The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-15
LyNCOLN'S SECOND INAUGURATION.
His Personal Escort Carried Pistols
and CIubs-Ex-GOv. OsbOrn's story.

I0peKa Capltai.
Ex-G Governor Thomas A. Osborn was pres
ent at the second inauguration of Abraham
Lincoln as one of the escort to the PreSi-
dent. He was associated with General Ward
II. Lamon, along with fourteen other United
States marshals from different parts of the
Northern States.
people who are able to refresh their
memory" Governor Osborn said in re-
cent interview, will remember with what
anxiety the inauguration was approached
1t was believed that AN assault of some
character would be attempted upon the
President. The government detectives had
been able to gain a vague sort of informa-
ton about conspiracy against the Presi-
dent life, but there was nothing tangible
enough to enable them to make arrests
That their suspicious were well grounded
was well determined just forty days later
when the President was shot down by
Booth and the conspiracy came to light.
president Lincoln was rather disposed to
pooh-pooh the idea of danger. He refused
to have himself surrounded with soldiers
at the inaugural exercises, but finally con-
scented that Ward II. Lamon, who then
marshal of the District of Columbia, should
take such steps as he deemed necessary,
STIMULATING, however, that there should be
no ostentatious display of arms or force.
General Lamon at once summoned fifteen
United States marShaIS from different
parts of the country, selecting those who, in
his opinion, were brave, loyal, athletic and
shrewd was one of the fifteen, a fact
which I have always attributed to the gem
eral renown of Kansas Ten as fighters
rather than to any personal prow4ss / was
known to possess.
II shall never forget the consultation held
between these fifteen marshals at the home
Of General Lamon on the night preceding
inauguration day. 1t was explained to us
by General Lamon that an assault on the
President was feared. He believed that an
attempt would be made to abduct him to
the South. Some feared assassination. re-
member that several of the marshals sug-
gested the possibility of an attempt upon
the Presidents life with an air gun We
were duly impressed with the gravity of
and "A n
which was fully carried out on the follow
ing day
ident to proceed to the Capitol to take the
oath of office. we rode i'm body on horse
back from Wizards Hotel to the White
House and surrounded the Presidents car
riage. | remember that the President
appeared to be considerably annoyed at our
solicitude. for we kept in close order about
the carriage all the way to the Capitol.
All of us carried pistols beneath our coats.
while i'm our hands we held batons similar
to those carried by policemen, Arriving at
the Capitol we remained Vn the steps or
the east front while the President entered
the Senate chamber and took the oath of
Office. When he reappeared on the steps to
deliver his inaugural address we closed i'm
around him and remained so until the end.
after which we escorted his carriage back
to the White House in the same manner
that we had escorted IL to the Capitol We
saw no evidence of a contemplated abduc-
ton or assassination anywhere along the
route, though, Of course; no, indications
could have been expected until the actual
assault took Dalce.
THAT fourth day OF March. 1865, was the
worst day / have ever seen I'm Washington.
1t was dark and gloomy. and the air was
filled with snow and rain. The bedraggled
plumes and accOntrements to be seen in
the military procession which followed the
Presidents carriage were sorry sight in
deed. The President sat bolt upright IN
his carriage with his splendid face barred
10 the storm. though now and again he
smiled and bent his head In response to "A
burst OF cheers from the spectators along
Pennsylvania avenue.
II have had many honors bestowed upon
me by my indulgent fellow-citizens," said
Governor Osborn In conclusion, but none