.t a
o. arrived in Philadelphia on the 2lst
| agreed to stop over night, and Oh the
following morning hoist the flag over In
dependence Hall In the evening there
was great crowd where i received my
friends, at the Continental hotel Mr.
Judd, warm personal friend from Chi
cago, sent for me to come to his room
| went, and found there Mr.. Pinkerton,
a skillful police detective, also from Chi
cago, who had been employed for some
days in Baltimore, watching or searching
for suspicious persons there. Pinkerton
informed me that plan had been laid
for my assassination, the exact time
when i expected to go through Baltimore
being publicly known, He was well in
formed as to the plan, but did not Know
that the conspirators wouH have pluck
enough to execute it He urged me TO
20 right through with him to Washington
that night | didn't like that / made
engagements to visit Harrisburg and go
from there to Baltimore, and / resolved
to do so. could not believe that there
was a plot to murder me- made ar
rangements, however, with Mr. Judd, for
my return to Philadelphia the next night,
if / should be convinced that there was
danger in going through Baltimore |
told him if / should meet at Harrisburg,
as | had at other places, delegation to
60 with me to the next place (then Balti-
more), | should feel safe and go on.
When | was making my way back to
my room, through crowds of people, |
met Frederick Seward. We went togeth-
er to my room, when he told me that he
had been sent, at the instance of his fa-
ther and General Scott, TO inform me
that their detectives in Baltimore had
discovered plot there to assassinate
me. They knew nothing of Pinkerton's
movements. / now believe such plot
to be in existence.
The next morning raised the flag
over Independence Hail, and then went
on to Harrisburg with Mr.. Sumner, Ma
jor (now General) Hunter, Mr. Judd,
Mr.. Lamon and others. There | met the
Legislature and people, dined, aud
waited until the time appointed for me
TO leave In the meantime Mr. Judd had
so secured the telegraph that no commu
nication coald pass TO Baltimore and
give the conspirators Enowedge of a
change in my plans.
I'm New York some friend had given
me a new beaver hat in box, and in
it had placed soft wool hat | had
never worn one Of the latter in my life
l had this box in my room. Having in
formed 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 house at back door,
bareheaded. without exciting a special
Then / put on the soft hat
and joined my friends without being re
cognized by strangers, for was not the !
same man. Sumner and Hunter wished |
10 accompany me | said no; you are
known, and your presence might betray I
me. will only take Lamon (now mar
shall Of this district. whom nobody knew, |
and Mr.. Judd Sumner and Hunter felt |
hurt
We went back to Philadelphia, aud ]