who had been notified to be at the depot on the arrival of the train, says:  “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 rumbling in on time.  When it 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 when about to leave I saw three persons slowly emerge from the last sleeping-car.  I could not mistake the long, lank form of Mr. Lincoln, and my heart bounded with joy and gratitude.  He had on a soft low-crowned hat, a muffler around his neck, and a short overcoat.  Anyone who knew him at that time could not have failed to recognize him at once; but I must confess he looked more like a well-to-do farmer from one of the back towns of Jo Daviess County, coming to Washington to see the city, take out his land warrant and get the patent for his farm, than the President of the United States.  The only persons that accompanied Mr. Lincoln were Pinkerton, the well-known detective, and Ward H. Lamon.  When they were fairly on the platform, and a short distance from the car, I stepped forward and accosted the President:  ‘How are you, Lincoln?’ At this unexpected and rather familiar salutation the gentlemen were apparently somewhat startled; but Mr. Lincoln, who had 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 (all four of us), we drove rapidly to Willard’s Hotel, entering on Fourteenth Street, before it was fairly daylight.”

General Stone, who was in command at Washington at that time, states that both General Scott and himself “considered it almost a certainty that Mr. Lincoln could not pass through Baltimore alive on the day fixed,” and adds:  “I recommended that Mr. Lincoln should be officially warned; and suggested that it would be best that he should take the train that evening from Philadelphia, and so reach Washington early the next day.  General Scott directed me to see Mr. Seward, to whom he wrote a few lines, which he handed me.  I did not succeed in finding Mr. Seward until past noon.  I handed him the General’s note.  He listened attentively to what I said, and asked me to write down my information and suggestions.  Then, taking the paper I had written, he hastily left.  The note I wrote was what Mr. Frederick Seward carried to Mr. Lincoln in Philadelphia.  Mr. Lincoln has stated that it was this note which induced him to change his journey as he did. The stories of disguises are all nonsense.  Mr. Lincoln merely took the sleeping-car in the night train.”

There is little doubt that the fears of Lincoln’s friends regarding his passage through Baltimore were well grounded; and that but for the timely warnings and precautions the assassination of April, 1865, might have taken place in February of 1861.