The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-01-04
Soldiers Budget.
How Linc0ln's Life was Saved.

In the December NUMBER OF the zen
tury Nicolay and Hay, who accom-
panied the president-elect, give the
only complete and satisfactory account
which has ever appeared why Mr. Lin
coin, on his journey from Springfield
to Washington, left Philadelphia in
disregard of the announced programme,
passed through Baltimore in the night
and surprised the country by appear
ing in the national capital from twelve
to fifteen hours earlier than he had
been expected. The movement at the
time excited great variety of com
ments. His political opponents, natur-
ally enough, endeavorsd to make po-
litical capital out of it by charging him
with cowardice, slight to the people
along the remaining route who were
anxious to see the president-elect, not
to mention other accusations, and
even many of his party supporters felt
mortified over what seemed to be an
undignified ending of a journey that
had, up to Philadelphia, comported with
the dignity of the duty which he was
on his way to meet. The narrative of
his biographers must sweep away any
candid PERSONS doubt, if such he have,
most likely prevented crime which
took place at the end instead of before
the opening of the war. AT the be-
ginning of 1861 S. NJ. FELTON, was presi-
dent of the Philadelphia, Wilmington
& Baltimore railroad, over which
Lincoln was to travel. With the view
of frustrating any attempted violence
and destruction of the bridges or other
property of the road Mr.. FELTON, en-
gagged Allan Pinkerton to discover
whatever menace might be in store be-
tween Philadelphia and Washington.
The detectives were quickly enlisted in
three military companies which were
drilling in Baltimore, and through the
confidence thus established soon dis
covered plot of the most serious ma
ture. This was to burn the bridges,
kill Mr.. Lincoln and take possession of
Washington. Upon learning this dis
covery Mr.. FELTON, armed about 200
men, distributing them along the line
of the railroad from the Susquehanna
river to Baltimore. Secretly the force
was drilled, but to the public these men
appeared to be engaged in whitewashing
the bridges. Upon these they placed
many coats of a mixture saturated with
salt and alum, which tended to make
the structures tire-proof. With these
strong guards violence to the road at
these points was virtually precluded.
President FELTON, sent confidential
messenger to meet the Lincoln party at
New York city, and the Hon. n. B..
Judd of Chicago, who was of the num-
Der, was made acquainted with the re-
suit of Pinkerton's investigation. AT
Philadelphia conference was held be-
tween FELTON,, Pinkerton and Judd, to
which Mr.. Lincoln was summoned, and
the extent of the danger which menaced
him was laid before him. Rather re-
luctantly the president-elect yielded to
the advice of his'friends and consented
to make journey Friday night to
Washington instead of by day on the
following Saturday. A reception to
him had been previously arranged at
Harrisburg. The Century account
proceeds: "The following plan was
agreed upon: That after the recep-
ton at Harrisburg special train, con-
sisting of baggage-car and passenger
car, starting at six o'clock P. NJ. (Fri-
day, February 22d, should convey Mr..
Lincoln and one companion back to
Philadelphia, the two tracks between
the two cities to be kept clear of every
thing: that Mr.. FELTON, at Philadelphia
should detain the eleven O'Clock p. NJ.
Baltimore train until the arrival of the
special from Harrisburg; that Mr..
Pinkerton should have a carriage ready
in which to proceed through Philadel-
phia from one depot to the other; that
Mrs. Warne, an employe of his,
should engage berths in the sleeping
car of the Baltimore train; that Mr..
Sanford should so disconnect the wire
as to make any telegraphing between
the several points within certain hours
impossible, and Mr.. Lincoln should
have for his single escort and COM
panion Colonel Ward II. Lamon of his
suite, devoted personal friend from
| 1llinois-yOung, active and of almost
herculean frame and strength" While
Lincoln was at Harrisburg Frederick
w. Seward, bearing letter from his
father, William II. Seward, reached
him, with intelligence of the plot indie
pendently discovered by a detective
sent out from Washington, and carry
ing the suggestion that the president
elect pass through Baltimore, without
previous notice, by night. Thus sig
nally confirmed in the wisdom of the
Felton-J standardization plan, Mr.. Lin
coin made the rest of his journey un-
detected and no doubt preserved his
life for four years of the most impor-
tant service TO his country which any
president has rendered since the days
of Washington.