The Journey of President-Elect Lincoln from Springfield to Washington for His First Inauguration in 1861
Note: We are indebted to Passenger Representative S. B. Hege, Washington, D. C, for gathering up from various sources much of the information contained in the following story; to the late John E. Spurrier for the story of Mr. Lincoln s passage through Baltimore, and to Miss M. Hazzard, Washington, D. C, for extracts from the letters of her father, Captain George Whitfield Hazzard, personal military aide to Mr. Lincoln.
It should be recalled that at the time of Lincoln s first inauguration the country was in a turmoil and political passions were at fever heat. The battle between the abolitionists and the secessionists was about to break, and Lincoln, as the great champion of National Unity, was villified and hated not alone in the South but also among the "copperheads' of the North. — Ed.
AS the time for the inauguration approached, Mr. Lincoln received invitations from the governors of various states to visit their capitals on his way to Washington. Lincoln was not fond of display, but his long experience had taught him the value of friendship, personal confidence and live sympathy. Therefore, the reply to these invitations was that he would visit a number of small cities, naming in particular Indianapolis, Steubenville, Columbus, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Albany, New York, Trenton, Philadelphia and Harrisburg.
The day set for the departure was Monday, February 11. A programme of special trains had been arranged, extending to Saturday, February 23, the day set for Mr. Lincoln's arrival in Washington.
Early on Monday morning the Lincoln family, including Mr. Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln, and their three boys, Robert T., William and Thomas (called “Tad”), together with Mr. Lincoln's suite, made ready to depart. This party consisted of Dr. W. S. Wallace, John G. Nicolay, John Hay, Hon. N. B. Judd, Hon. David Davis, Col. E. V. Sumner, Major David Hunter, Captain George W. Hazzard, Captain John Pope, Col. Ward H. Lamon, Col. E. E. Elsworth, J. M. Burgess, George C. Latham, W. S. Wood, B. Forbes and other personal friends and dignitaries.
About a thousand of his friends and neighbors were gathered around the dingy little station at Springfield. It was a stormy morning, and the leave-taking was very solemn. Mr. Lincoln stood while the people filed past him to shake hands and to wish him good luck. The bells and whistles of the train interrupted the leave-taking and Lincoln stepped aboard the train that was to take him to the Nation’s Capital. The conductor paused a moment with his hand on the bell rope. Mr. Lincoln appeared on the platform of the car and raised his hand to attract attention. By-standers bared their heads to the falling snow-flakes and there Lincoln delivered his farewell address:
“My friends: No one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this peace and kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when or whether ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. With- out the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail. Trusting in Him, who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us "confidently hope that all will yet be well. To his care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate fare-well.”
Reminiscences of the Journey
The train was off, and from this time forward there were days of receptions, speeches, handshaking, cheers, salutes, bonfires, etc.
Of the journey itself we have several records, but there is, perhaps, no more interesting record than that contained in the letters of Captain Hazzard to his wife, written at intervals on the journey from Springfield to Philadelphia. Captain George Whitfield Hazzard was of the Fourth Artillery, U. S. A., of the class of 1847, West Point. He had served in the Mexican War and was an adjutant at Fort McHenry. He was selected to be the military aide to Mr. Lincoln on his inaugural trip. His pass over the railroads for this purpose is still retained by his daughter, who resides in Washington. The inscription on it reads as follows:
SPECIAL TRAIN Capt. Geo. W. Hazzard, U. S. A.
Sir: You are respectfully invited to participate in the courtesies extended to Hon. Abraham Lincoln, president-elect, by the several railroad companies, from Springfield to Washington on the nth of February, 1861.
(Signed) W. J. Wood.
On the reverse side was the following:
Pass Captain Hazzard, U. S. A., on excursion train.
(Signed) T. A. Morris.
Pass Captain Hazzard, Columbus to Pittsburgh.
(Signed) T. L. Jewett,
by L. Devenny.
Mrs. Hazzard was in Washington. The first letter she received was when her husband was in Columbus, viz.:
“Col. Skinner, Major Hunter and myself will travel with him (Mr. Lincoln) from here to Washington. This is confidential. ”
Concerning Mr. Lincoln's personal appearance, he writes: “Mr. Lincoln is by no means ugly; he is one of the most excessively pleasant men I ever saw.”
Later he says: “Don't get disheartened about secessioners; Mr. Lincoln is just the man for the emergency I believe that we shall get to Washington without any trouble, but all preparation to avoid difficulty will be made. ”
From Buffalo, on February 17, came this letter:
“Horace Greeley came with us yesterday from Conneaut to Erie. He talks very much like a Quaker ***** We came into Cleveland through Euclid Street, and the scene was gorgeous * * * * Do you recollect the finest house on that street, in fact, the finest in Ohio? A brownstone Gothic with observatory and spires on the roof? It is on the side of the street near the lake, and is the residence of Mr. Stone, president of the Lake Shore Railroad. Colonel Sumner, Judge Davis, Mr. Lamon and myself dined there on Friday evening ****** There was a terrible jam at the depot yesterday, Mr. Hunter came very near having his arm broken.
“As to your joining us in New York, I fear that it would be impractical, as Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln are worried almost out of their lives by visitors of both sexes. Every village sends a reception committee of 20 or 30, and some of them bring their wives, so that not only are all of the seats in the car taken, but the passway is filled with people standing. Neither the president nor his wife has one moment's respite, and they are evidently tired of it. However, I will feel Mrs. Lincoln's pulse a little, and if favorable, will telegraph you from New York. ”
“New York, Wednesday–20th February.
“I suppose you have seen all about our movements. It is probable we shall be in Baltimore on Saturday, 22nd.”