The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-02-03

given the honor of raising it to the head o.
its staff, and when it went up was pleased
that it went to its place by the strength of
nv own feeble arm. When, according tc
the arrangement, the cord was pulled. and
it Haunted gloriously to the wind, without
an accident, in the bright glowing sunshine
of the morning, could not help hoping
that there was in the entire success of that
beautiful ceremony, at least something OF
an omen of what is to come. Nor could
help feeling then. as 1 have often felt, that
in the whole of that proceeding | was a
very humble instrument. l had not pro-
vided the flag. l had not made the ar
rangement for elevating it to its place.
had applied very small portion even OF
my feeble strength in raising it. In the
whole transaction l was in the hands of the
people who had arranged it. And if l can
have the same generous cooperation of the
people of this nation, I think the flag OF
our country may yet be kept Haunting glo-
riously"
After the reception of Mr.. Lincoln by
the State authorities at Harrisburg, Pa,
preparations were Immediately made for
his return to Philadelphia. 1t was impos-
sible to conceal the events of his journey
to the capital. Fully advised of these
events, the rebels prepared to take his life
in Baltimore. Accurate information of
their intentions had been received and con-
veyed to him. Surprising that he would
proceed by the Northern Central Road, they
lay in wait for him at the Calvert street
depot of that road in Baltimore. To battle
them he took the Pennsylvania Central
from Harrisburg, and reached Philadelphia
Just in time to enter the sleeping car of the
II. 30 train, at the Broad and Prime depot,
in that city, by which means he was con-
veyed through Baltimore at night, and
safely landed in Washington on the morn
ing of the Odd of February, 1861. To pre-
vent the knowledge of this change of pro-
gramme being telegraphed to Baltimore,
Henry Sanford, Esq, one of the officers of
Adams Express, suggested that the wires
should be cut some distance from Harris
burg, which was accordingly done. And
now for statement not generally known,
and for the first time published in the very
interesting book entitled Massachusetts,
during the War; prepared by General
VIM Schouler, adjutant general under
Governors Banks and Andrews IA monu-
ment of industry and patriotism,( which,
notwithstanding its length, will be read
with deep interest. This true history of
Mr.. Lincoln's perilous journey to Washing
ton, in 1861, and the way he escaped death,
have never been printed before. The mar
rative was written by Srmuel NJ. FELTON,,
late President of the Philadelphia and Bal
timore Railroad Company, in 1862. at the
request of Mr.. Sibler, librarian of Harvard
University, but was not completed until
lately, when it was sent to Gen. Schouler,
with other valuable material, by Mr.. Eel
ton. Mr.. FELTON, is a native of Massachu-
sets, and a brother of the President of
Harvard University. He was born in West
Newbury, Essex county, Mass, July, II,
1909, and graduated at Harvard in the class
of 1884. His services in the cause of the
Union and good government are therefore
part of the renown of that Common
wealth. His narrative is as follows:
"It came to my knowledge in the early
part of 1861, first from rumors and then
from evidence could not doubt, that there
was deep-laid conspiracy to capture
Washington, destroy all the avenues lead
ing to it from the North, East and West,
and thus prevent the Inauguration of Mr..
Lincoln in the Capitol of the country; and
if this plot did not succeed, then to murder
thus inaugurate revolution which should
end in establishing Southern Confederacy,
uniting all the slave States, while it was
imagined that the North would be divided
into separate cliques, each striving for the
destruction of the other. Early in the
year 1861, Miss Dix, the philanthropist,
came into my Office on Saturday after
noon. l had known her for some years as
one engaged in alleviating the sufferings of
the afflicted. Her occupation had brought
her in contact with the prominent men
South. In visiting hospitals, she had
become familiar with the structure of
Southern society, and also with the work
ing of its political machinery. She stated
that she had an important communication
to make to me personally; and after clos
ing my door, listened attentivey to what
she had to say for more than an hour
She put in a tangible and reliable shape,
by the facts she related, what before had
heard in numerous and detached parcels
The sum of it all was that there was then
an extensive and organized conspiracy
throughout the South to seize upon Wash
ington, with its archives and records, and
then declare the Southern conspirators de
facto the Government of the United States.
The whole was to be a coup d'etat. At the
same time they were to cut off all modes of
communication between Washington and
the North, East, or West, and thus pre-
vent the transportation of troops to wrest
the capital from the hands of the insur-
gents. Mr.. Lincoln's Inauguration was
thus to be prevented, Or his life was to fall
a sacrifice to the attempt at Inauguration
In fact, troops were then drilling on the
line of our road, and the Washington and
Annapolis line, and other lines; and they
were sworn to obey the commands of their
leaders, and the leaders were banded to-
gether to capture Washington. As soon
as the interview was ended, called Mr.. n
P. Trist into my office, and told him l
wanted him to go to Washington that
night, and communicate these facts to Gen
eral Scott. also furnished him with some
data as to the other routes to Washington
that might be adopted in case the direct
route was cut off. One was tho Delaware
Railroad to Seaford, and thence up the
Chesapeake and Potomac to Washington,
or to Annapolis, and thence to Washing
ton; another to Perryville, and thence to
Annapolis and Washington. Mr. Trist left
ti.. nioht, and arrived in Washington at
six the next morning, which was on Sun
day. He Immediately had an interview
,,,;+h Capora1 Srptt who told him he had