Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1866-06-19
Mr.. Lincoln's account of his Clandestine
Journey.

While in Washington city early in
December. 1864. the writer called on
the President with Isaac y. Arnold,
member OF Congress from Chicago,
one Of Mr.. LincolH's most trusted per-
sonal friends. We found him alone
in the room wherein the Cabinet
meetings gre held, On the Whl4e
House, whose windows overlooked
the Potomac and the Washington
Monument. At the request Of the
writer the President related the CIR
eumstances OF his clandestine Journey
between Philadelphia and Washing
ton. The narrative is here given
substantially in his own words, as
follows:
~ arrived at Philadelphia on the
21st. / agreed to stop over night,
and on the following morning hoist
the flag over Independence Hail.
Ia the evening there was q great
crowd where ! received my friends.
at the Continental Hotel. Mr.. judd
a warm and personal friend from
Chicago. sent for me to come to his
room. ! went, and found there Mr..
Pinkcrton, a skiltHl police detective,
also from Chicago who had been en-
ploycd for some days in Baltimore.
watching or searching for suspicious
persons there. .Pakerton informed
mGthat a plan lad been laid iormy as
sassinution, the exact time when |
was expected to go through Bal}i-
more being publicly known. lie was
well informed Is to the plan, but aid
not know that the coasrirators had
pluck enough to execute it,. lie
urged me 80 20 right through with
him to Washington chat night.
did NOT like that. ! had made en-
gagcments to visit Harrisburg aad
20 rom there to Baltimore. Iresoly-
ca to DO could not believe there
vas q plot to murder me-. Imadear IT,
rangcmcnt7, however, with Mr. J0dd
for my return to Philadelphia tine
next night, it. ! should be convinced
that there was danger il going thro'
Baltimore. | told him that if should
meet at Harrisburg rs | bad at other
places, q delegation to go with me to
the next place. Chen BaItimoce) I
should ieel safe and 20 On.
When ! was making my way lack
through crowds Of people. | met Feed
Seward. We went together to my
room, when he told me he had been
sent at the instance Of his father and
General Scott, to inform me that their
detectives in Baltimore had discover
cd "A plot there to a,sassiuate me-
They knew nothing Ell Piukerton's
movements. | now believed such 4
plot to be in existence.
Ghc next morning | raised The dag
over independence Hall, aad then
went on to Harrisburg with Mr.. sum
ner. General Hunter, Mr.. Jadd, MIR.
Lamon and others. There | met the
Legislature and people, dined, and
waited until Tire 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 depar-
ture.
In New York some friend had
given me- new beaver hat in q box
and in it had placed a soft wool hat.
I had never worn one of the latter
In my life. | had this boXin my room
having informed a very 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 bat in my pocket, walked
out ofthe house at a I~lckdoor, bare~
headed, without exciting any special
curiosity. Then | put on the soft
hat and Joined my friends without
being recognized by strang rs, tor |
was not the same man. Sumner and
Hunter wish0l to accompany me. l
said no; You are knoan, and your
presence might betray me. | will
only take Lamon, (now marshal of
lie District whom nobody knew,
and Mr., Judd, Sumner and Hunter
felt hurt.
We gent back to Philadelphia, and
found q message there from Pin<er
ton. who hal returned to Baltimore
that the conSpirators had held their
final meeting that evening, aul 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 uain. We were a long
time in the station ut Baltimore. !
heard people talking around, but no
one particularly observeime. Atan
early hour on Saturday moraing, at
about the same time / was expected
to leave Harrisburg arrived IN
Washington
JEFF. DAVIS As DtcrAToR.-Qn the