February 24, 1861; The New York Herald
Between Harrisburg and Baltimore, Feb. 23, 1861.
The special train, with Mrs. Lincoln and party on board, left Harrisburg at nine o’clock, as arranged. The party were conveyed to the cars from the hotel in carriages. Very few people were out. There were no cheers, but denunciations of Mr. Lincoln’s secret departure were deep and unanimous. The republicans seemed to feel the most chagrined at the sudden movement.
All the party are on the train, though but few think we shall reach Washington without accidents. Colonel Ellsworth expects the train will be mobbed at Baltimore. The party is arranged as before, the Lincoln family, except Old Abe, in the rear car, and the balance of the party, including the reporters, in the front car. Only Mr. Judd and Major Lamon of Illinois are absent. Major Lamon was the only person who went with Mr. Lincoln.
I telegraphed Mr. Judd’s name by mistake this morning. He went on to Philadelphia in the regular train, at half past two o’clock. Major Lamon is only a militia officer.
The party don’t talk much. Judge Davis said that the telegraph was taken care of last night. The army officers are very angry. The republican on board, some of them editors of leading republican journals, are outrageous. They call it cowardly and draw a parallel between the conduct of Mr. Lincoln and the actions of the South Carolinians, very much to the disadvantage of the former. They say nothing can excuse or justify such conduct. These men who talk so are not in want of office. Ill-advised, injudicious, indeed every epithet is showered upon the movement. Still Mr. Lincoln is not blamed, but only his advisers. Others make a defence by saying that Mr. Lincoln can do as he pleases, that it is better to be prudent than rash, and that the matter was one of life and death.
Mr. Lincoln’s disinclination to go is also dwelt upon, as also the refusal of the Baltimore Council to invite him. It is now known, however, that this thing was discussed at Springfield and came very near being done at Pittsburg on Sunday. Could Mr. Lincoln be ignorant of it all this time?
It has just been ascertained that the danger to be feared was directed at the train, but that the mob would assail Mr. Lincoln at Baltimore. Therefore Mrs. Lincoln was allowed to proceed at Baltimore. The train will stop in a lonely street, the parties be received in close carriages, and driven by different ways to the other depot.
At all the little places along the route crowds were gathered, but the train made no stop till it reached York, where two thousand people were gathered, with a band of music. They could not believe Mr. Lincoln was not on board, and offered bets to any amount that he was. In dead silence Bob Lincoln showed himself. A republican on the train explained to the crowd that Mr. Lincoln was invited to go to Baltimore, and resented the slight by passing through secretly. This will be the ground taken by those who defend the move.
The day is very gloomy and so is the party.
At York Mr. Wood said to the crowd, ‘Mr. Lincoln is not on the train. He is suddenly called to Washington. He is very sorry to disappoint you. In the absence of the old man I present to you young Bob.’
At the next important station we passed the train from Baltimore, the passengers cheering. At every station crowds were out.
As we crossed the Maryland line the party became quite jolly, singing the ‘Star Spangled Banner,’ with young Lincoln as leader. Two Misses Williams, daughters of Senator Williams are on board, but stop at Baltimore.
The republican committee of reception from Baltimore is on the train. It consists of Hon. W. G. Snethen, Hon. W. T. Marshall, L. Blunenberg, W. Bell. J. Bishop, W. E. Gleason, J. M. Palmer and F. S. Corkran, the latter on behalf of the Electoral College. Mr. Snethen, in conversation with Mr. Wood said was a shameful way to treat men who had risked their lives to vote for Lincoln, and that it would have been perfectly safe for Lincoln to have walked through the city. The movement was a blunder.’
Mr. Wood replied, ‘That the plan was not his; he had every confidence in the Baltimoreans, and intended to trust himself and Mr. Lincoln’s nfamily among them. ‘The committee said that a State was never so insulted before.
There was a momentary stop at Countryville, were a great crowd was out, but no cheers.
At the next station an old darkey sat on the top of a stepladder, waving a piece of black bunting to which was pinned an American flag. Whether this meant secession, or that the blacks are for Union, is doubtful. Ladies, niggers and school children waved their handkerchiefs. Workmen were out everywhere.