Mr. Lincoln's Arrival at Washington

From “Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln” by Elihu B. Washburne

I WAS on hand in season but, to my great disappointment, Governor Seward did not appear. I planted myself behind one of the great pillars in the old Washington and Baltimore depot, where I could see and not be observed. Presently the train came rambling in on time. It was a moment of great anxiety to me ***** When the train came to a stop I watched with fear and trembling to see the passengers descend. I saw every car emptied and there was no Mr. Lincoln. I was well nigh in despair and about to leave when I saw slowly emerge from the last sleeping car three persons. I could not mistake the long, lank form of Mr. Lincoln, and my heart bounded with joy and gratitude. Any one who knew him at that time could not fail to recognize him at once. The only persons that accompanied Mr. Lincoln at that time were Pinkerton, the well-known detective, and Ward H. Lamon. When they were fairly on the platform a short distance from the car, I stepped forward and accosted the president.

“How are you, Lincoln ?”

At this unexpected and somewhat familiar salutation the gentlemen were apparently somewhat startled, but Mr. Lincoln, who recognized me, relieved them at once by remarking in his peculiar voice:

“This is only Washburne.”

Then we all exchanged congratulations and walked out to the front of the depot, where I had a carriage in waiting. Entering the carriage, we drove rapidly to Willard's Hotel, entering on 14th Street before it was fairly daylight.

We had not been in the hotel more than two minutes before Governor Seward hurriedly entered, much out of breath, and somewhat chagrined to think that he had not been up in season to be at the depot on the arrival of the train.

Mrs. Lincoln Passes through Baltimore

Col. McClure says further that Mrs. Lincoln and her suite passed through Baltimore on the 23d without any sign of turbulence. The fact that there was not even a curious crowd brought together when she passed through the city — which then required considerable time, as the cars were taken across Baltimore by horses — confirmed Lincoln in his belief. It is needless now to discuss the question of real or imaginary danger in Lincoln passing through Baltimore at noonday according to the original programme. It is enough to know that there were reasonable grounds for apprehension that an attempt might be made upon his life, even if there was not the organized band of assassins that the detectives believed to exist.