The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-03

Thomas A. Scott, met the chief detective and
matured plan for the future 1t was decided
that after raising the flag in the morning. as he
had promised, Mr.. Lincoln should go to Harris
burg and receive the Legislature. He then
should retire to his hotel, ostensibly for sleep.
when he should be quietly hurried to the depot.
put on a special train with one other person, ana
rushed through to Washington, the regular
Presidential party followed on the advertised
schedule the next day.
This change of programme was communicated
to the Presidential party, when they were on the
train en- route for Harrisburg the next day. The
party consisted Of the Presdenteleet, Judge
David Davis Mr.. Lamar, Colonel Sumner. Major
Hunter and Captain Pope. the latter three, army
officers who had joined Mr. Lincoln as he left
Springfield The news of the changed pro-
grS -nme was received with surprise and indigna-
ton. Colonel Sumner spoke first and said:
This is - cowardice. will take squad of
cavalry and cut way for the President through
these - assassins"
Judge Davis replied that ''this cutting through
process would probably consume moro time than
Mr. Lincoln could spare. as it was very i'm
portant he should be in Washington on March A."
1t was understood that the last hopes OF peace
hung on Mr.. Lincoln's being safely inaugurated.
Mr.. Lincoln had understood this all the time.
When urged to do one thing or another, he would
reply:
things first" 1t was finally settled that the
plans should be changed, as was arranged the
night before. When the question came up as to
who should be selected as the one person to &C
company Mr.. Lincoln OF his perilous ride, Mr..
Seward said:
mo matter what is decided, I shall see Mr..
lincoln safe to Washington
After the ceremonies in Harrisburg were over
Mr.. Lincoln returned, with his confidential
friends to his room at Jones's Hotel He hastily
dined and then prepared himself for his secret
Journey. The question of his dress had been
frequently discussed 1t was charged and denied
that he wore disguise. The truth seemed to be
&In4h a ala hot a dnxS-U
over his face and had shawl wrapped about
his shoulders, with which he could hastily dis
guise his features il it became necessary. He
had changed the coat in which he had appeared
during the day. He walked hastily through the
hall and to the side door, where carriage was
waiting. He stepped in quickly Mr. Lamon
followed Colonel Sumner was about to follow
when Mr. Norman Judd caught him by the
if you pleased" The doughty Colonel
turned, the door was closed and the car
rage driven rapidly off. leaving a very
angry Colonel Sumner AS the carriage reached
she depot the special train found waiting
Dir. Lincoln and Mr.. Lamon boarded it quickly
and off it started. At that moment the tele-
graph wires were cut, by Colonel SCOTS own
hand, it is said, and the President-elect was
speeding on to the inaugural city unheralded
and alone
The chief detective was at Philadelphia to
meet the special train and transfer the President
He had close carriage and a select guard The
and safely lodged in special sleeper-no one
suspecting but that he was quietly asleep in
Joness Hotel in Harrisburg. The detective
Joined the party here and had some trusted
Epies along-among them two female detectives
It was felt that all danger was over. and the
spirits of the party rose There was quite joke
over the fact that the berths were all too short
for Mr. Lincoln. and that he could hardly sleep.
Baltimore was reached at o'clock in the
morning. There was an unusual amount Of
whispering. pass words and mysterious signs,
but not the slightest evidence of disturbance.
The hotheaded city was asleep. dreaming per
haps angry things of the new President, but
nothing worse. At 6:30 o'clock in the morning
of Saturday the 23d. the train rolled into Wash
ington City bearing the man who one week thence
was to be made its chief ruler
He descended from his car, drew his hat down
his face and closely attended by his friends,
made his way through the crowd unnoticed,
save by one man. This man followed him. gaz-
ing at him closely. Finally he caught him by
tho sleeve and said: f
Come, you can't play this on mel"
Instantly the gigantic Lamon turned to strike
the stranger down. as the detective closed in.
Mr. Lincoln caught his arm hastily.
''Stop" he cried ''it's Washburne'
1t was, indeed, Mr.. Washburne, who had been
acquainted by Mr. F. w. Seward with the change
in the advertised programme, and sent to meet
MIR. Lincoln and escort him TO Wizards Hotel,
where General Scott and Mr.. Seward awaited
him. With Mr. Washburne the party entered a
carriage and drove up the avenue to Wizards,
the city all unconscious. He was soon safely in
his room and laughing over his adventures.
Washington was excited when Mr.. Lincoln's
secret arrival was announced He was ridiculed,
denounced, and even his friends thought he had
been badly advised. OF Mr.. Lincoln's own
feelings, Mr.. Blaine says in his Twenty Years
of Congress:
'"This hight journey was taken much against
Mr.. Lincoln's own will and to his subsequent
chagrin and modification. It urged upon
him by those in whose Judgment and wisdom he
forced f0 confdn To the end of his life he
regretted that he had not, according to his own
desire, gone through Baltimore in open day.
sULLENNEss AND ANXIETY IN WASHINGTON.
March A. 1861, broke bright and clear over
Washington City.
But the radiant day bent over snllen and
anxious people There was little of holiday ella
ton or lightness. The dust lay ankle-deep in
Pennsylvania avenue, and. lifted in capricious
gusts, was almost intolerable Flags were dis
played from the fewest buildings. Troops were
massed at frequent points, but in thick platoons
for service rather than in glitterng fours for
parade.
The moving spirits in arming Washington
were General Scott and Secretary of War Holt.
They claimed to have information that an at
tempt would be made to interrupt the inaugura
ton by force Their first step to prevent this
was to order two companies of artillery and a
company of sapperS and miners to
Washington. The movement promptly re-
scented by Mr.. Brand, of North Carolina, in the
House, who offered resolution declaring "the
quartering of troops around the Capitol impol-
itic and offensive" and IF permitted would be
destructive of civil liberty" ExPresdent Ty.
Ter, the president of the peace congress, then
assembled in Washington. had already formally
complained to the President that it was rumored
that federal troops were going to march in the
procession on Feb. %.
In spite of these protests. General Scott con-
tinued to mass troops in Washington. 1t was
speedily shown that the local militia could not
be depended on, as it was largely Southern But
two companies (of the whole militia forcel were
found ready to respond to General SCOTS orders
the National Rifles and n company made up
wholly of Germans Loyal rifiemen were armed
and sworn in, and posted on housetops
along the line of march to watch the
arou,d for nv SIGN of disturbance platoons &c