GIFT OF 
 Finkerton s National 
 

 dt 
 
 -& 
 
 r P Jl^ * \ ^ 
 
 m 
 
 4^Pi 
 
 History zmd Evidence 
 of the 
 
 Passage of 
 Abraham 
 Lincoln.... 
 
 from Harrisburg, Pa., 
 to Washington, D.C., 
 on the Twenty-second 
 and Twenty-third of 
 February, : Eighteen 
 hundred and sixty-one 
 
: 
 
 \ c \ 07 
 
Rational Setertroe 
 
 FOUNDED BY ALLAN PINKERTON, 1850 
 
 ROB T A. PINKERTON, NEW YORK GEO. D. BANGS, GENERAL MANAGER, NEW YORK 
 WM. A. PINKERTON, CHICAGO ALLAN PINKERTON, ASS T GEN. MGR., NEW YORK 
 
 PRINCIPALS 
 
 JOHN CORNISH JAS. McPARLAND 
 
 MANAGER EASTERN DIVISION, NEW YORK MANAGER WESTERN DIVISION, DENVER 
 
 EDW. S. GAYLOR JNO. C. FRASER 
 
 MANAGER MIDDLE DIVISION, CHICAGO MANAGER PACIFIC DIVISION, SAN FRANCISCO 
 
 OFFICES 
 
 NEW YORK PHILADELPHIA CHICAGO DENVER SAN FRANCISCO 
 
 BOSTON BALTIMORE CINCINNATI KANSAS CITY LOS ANGELES 
 
 MONTREAL PITTSBURGH ST. PAUL OMAHA SEATTLE 
 
 BUFFALO CLEVELAND ST. LOUIS SPOKANE PORTLAND, ORE. 
 
 M138339 
 
1868. 
 Pinkerton s National Detective Agency, 
 
 ALLAN PINKERTON, Principal. GEO. H. BANGS, Gen. Supt. 
 
 To THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 CHICAGO, JAN. 8, 1868. 
 
 The question of the passage of Mr. Lincoln, 
 on the night of the 22d of February, 1861, from 
 Harrisburg, Penn., to Washington, D. C, the 
 Capitol of the United States, is one of marked 
 interest in history, and one upon which the peo 
 ple of this country, and the world, ought to have 
 correct information. Hitherto I have kept silent 
 upon this subject, and probably might have con 
 tinued so much longer, but that historians are 
 now writing up the important events of the last 
 seven years a period the most exciting in the 
 life-time of this Nation up to the present stage 
 of its existence, and I deem it proper to lay the 
 following brief statement before the public in 
 connection with this event. I am induced, more 
 over, to take this step from the fact of the publi 
 cation, in the second volume of Lossing s History 
 
of the War of the Rebellion, of a letter from 
 John A. Kennedy, Esq., Superintendent of the 
 Metropolitan Police of New York City, dated 
 New York, August 13, 1867, in which Mr. 
 Kennedy speaks of the acts of himself and his 
 detective force, in discovering the plot for the 
 assassination of President Lincoln, on his pas 
 sage through Baltimore, en route to Washington, 
 for inauguration as President. This letter has 
 had so wide a circulation in the press of the 
 United States that it will be unnecessary for me 
 to insert the whole of it here. I merely desire 
 to call attention to the following words : 
 
 " I know nothing of any connection of Mr. 
 Pinkerton with the matter." 
 
 That is to say, Mr. Kennedy knew nothing of 
 my connection with the passage of Mr. Lincoln 
 from Harrisburg, via Philadelphia, to Washing 
 ton, on the 22d of February, 1861. In this 
 respect, Mr. Kennedy spoke the truth : he did 
 not know of my connection with the passage of 
 Mr. Lincoln, nor was it my intention that he 
 should know of it. Secrecy is the one thing 
 most necessary to the success of the detective, 
 and when a secret is to be kept, the fewer who 
 know of it the better. It was unnecessary for 
 
 6 
 
Mr. Kennedy to know of my connection with 
 that passage, and hence he was not apprised of 
 it. I am aware that Mr. Kennedy is a loyal 
 man, and has done much service for the Union 
 cause ; but it was not necessary that every 
 Unionist should be informed that Mr. Lincoln 
 was about to make an important movement. 
 Therefore, the secret was imparted only to those 
 whom it was necessary should know it. With 
 this preface, my statement will be brief. 
 
 About the middle of January, 1861, I was in 
 Philadelphia, and had an interview on other 
 . matters with S. M. Felton, Esq., at that time 
 President of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and 
 Baltimore Railroad, in which Mr. Felton men 
 tioned that he had suspicions that the secession 
 ists of Maryland were bound to injure his road, 
 either by destroying the ferry-boat which carried 
 the trains across the Susquehanna River at 
 Havre de Grace, or by the destruction of the 
 railroad bridges over the Gunpowder River and 
 other streams. Mr. Felton felt very desirous to 
 protect his road from injury or obstruction by 
 the " secessionists," as they were at that time 
 called, but afterwards more familiarly known as 
 "rebels," who were then busily engaged in plot- 
 
 7 
 
ting the treason which shortly afterwards culmi 
 nated in open rebellion. Mr. Felton well knew 
 that the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Balti 
 more Railroad was the only connecting link 
 between the great commercial emporium of the 
 United States and the Capitol of the Nation, 
 and appreciated fully the necessity of keeping 
 that link unbroken. He desired that I would 
 consider the matter fully, and, promising to do 
 so, I returned to my home in Chicago. 
 
 On the 2;th of January, 1861, I wrote to Mr. 
 Felton my views upon this subject. They were 
 not given in connection with secession, but as to 
 what detective ability might do to discover the 
 plots and plans of those who might be contem 
 plating the destruction of any portion of this 
 great and important link between. New York 
 and Washington. 
 
 On the 3Oth of January, I received a telegram 
 from Mr. Felton, requesting me to come to 
 Philadelphia, and take with me such of my force 
 as might be necessary, with a view to commenc 
 ing the detective operations to which I had al 
 luded in my letter to him of the 27th. 
 
 On the ist of February, 1861, I accordingly 
 left Chicago with such of my detective force, 
 
male and female, as I thought adequate for the 
 purpose required. We duly arrived in Philadel 
 phia, and after consultation with Messrs. Felton 
 and Stearns, of the Philadelphia, Wilmington 
 and Baltimore Railroad, I repaired with my force 
 to Baltimore and there established my head 
 quarters. 
 
 While engaged in the investigations spoken 
 of, as relating to the safety of the Philadelphia, 
 Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad track, my 
 self and detectives accidentally acquired the 
 knowledge that a plot was in existence for the 
 assassination of Mr. Lincoln on his passage 
 through Baltimore to Washington, to be inau 
 gurated as President. The plot was well con 
 ceived, and would, I am convinced, have been 
 effective for the purpose designed. This infor 
 mation was acquired by me while in the service 
 of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore 
 Railroad, who were paying me for my services, 
 and although I felt impelled by my sense of duty, 
 and my long friendship for Mr. Lincoln, (we 
 both being old citizens of Illinois,) to impart the 
 same to him, yet, knowing the loyalty of Mr. Fel 
 ton, I desired his acquiescence in so doing. I ac 
 cordingly imparted the information of the plot to 
 
Mr. Stearns, and through him to Mr. Felton, and 
 received from both these gentlemen the authority 
 to impart the facts to Hon. Norman B. Judd, the 
 warm and intimate personal friend of Mr. Lin 
 coln, who was accompanying the President-elect 
 on the tour from Springfield to Washington. 
 
 Nothing further, I believe, is necessary from 
 myself on this affair, as the evidence which ac 
 companies this statement is all that is necessary 
 to show how far I speak truthfully. It would be 
 egotistical on my part to parade before the 
 public my acts. I hold proofs in addition to 
 those, which are now furnished to the public, in 
 my possession. A few words more, and those 
 only in relation to one who is now dead, a 
 martyr to the cause of the Union, who lies in 
 unhallowed soil, 
 
 " Unwept, unhonored and unsung." 
 
 I allude to Timothy Webster, one of my de 
 tective force, who accompanied me upon this 
 eventful occasion. He served faithfully as a 
 detective amongst the secessionists of Maryland, 
 and acquired many valuable and important se 
 crets. He, amongst all of the force who went 
 with me, deserves the credit of saving the life of 
 Mr. Lincoln, even more than I do. He was a 
 
 10 
 
native of Princeton, New Jersey, a life-long dem 
 ocrat, but he felt and realized, with Jackson, 
 that the Union must and should be preserved. 
 He continued in my detective service, and after 
 I assumed charge of the secret service of the 
 Army of the Potomac, under Major General 
 McClellan, Mr. Webster was most of the time 
 within the rebel lines. True, he was called a 
 spy, and martial law says that a spy, when con 
 victed, shall die. Still spies are necessary in 
 war, ever have been and ever will be. Timothy 
 Webster was arrested in Richmond, and upon 
 the testimony of members of a secesh family in 
 - Washington, named Levi, for whom I had done 
 some acts of kindness, he was convicted as a spy, 
 and executed by order of Jefferson Davis, on the 
 3Oth of April, 1862. His name is unknown to 
 fame ; but few were truer or more devoted to 
 the Union cause than was Timothy Webster. 
 
 With this statement, I herewith subjoin the 
 following letters, which are proof of my partici 
 pation in the passage of Mr. Lincoln from Har- 
 risburg, via Philadelphia, to Washington, on the 
 night of the 22d of February, 1861. As I have 
 before said, it was unnecessary that Mr. Kennedy 
 should know aught of the movement that was 
 
going on, and I did not advise him of it ; although 
 I am informed that he was on the same train and 
 occupied the third berth in the same sleeping 
 car from that where Mr. Lincoln lay on that 
 eventful night of his passage to Washington 
 from Philadelphia. 
 
 ALLAN PINKERTON. 
 
 12 
 
MR. LINCOLN S STATEMENT. 
 
 Extract from Los singes History of the War, Vol. /, Page 278. 
 
 " Mr. Judd, a warm personal friend from 
 Chicago, sent for me to come to his room (at the 
 Continental Hotel, Philadelphia, Feb. 2ist). I 
 went, and found there Mr. Pinkerton, a skillful 
 police detective, also from Chicago, who had 
 been employed for some days in Baltimore, 
 watching or searching for suspicious persons 
 there. Pinkerton informed me that a plan had 
 been laid for my assassination, the exact time 
 when I expected to go through Baltimore being 
 publicly known. He was well informed as to the 
 plan, but did not know that the conspirators 
 would have pluck enough to execute it. He 
 urged me to go right through with him to Wash 
 ington that night. I didn t like that. I had 
 made engagements to visit Harrisburg, and go 
 from there to Baltimore, and I resolved to do so. 
 I could not believe that there was a plot to 
 murder me. I made arrangements, however, 
 with Mr. Judd for my return to Philadelphia the 
 
 13 
 
next night, if I should be convinced that there 
 was danger in going through Baltimore. I told 
 him that if I should meet at Harrisburg, as I had 
 at other places, a delegation to go with me to 
 the next place, (Baltimore,) I should feel safe 
 and go on. When I was making my way back 
 to my room, through crowds of people, I met 
 Frederick Seward. We went together to my 
 room, when he told me that he had been sent, at 
 the instance of his father and General Scott, to 
 inform me that their detectives in Baltimore had 
 discovered a plot there to assassinate me. They 
 knew nothing of Mr. Pinkertori s movements. I 
 now believed such a plot to be in existence." 
 
LETTERS. 
 
 [LETTER OF S. M. FELTON, ESQ.] 
 
 THURLOW, Dec. 3ist, 1867. 
 ALLAN PINKERTON, ESQ. 
 
 Dear Sir: In answer to your inquiries as to your agency in 
 ferreting out the plot to assassinate Mr. Lincoln, on his first 
 journey to Washington, and in aiding him on his journey to 
 the Capitol, prior to his inauguration in 1861, I have to say, that 
 early in that year, and while I was President of the Philadelphia, 
 Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad, I employed you as a 
 detective to ascertain the truth or falsity of certain rumors that 
 had come to my ear as to the designs of the secessionists upon 
 our road, etc. I told you only a part of the rumors that I 
 had heard, only sufficient to put you on the track. You employed 
 a force of some eight or nine assistants, and among other things 
 made certain to my mind that there was a thoroughly matured 
 plot to assassinate the President-elect, on his journey to Wash 
 ington. After which I met you at a hotel, in Philadelphia, on the 
 evening of Mr. Lincoln s arrival there, in company with Mr. Judd, 
 Mr. Lincoln s intimate friend, when the whole plot was made 
 known to him. After which Mr. Lincoln was seen by you and 
 Mr. Judd, and made acquainted with all the facts. He declined 
 to go to Washington in our sleeping car that night, as was 
 my advice, but said that after going to Harrisburg the next day 
 he would put himself in our hands. It was then arranged that 
 he should be brought from Harrisburg to Philadelphia the next 
 night by special train, and then go to Washington by our night 
 line in the sleeping car, accompanied by yourself and one or 
 two of his friends. The telegraph lines in all directions were 
 cut, so that no tidings of his movements could be sent from 
 Harrisburg, and all was carried out successfully. 
 
 In all these movements you were the only detective employed 
 
 15 
 
by me, and the only one who was conversant with Mr. Lincoln s 
 movements, so far as I knew. All the movements of the train, 
 in which Mr. Lincoln went from Philadelphia, were under my 
 directions, and no other detective than yourself had any connec 
 tion with them in any way, unless it might have been as an or 
 dinary passenger. 
 
 You certainly were the only one who gave me any informa 
 tion upon the subject, or who had anything to do with the 
 planning of the journey, or who had accompanied Mr. Lincoln, 
 as a detective officer, and quasi guard. 
 
 Mr. George Stearns, then roadmaster, and Mr. William 
 Stearns, then Superintendent, went with you, one to Baltimore, 
 and the other from Baltimore to Washington. 
 
 I have written a full account of the events prior to Mr. Lin 
 coln s first journey, of the journey itself, and of the events imme 
 diately subsequent to the same, for Mr. Lossing, and have de 
 tailed therein more fully the part you had in them all, and I 
 refer you to that when published for all the particulars. 
 
 Yours truly, S. M. FELTON. 
 
 16 
 
[LETTER OF HON. N. B. JUDD.J 
 
 CHICAGO, ILL., Nov. 3d, 1867. 
 MR. ALLAN PINKERTON. 
 
 Sir: Yours of the 3ist ult, enclosing a letter of Mr. Ken 
 nedy to Mr. Lossing, relating to the conspiracy to assassinate 
 Mr. Lincoln on his passage through Baltimore in February, 1861, 
 and printed in the second volume of Mr. Lossing s "History of 
 the War," I found on my table last evening, on my return from 
 the country. Notwithstanding the various publications in the 
 papers, purporting to give accounts of that matter, some of 
 which were grossly inaccurate, I have refrained from publishing 
 anything in relation thereto; but the historian is making a per 
 manent record, and I cannot, in justice to you, refuse to make 
 a statement of the facts, within my personal knowledge. 
 
 As you suggest, I was one of the party who accompanied Mr. 
 Lincoln from Springfield to Washington. When the party 
 reached Cincinnati, I received a letter from you, dated at 
 Baltimore, stating that there was a plot on foot to assassinate 
 Mr. Lincoln on his passage through that city, and that you 
 would communicate further as the party progressed Eastward. 
 
 Knowing that you were at that point, with your detective 
 force, for the purpose of protecting the Philadelphia and Balti 
 more Railroad against the attempt by the traitors to destroy the 
 same, the information thus sent made a deep impression upon 
 me, but to avoid causing anxiety on the part of Mr. Lincoln, 
 or any of the party, I kept this information to myself. At 
 Buffalo I received a second brief note from you saying that 
 the evidence was accumulating. No further communication on 
 that subject was received until we arrived in the City of New 
 York. In the evening of the day of our arrival at the Astor 
 House, a servant came to my room and informed me that 
 there was a lady in No. , who wished to see me. Gen. Pope 
 was in my room at the time. I followed the servant to one of 
 the upper rooms of the hotel, where, upon entering, I found a 
 lady seated at a table with some papers before her. She arose as 
 I entered and said, "Mr. Judd, I presume," and I responded, 
 "Yes, madam," and she handed me a letter from you, introducing 
 
 17 
 
her as Mrs. Warne, superintendent of the female detective de 
 partment of your police force. She stated that you did not like 
 to trust the mail in so important a matter, and that she had been 
 sent to arrange for a personal interview between yourself and 
 me, at which all the proofs relating to the conspiracy could be 
 submitted to me. It was accordingly arranged that immediately 
 after the arrival of the party in Philadelphia you should notify 
 me at what place I should meet you. I informed her that I 
 should be in the carriage with Mr. Lincoln from the depot to the 
 Continental Hotel. During this interview with Mrs. Warne, 
 Col. E. S. Sanford, President of the American Telegraph Com 
 pany, called and Mrs. Warne introduced him to me. He showed 
 me a letter from you to him, relating to this affair, and tendered 
 me the use of his lines for any communication I might have to 
 make, and also his personal service if needed. 
 
 At Philadelphia, while riding from the depot to the hotel, 
 in the carriage with Mr. Lincoln, a file of policemen being on 
 each side of the carriage, I saw a young man walking on the 
 outside of the line of policemen who was evidently trying to at 
 tract my attention. At about the corner of Broad and Chestnut 
 sts. the young man crowded through the line of policemen, nearly 
 upsetting two of them, came to the side of the carriage and 
 handed me a piece of paper on which was written, "St. Louis 
 Hotel, ask for J. H. Hutchinson." I afterwards ascertained that 
 this messenger was Mr. Burns, one of Col. Sanford s telegraphic 
 force. 
 
 Immediately after the arrival of the carriage at the Conti 
 nental I went to the St. Louis Hotel, and being shown up to 
 Hutchinson s room I found 3^011 and Mr. S. M. Felton, President 
 of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad Com 
 pany, together awaiting my arrival. An hour and more was 
 spent in examining and analyzing the proofs upon which you 
 based your belief in the plot, and the result was a perfect con 
 viction, on the part of Mr. Felton and myself, that the plot was 
 a reality, and that Mr. Lincoln s safety required him to proceed 
 to Washington that evening in the eleven o clock train. I ex 
 pressed the opinion that Mr. Lincoln would not go that night, 
 but I proposed that you should immediately accompany me to 
 
 18 
 
the Continental Hotel, and lay the proofs before Mr. Lincoln, as 
 he was an old acquaintance and friend of yours, and to my 
 knowledge had occasion before this time to test your reliability 
 and prudence. On proceeding to the hotel we found the people 
 assembled in such masses that our only means of entrance was 
 through the rear by the servant s door. We went to my room, 
 which was on the same floor with the ladies parlor, and sent for 
 Mr. Lincoln. He was then in one of the large parlors, sur 
 rounded by ladies and gentlemen. I think Mr. Nicolay, his 
 private secretary, took the message to him. Mr. Lincoln came 
 to my room, forcing his way through the crowd, and all the 
 proofs and facts were laid before him in detail, he canvassing 
 them and subjecting you to a thorough cross-examination. After 
 this had been done, I stated to him the conclusion to which Mr. 
 Felton, yourself and myself had arrived. "But," I added, "the 
 proofs that have now been laid before you cannot be published" 
 as it would involve the lives of several of Mr. Pinkerton s force, 
 and especially that of poor Tim Webster, who was then serving 
 in a rebel cavalry company, under drill at Ferryman s in Mary 
 land. I further remarked to Mr. Lincoln, "If you follow the 
 course suggested of proceeding to Washington to-night you 
 will necessarily be subjected to the scoffs and sneers of your 
 enemies, and the disapproval of your friends, who cannot be 
 made to believe in the existence of so desperate a plot." 
 
 Mr. Lincoln replied that he "appreciated these suggestions," 
 but that he "could stand anything that was necessary." Then 
 rising from his seat he said "I cannot go to-night. I have 
 promised to raise the flag over Independence Hall to-morrow 
 morning, and to visit the Legislature at Harrisburg, beyond 
 that I have no engagements. Any plan that may be adopted 
 that will enable me to fulfil these two promises I will carry 
 out, and you can tell me what is concluded upon to-morrow." 
 Mr. Lincoln then left the room, without any apparent agitation. 
 During this interview Col. Ward H. Lamon entered the room, 
 but left immediately. A few minutes after, Mr. Henry Sanford, 
 as the representative of Col. E. S. Sanford, President of the 
 American Telegraph Co., came into the room. You then left 
 for the purpose of finding Thomas A. Scott, Esq., Vice-President 
 
of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad, and also to notify Mr. 
 Felton, who was waiting at the La Pierre House, of your report 
 of the interview with Mr. Lincoln. 
 
 About twelve o clock you returned, bringing with you Mr. 
 G. C. Franciscus, General Manager of the Pennsylvania Central 
 Railroad, saying that you were not able to find Mr. Scott, who 
 was out of town. 
 
 A full discussion of the entire matter was had between us, 
 the party consisting of Mr. Franciscus, Mr. Sanford, yourself 
 and myself. After all the contingencies that could be imagined 
 had been discussed the following programme was adopted : That 
 after the reception at Harrisburg, a special train should leave 
 the latter place at six p. m., consisting of a baggage car and 
 one passenger car to convey Mr. Lincoln and one companion 
 back to Philadelphia ; that that train was to be under the con 
 trol of Mr. Franciscus and Mr. Enoch Lewis, General Superin 
 tendent; that the track was to be cleared of everything between 
 Harrisburg and Philadelphia from half-past five until after the 
 passage of the special train; that Mr. Felton should detain the 
 eleven o clock p. m. Baltimore train until the arrival of the 
 special train from Harrisburg; that Mrs. Warne should engage 
 berths in the sleeping car bound for Baltimore; that you should 
 meet Mr. Lincoln with a carriage at West Philadelphia, on the 
 arrival of the special train, and carry him to the Baltimore train ; 
 that Mr. Sanford was to make it perfectly certain that no 
 telegraphic message should pass over the wires from six o clock 
 the next evening until Mr. Lincoln s arrival in Washington was 
 known ; that Ward H. Lamon should accompany Mr. Lincoln. 
 
 Every supposed possible contingency was discussed and re- 
 discussed, and the party separated at half-past four that morn 
 ing to carry out the programme agreed upon. At six that morn 
 ing Mr. Lincoln fulfilled his promise by raising the flag over 
 Independence Hall, and I have always believed that the tinge 
 of sadness which pervaded his remarks on that occasion, and 
 the reference to sacrificing himself for his country, were induced 
 by the incidents of the night preceding. 
 
 Later in the morning and I think about eight o clock 
 Mr. Lincoln sent for me to come to his room. I went and found 
 
> .> o I 
 
 ALLAN PINKERTON 
 
 I860 
 
Mr. Frederick H. S eward with Mr. Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln said 
 to me that Mr. Seward had been sent from Washington by his 
 father to warn him of danger in passing through Baltimore, and 
 to urge him to come directly to Washington. I do not think 
 that Mr. Seward stated to me the facts upon which his father s 
 convictions were founded, but the knowledge that from an en 
 tirely independent line of testimony to that which you had fur 
 nished the preceding night, had led Gov. Seward to the same 
 conclusion, that there was danger, strengthened my own convic 
 tions of the propriety of the course marked out. I told Mr. 
 Seward that he could say to his father that all had been arranged, 
 and that so far as human foresight could predict, Mr. Lincoln 
 would be in Washington at six a. m. the next day, that he un 
 derstood the absolute necessity for secrecy in the matter. I 
 do not think I gave him any of the details, but I am not positive 
 on that point. 
 
 After the train left Philadelphia for Harrisburg, and as soon 
 as I could get a word with Mr. Lincoln alone, I told him the 
 proposed plan of operations, and that I felt exceedingly the 
 responsibility, as no member of the party had been informed of 
 anything connected with the matter, and that it was due to the 
 gentlemen of the party that they should be advised with and 
 consulted in so important a step. It is proper to add, that Col. 
 Lamon, Mr. Nicolay and Col. Ellsworth knew that something 
 was on foot, but very judiciously refrained from asking ques 
 tions. To the above suggestion Mr. Lincoln assented, adding, 
 "I reckon they will laugh at us, Judd, but you had better get 
 them together." It was arranged that after the reception at 
 the State House, and before dinner, the matter should be fully 
 laid before the following gentlemen of the party: Judge David 
 Davis, Col. Sumner, Major David Hunter, Capt. John Pope, 
 Ward H. Lamon and John G. Nicolay. 
 
 The meeting thus arranged took place in the parlor of the 
 hotel, Mr. Lincoln being present. The facts were laid before 
 them by me, together with the details of the proposed plan of 
 action. There was a diversity of opinion and some warm dis 
 cussion, and I was subjected to a very rigid cross-examination. 
 Judge Davis, who had expressed no opinion but contented him- 
 
 21 
 
self with asking rather pointed questions, turned to Mr. Lincoln, 
 who had been listening to the whole discussion, and said: 
 "Well, Mr. Lincoln, what is your judgment upon this matter?" 
 Mr. Lincoln replied : "I have thought over this matter consid 
 erably since I went over the ground with Pinkerton last night. 
 The appearance of Mr. Frederick Seward, with warning from 
 another source, confirms my belief in Mr. Pinkerton s statement. 
 Unless there are some other reasons, besides fear of ridicule, 
 I am disposed to carry out Judd s plan." Judge Davis then 
 said: "That settles the matter, gentlemen." Col. Sumner said: 
 "So be it, gentlemen. It is against my judgment, but I have 
 undertaken to go to Washington with Mr. Lincoln and I shall 
 do it." I tried to convince him that every additional person 
 added to the risk, but the spirit of the gallant old soldier was 
 up, and debate was useless. 
 
 The party separated about four p. m., the others to go to the 
 dinner table, and myself to go to the railroad station and the 
 telegraph office. At a quarter of six I was back at the hotel, 
 and Mr. Lincoln was still at the table. In a few moments the 
 carriage drove up to the side door of the hotel. Either Mr. 
 Nicolay or Mr. Lamon called Mr. Lincoln from the table. He 
 went to his room, changed his dinner dress for a traveling suit, 
 and came down with a soft hat sticking in his pocket, and his 
 shawl on his arm. As the party passed through the hall, I said 
 in a low tone: "Lamon, go ahead. As soon as Mr. Lincoln is 
 in the carriage, drive off. The crowd must not be allowed to 
 identify him." Mr. Lamon went first to the carriage. Col. 
 Sumner was following close after Mr. Lincoln. I put my hand 
 gently on his shoulder. He turned round to see what was wanted, 
 and before I had time to explain the carriage was off. The 
 situation was a little awkward, to use no stronger terms, for a 
 few moments. I said to the Colonel: "When we get to Wash 
 ington Mr. Lincoln shall determine what apology is due to 
 you." Mr. Franciscus and Mr. Lewis, in charge of that special 
 train, took Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Lamon safely to West Philadel 
 phia, and at that station you met them with a carriage and took 
 them to the Baltimore train, and Mr. Lincoln immediately re 
 tired to his berth in the sleeping car. No one but the persons 
 
 22 
 
herein named, not even his own family, knew where Mr. Lincoln 
 was, until the next morning s telegraph announced that he was 
 in Washington. To get away from questioning, I went to my 
 room about nine o clock and staid there until about one, when 
 a dispatch reached me from Philadelphia saying that to that 
 point all was right. 
 
 Mr. Kennedy can test the accuracy of these facts, as to whom 
 credit is due for arranging for the safety of Mr. Lincoln, by 
 reference to the gentlemen named herein, and I have purposely 
 given these in detail so that any doubting person can verify or 
 contradict them. 
 
 On our journey to Washington I had seen how utterly help 
 less the party were, even amongst friends and with a loyal police 
 force, as Gen. Hunter had his shoulders broken in Buffalo in the 
 crowd and jam. 
 
 The same spirit that slaughtered the Massachusetts soldiers 
 at Baltimore; that laid low, by the hand of an assassin, that 
 great and good man at the commencement of his second term, 
 had prepared to do that deed to prevent his first inauguration, 
 and I know that the first warning of danger that Mr. Lincoln 
 received came from you, and that his passage, in safety, through 
 Baltimore, was accomplished in the manner above described. 
 
 Respectfully yours, N. B. JUDD. 
 
[LETTER OF WILLIAM STEARNS.] 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, PENN., Dec. 4th, 1867. 
 
 ALLAN PINKERTON, ESQ., Chicago, 111. 
 
 Dear Sir: In the early part of January, 1861, I had a con 
 versation with Mr. Felton in relation to our road. I was, at that 
 time, Master Machinist of the road. We had received some re 
 ports that our road would be destroyed by Southern secessionists, 
 and thus cut Washington off from railroad communication with 
 the North. In conversation with Col. Bingham, Superintendent 
 Adams Express, he advised Mr. Felton to see you in regard to 
 the matter. Mr. Felton wrote to you upon the subject with a 
 view to securing your services and those of your force that 
 might be deemed advisable, in ascertaining if the secessionists 
 had any designs upon our road, and if so, what they were. In 
 the meantime I went to Baltimore on several different occasions 
 and still heard these reports about the destruction of our road. 
 In the meantime you arrived from Chicago with part of your 
 force which was stationed between Baltimore and Havre De 
 Grace. I learned of two companies being formed, one at Perry- 
 mansville and one at Bel Air, from information I received, I 
 was satisfied they were formed for the purpose of destroying our 
 road. Mr. Felton and myself met you in Baltimore after you 
 became established in that city and arranged for a cypher to be 
 used between us in the transmission of messages. 
 
 On the night of Feb. gih I sent you a letter as follows: 
 "Yours of the 6th inst. received. I am informed that a son of a 
 distinguished citizen of Maryland said that he had taken an 
 oath with others to assassinate Mr. Lincoln before he gets to 
 Washington, and they may attempt to do it while he is passing 
 over our road. I think you had better look after this man if 
 possible. This information is perfectly reliable. I have nothing 
 more to say at this time. I shall try and see you in a few days." 
 
 On Feb. I7th, 1861, I sent a telegram to you requesting you 
 to meet me at the President Street Depot, in Baltimore, at 4.30 
 p. m. On the iSth you telegraphed me in reply that you had 
 so much to say to me that it would take considerable time, and 
 asking me if I would not remain over night in Baltimore, as 
 
 24 
 
you inferred from my dispatch that it was my intention to arrive 
 on the 4.30 p. m. train, and leave on the 5.15 p. m. train. On 
 the i8th of February I sent you another dispatch, saying that if 
 we did not get through with our interview I would remain over. 
 
 On my arrival at Baltimore at the time specified, you in 
 formed me that you had received much valuable information, and 
 had learned that my information was correct in regard to the 
 plot to assassinate Mr. Lincoln. And you gave me what infor 
 mation you had acquired with regard to the plot. I felt very 
 solicitous for the safety of Mr. Lincoln; but there was a deli 
 cacy with me in relation to the matter, in regard to the action 
 to be taken, inasmuch as the programme of the route of Mr. 
 Lincoln to Washington was published as via Northern Central 
 Railroad, from Harrisburg to Baltimore, and that road was 
 considered, to some extent, as a competing road to our road from 
 North to South. But it was finally concluded that it was best 
 that you should communicate at once with Mr. Judd, a personal 
 friend of Mr. Lincoln s, upon this subject, and that you should 
 see Mr. Felton on the 21 st, in Philadelphia. You accordingly 
 wrote me that you had written Mr. Judd, informing him of 
 the particulars of the plot, and had it sent to him, in New York, 
 by a trusty messenger. 
 
 On the 21 st of February you met Mr. Felton in Philadelphia, 
 and he informed you that he had received from me all the infor 
 mation you had given me while in Baltimore. 
 
 On the 22d of February you met Mr. Felton, my brother 
 George, Mr. Kenney and myself at Mr. Felton s office, in the 
 depot at Philadelphia. After considerable discussion as to what 
 course to pursue, it was finally determined that I should go to 
 Baltimore and make arrangements for the holding of the train 
 from there to Washington, should that be necessary, as it had 
 been determined on the night of the 21 st by Mr. Lincoln, that 
 he would go to Harrisburg on the morning of the 22d and return 
 to Philadelphia on the same night, and take our night train 
 from there to Baltimore and thence to Washington. And in case 
 that train should be delayed, the Washington train from Balti 
 more would be kept until it arrived, and my brother George was 
 directed to telegraph me from Wilmington when the train passed 
 
 25 
 
there, as it was deemed unsafe to do so from Philadelphia. The 
 arrangement also was that if the train was likely to arrive in 
 Baltimore on time I should say nothing to the officers of the 
 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad about the matter. 
 
 On the night of the 22d of February, 1861, Mr. Kenney and 
 yourself met Mr. Lincoln at the West Philadelphia Depot, and 
 took him in a carriage over to the Philadelphia, Wilmington and 
 Baltimore Railroad Depot. Mr. Lincoln took a berth in the 
 sleeping car, and at eleven p. m. the train left the depot for 
 Washington. I met you in our depot at Baltimore, went into 
 the sleeping car and whispered in your ear "all is right," which 
 seemed to be welcome news to you it certainly was to me. 
 Mr. Lincoln arrived in Washington without even the officers of 
 the train knowing that he was aboard. 
 
 On the arrival of Mr. Lincoln in Washington, I followed him 
 and yourself and saw you safely in a carriage bound for 
 Willard s hotel. 
 
 On the 26th of February I met you at the President Street 
 Depot in Baltimore, where we talked over what had transpired 
 the disappointment of the secessionists and the failure of their 
 plans to assassinate the President. I then informed you that 
 Mr. Felton desired that you should remain in Baltimore or 
 Washington, as the case might be, until after the inauguration of 
 Mr. Lincoln, and that you should keep Mr. Judd informed of any 
 attempt that might be made to assassinate Mr. Lincoln on the 
 day of his inauguration. After such services being rendered to 
 the satisfaction of the officers of the Philadelphia, Wilmington 
 and Baltimore Railroad Company, your bill was paid by the 
 Railroad Company. 
 
 Yours, truly, WILLIAM STEARNS. 
 
[LETTER OF H. F. KENNEY, ESQ.] 
 PHILADELPHIA, WILMINGTON AND BALTIMORE R. R. Co., 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 23d, 1867. 
 
 ALLAN PINKERTON, ESQ., Chicago, 111. 
 
 Dear Sir: The pressure of my office duties has been such as 
 to place it out of my power to reply sooner to your letter of 
 I3th inst, expressing a wish for a more detailed statement than 
 I gave you in mine of the loth inst., respecting the journey of 
 President Lincoln from this city to Washington, on the night 
 of Feb. 22d, 1861. 
 
 You and I met for the first time on the afternoon of that day 
 in the office of Mr. S. M. Felton, the President of this company. 
 Mr. Felton, himself and Mr. William Stearns, then Master 
 Mechanic of this road, being present. These conclusions were 
 arrived at, as to the best arrangements that could be made for 
 getting President Lincoln to Washington in such a way as to 
 defeat the plans which were believed to have been matured for 
 the assassination, and to baffle the vigilance with which his 
 movements were watched by those concerned in that nefarious 
 project. 
 
 The arrangements having been decided upon, I proceeded to 
 carry out the portion of them assigned to myself. In so doing 
 I gave orders to the conductor (Mr. John Litzenberg) of the 
 10.50 p. m. train of that night, not to start his train until he 
 had instructions to do so from myself in person. By way of 
 precluding surmises as to the reason for this order, Mr. Litzen 
 berg was informed that he would receive from my own hand an 
 important parcel which President Felton desired should be deliv 
 ered early in the morning to Mr. E. J. Allen, at Willard s Hotel, 
 in Washington. 
 
 Then at a later hour I was to meet you at depot of the 
 Pennsylvania Railroad Company, at West Philadelphia, in order 
 to bring President Lincoln from that point to our depot, so timing 
 his arrival at the latter place as to secure, as far as possible, 
 against his presence there being noticed. Accordingly, I pro 
 ceeded to the West Philadelphia depot, and we met there at 
 about 10 p. m. We had to wait but a short time when a special 
 
 27 
 
train arrived with but one passenger car attached, from which 
 President Lincoln, with Mr. Ward H. Lamon and a few other 
 gentlemen, officers of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, 
 alighted. Upon their alighting, I had the honor of being intro 
 duced by you to President Lincoln, and he, with Mr. Lamon, 
 forthwith got into the carriage which had been provided by you, 
 and the driver of which was placed by you under my directions 
 as to his movements, so that these might be regulated with a view 
 of reaching our depot a few minutes after the regular starting 
 time of our train. This required that we should while away 
 time : for the train from Harrisburg had arrived considerably 
 earlier than was anticipated. Accordingly, after you had taken 
 your seat in the carriage with President Lincoln and Mr. Lamon, 
 I took mine alongside of the driver, and directing him first down 
 Market Street as far as Nineteenth, then up that street as far 
 as Vine Street, and thence to Seventeenth Street, requesting him 
 to proceed down that street slowly as if on the lookout for 
 someone, towards our depot. Upon reaching the immediate 
 neighborhood of the depot, the carriage was turned into the 
 nearest cross street (Carpenter), so that its occupants might 
 alight in the shadow of the yard fence there. The President and 
 Mr. Lamon under your guidance then entered the depot and 
 passed through to the sleeping car, where you had secured berths 
 for them. I followed at a short distance, and delivering to the 
 conductor the parcel he was to wait for, gave orders for the 
 train to start. It was at once put in motion, the time being 
 10.55 P- m -j five minutes after the regular time for starting. 
 
 These are the particulars so far as my agency was involved 
 in carrying out the programme. 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 H. F. KENNEY, 
 
 Sup erin tend en t. 
 
 28 
 
[LETTER OF G. C. FRANCISCUS, ESQ.] 
 
 PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY, 
 
 Office of General Agent, 3003 Market St., 
 
 WEST PHILADELPHIA, November 5th, 1867. 
 ALLAN PINKERTON, ESQ., Chicago, 111. 
 
 Dear Sir: In reply to yours of the 3ist tilt., I submit the 
 following statement: 
 
 On the night of February 2ist, 1861, between 11 and 12 
 o clock, you called at my office at West Philadelphia and re 
 quested me to accompany you to the Continental Hotel. On my 
 way there you stated that a plot existed to assassinate Mr. 
 Lincoln, while on his way through Baltimore, and you desired 
 to arrange for a special train to bring him from Harrisburg to 
 Philadelphia, on the following night, Feb. 22d, to leave the 
 former place about dark, and arrive here in time to take the 
 ii p. m. train for Washington. I replied that it could be done. 
 When we reached the hotel you conducted me to a room where 
 we found Mr. Judd and several others. The details of the pro 
 posed trip were discussed and arranged conditionally. Mr. 
 Lincoln not having fully decided to yield to the wishes of his 
 friends, reserved his final decision until morning. 
 
 On the following morning, Feb. 22d, after we had left West 
 Philadelphia, with Mr. Lincoln and party, Mr. Judd said to me: 
 "Mr. Frederick Seward arrived from Washington, bringing a 
 note from his father and Gen. Scott, the contents of which 
 have decided Mr. Lincoln, and the trip will be made as arranged 
 by Mr. Pinkerton last night." 
 
 Mr. Enoch Lewis (our General Superintendent at that time) 
 being on the train, I informed him of the arrangements made 
 with you, and he joined me in perfecting and carrying them out. 
 
 We left Harrisburg between 5 and 6 p. m., with Mr. Lincoln, 
 and on arrival at West Philadelphia found you waiting with a 
 carriage to take him to the Baltimore depot. 
 
 In regard to the mode of Mr. Lincoln s leaving the hotel, at 
 Harrisburg, I will state that I called at Coverly s with a carriage, 
 at the hour agreed upon, and found him dining with a large 
 company, which it was difficult for him to leave without attract- 
 
 29 
 
ing attention. After several unsuccessful attempts he finally 
 rose, took Gov. Curtin s arm, and walked out the front hall door, 
 across the pavement into the carriage, dressed just as he left 
 the table, with the single exception of a soft wool hat that he 
 drew from his coat pocket and put on; he had neither cloak, 
 overcoat nor shawl, but as we approached Philadelphia, I gave 
 him my overcoat, which he wore until he was seated with you 
 and Mr. Lamon in the carriage. 
 
 Referring to your last question, I would say that nothing 
 unusual occurred on the trip from Harrisburg to Philadelphia. 
 
 The party in the car consisted of Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Lamon, 
 Mr. Enoch Lewis, John Pitcairn, Jr., and myself. 
 
 Yours respectfully, G. C. FRANCISCUS, 
 
 General Agent Pennsylvania Railroad. 
 
[LETTER OF ENOCH LEWIS, ESQ.] 
 PHILADELPHIA, PENN., November 7th, 1867. 
 
 ALLAN PINKERTON, ESQ., Chicago, 111. 
 
 Dear Sir: In reply to your favor of the 31 st ult., I would 
 say that on the 2ist of Feb., 1861, I was in Philadelphia in the 
 way of business as General Superintendent of the Pennsylvania 
 Railroad, to arrange for the movement of Mr. Lincoln, then 
 President-elect of the United States, by special train from Phila 
 delphia to Harrisburg, on the 22d inst. ; it being understood that 
 he was to proceed on the 23d from Harrisburg, by the Northern 
 Central Railroad to Baltimore and thence to Washington. On 
 that evening (the 2ist), I met Mr. Judd in Philadelphia by ap 
 pointment, in company with Mr. G. C. Franciscus, Superintend 
 ent of the Philadelphia Division, Pennsylvania Railroad, and was 
 informed by him that in consequence of the apprehended danger 
 of the assassination of Mr. Lincoln whilst passing through Balti 
 more, it was desired to change his route to the capitol, and to 
 bring him back privately from Harrisburg to Philadelphia, on 
 the evening of the 22d, and to take him by the regular night 
 train from Philadelphia to Washington, through Baltimore. I, of 
 course, agreed to make any necessary arrangements so far as 
 our road was concerned. On the 22d of Feb., I accompanied 
 Mr. Lincoln in the special train from Philadelphia to Harrisburg; 
 arrangements were quietly made for a special train, ostensibly to 
 take Division Superintendent and myself back to the city; it 
 was stationed just below the town soon after dark, where I 
 awaited the coming of Mr. Lincoln. Early in the evening Mr. 
 Franciscus brought Mr. Lincoln, accompanied only by Ward 
 H. Lamon, to it. We started, and without interruption reached 
 Philadelphia in time for the night train to Washington. The only 
 persons on the train which was run from Harrisburg to Philadel 
 phia, on the evening of the 22d, besides the engineer and fireman, 
 were Messrs. Lincoln and Ward H. Lamon, G. C. Franciscus, 
 Division Superintendent; John Pitcairn, Jr., in charge of tele 
 graph instrument; T. E. Garrett, General Baggage Agent, and 
 myself. When the train reached West Philadelphia you met 
 us at the platform and escorted Messrs. Lincoln and Lamon to a 
 
carriage into which I saw you three get, and drive rapidly away 
 in the direction of the Baltimore Depot. 
 
 I saw no change in Mr. Lincoln s costume except that during 
 the day he wore a silk or beaver hat, and in the evening one of 
 soft felt. 
 
 Respectfully, ENOCH LEWIS, 
 
 Formerly Gen. Supt. Penn. R. R. 
 
[LETTER OF JOHN PITCAIRN, JR., ESQ.] 
 
 PHILADELPHIA AND ERIE RAILROAD, 
 Superintendent s Office, Middle Div., 
 
 RENOVO, PENN., Nov. 23d, 1867. 
 
 ALLAN PINKERTON, ESQ. 
 
 Dear Sir: Your favor of the Qth inst, asking me for a 
 statement in regard to the passage of Mr. Lincoln from Harris- 
 burg to Philadelphia on the night of the 22d of February, 1861, 
 is at hand. I was on the special train which conveyed the Presi 
 dential party from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, having with me 
 a telegraphic instrument in order to connect with the wires 
 should an accident occur making it necessary. 
 
 Shortly after the arrival of the train at Harrisburg, Mr. G. C. 
 Franciscus, Superintendent, directed me to proceed with a loco 
 motive and passenger car to a road-crossing at the lower end 
 of Harrisburg, and there to await his coming. 
 
 About dusk a carriage was driven up and Messrs. G. C. Fran 
 ciscus, Enoch Lewis, Lamon and finally Mr. Lincoln stepped 
 
 out and entered the passenger car, the signal was given to the 
 engineer, and we were on our way to Philadelphia. 
 
 The lamps of the car were not lighted, and in darkness we 
 went swiftly along until we reached Downington, where we 
 stopped for water for the locomotive. 
 
 At this place all the gentlemen excepting Mr. Lincoln got out 
 of the car for a lunch. A cup of tea and a roll was taken to him 
 in the car. 
 
 We were soon again on our way to Philadelphia, where we 
 arrived between ten and eleven o clock. 
 
 A carriage was found waiting, into which Mr. Lincoln and 
 Mr. Lamon stepped, and were driven rapidly off without attract 
 ing the least attention, not even the engineer or fireman of the 
 train knowing of the illustrious passenger they had conveyed 
 from Harrisburg to Philadelphia. 
 
 Mr. Lincoln on this occasion wore a light felt hat and had a 
 gentleman s shawl thrown over his shoulders when he stepped 
 from the carriage to the car at Harrisburg. He did not, how 
 ever, wear the shawl in stepping out of the car at Philadelphia. 
 
 33 
 
This is all that I know personally in regard to the matter. 
 
 I afterwards learned, however, from Mr. Franciscus that 
 you had an interview with Mr. Lincoln at the Continental Hotel 
 the evening previous, and had informed him of the probability of 
 his assassination in Baltimore, and after considerable difficulty 
 he was persuaded to go to Washington incognito in the manner 
 stated. 
 
 Yours truly, JOHN PITCAIRN, JR. 
 
 34 
 
[LETTER OF GEO. R. DUNN, ESQ.] 
 
 THE NEW JERSEY EXPRESS COMPANY, 
 
 SUPERINTENDENT S OFFICE, 
 
 NEWARK, N. J., November 7th, 1867. 
 
 ALLAN PINKERTON, ESQ., Pinkerton s National Police Agency, 
 Chicago, 111. 
 
 My Dear Sir: Your letter of the 31 st ult., covering some 
 printed extracts from Lossing s History, did not reach me until 
 the evening of the 5th inst, owing to my absence on business. 
 
 On reading your letter and the extracts, I was somewhat 
 surprised to see that others were trying to take the credit of 
 Mr. Lincoln s trip from Philadelphia to Washington, when it 
 does not belong to them. 
 
 My recollection of the facts is perfectly plain, and as facts 
 seem to be much wanted in this matter, I will relate them. 
 
 I distinctly recollect that February morning, when you en 
 tered my office, Chestnut Street, near Third, Philadelphia, about 
 6.30, and said you desired my assistance, immediately, in an 
 important matter; it was imperative that I should go to Balti 
 more in the 8 a. m. train; when at Baltimore to proceed to a 
 given place and meet some party to whom I was directed by you. 
 After seeing this party, and communicating my business, I was 
 to telegraph you, and return by the afternoon train to Philadel 
 phia, and communicate with Mrs. Warne, whom I knew by sight, 
 and whom I would find in the ladies room at the Baltimore 
 Depot. In my conversation with Mrs. Warne, whom I met ac 
 cording to agreement, she told me that you desired me to pur 
 chase tickets and sleeping car berths for an invalid friend, you 
 and herself, and to make such arrangements for getting the party 
 into the car quietly, as quiet was necessary for the invalid also 
 to stay until you arrived. In turning the matter over in my 
 mind, I thought the best berths under the circumstances would 
 be the rear ones, so I got the tickets for them and made an ar 
 rangement with the person in charge of the sleeping car to have 
 the rear door opened when I desired. The person s name was 
 
 35 
 
Knox. At first he declined, but an explanation of the fact that 
 it was for the accommodation of an invalid, who would arrive 
 late, and did not desire to be carried through the narrow passage 
 way of the crowded car, he consented to the arrangement. After 
 this was effected, I waited on Mrs. Warne, in the ladies room, 
 told her what I had done, at which she expressed her satisfaction, 
 and requested to be shown to her berth in the car, which was 
 done. 
 
 I then took my position on the platform, and waited until 
 yourself and party arrived, which you did, about five minutes 
 before eleven. That party consisted of Mr. Lincoln, yourself 
 and another, whom I was subsequently informed was a Mr. La- 
 mon. Mr. Lincoln was dressed in an ordinary sack overcoat, 
 felt hat; I think they were called Kossuth hats, with a muffler 
 around his throat, and carried a traveling bag in his hand. So 
 soon as the party was on the train the cars were started. I think 
 the railroad officers who detained that train for the special pur 
 pose could bear testimony as to whose instigation the train was 
 delayed, and give evidence of your part of the transaction. 
 
 There may be some points that I have left out, but the facts 
 of this letter are not to be denied. 
 
 Respectfully yours, GEO. R. DUNN. 
 
[LETTER OF Gov. CURTIN.] 
 
 BELLEFONTE, December 8th, 1867. 
 
 Sir: You ask me in your letter of the nth of November 
 last to "give you a statement of what transpired between your 
 self and Mr. Lincoln upon the night prior to his leaving Harris- 
 burg, and as to whether Mr. Lincoln was in any disguise at the 
 time." 
 
 Mr. Lincoln arrived in Harrisburg about noon on the 22d of 
 February, 1861, and as previously arranged, I met him at the 
 entrance of the Jones House, on the corner of the Market Square 
 of the city. We passed upstairs and then to a balcony, where 
 he replied to some words of welcome which I addressed to him. 
 He was then taken in a carriage to the hall of the House of 
 Representatives, when he was addressed by the Speaker and made 
 a reply. On our way back to the hotel he asked me to dine with 
 him, and after we entered the house, communicated to me pri 
 vately the fact that a conspiracy had been discovered to assassi 
 nate him in Baltimore on his way through that city the next day. 
 I remember quite well that Mr. Lincoln mentioned your name in 
 connection with information he received on the way, and my 
 impression is that he stated he met you in Philadelphia and there 
 received the information from you. He said at the same time 
 that definite information had been sent to him from Wm. H. 
 Seward by his son Frederick. He then said his friends were 
 anxious that he should go by way of Philadelphia as privately as 
 possible, and that those who were informed of the conspiracy 
 were extremely solicitous that he would not expose himself to 
 the threatened danger in Baltimore. He seemed pained and sur 
 prised that a design to take his life existed, and although much 
 concerned for his personal safety as well as for the peace of the 
 country, he was very calm, and neither in his conversation or 
 manner exhibited alarm or fear. 
 
 When he had determined to go to Washington by Philadel 
 phia, and the arrangements were made, he put on his overcoat and 
 hat (it was a felt hat such as were in common use at that time) 
 and taking my arm we passed through the hall of the hotel and 
 downstairs to a carriage in waiting at the door. We drove down 
 the street and by the house in which I lived to the train. The 
 
 37 
 
halls, stairways and pavements in front of the house were much 
 crowded, and no doubt the impression prevailed that Mr. Lin 
 coln was going to the Executive Mansion with me. To avoid 
 inquiries I remained in the house when repeated calls were 
 made by persons who supposed he was there. It was regarded as 
 eminently proper that it should not be generally known that Mr. 
 Lincoln had left Harrisburg, but he neither assumed nor sug 
 gested any disguise of any kind. 
 
 No doubt the gentlemen who accompanied Mr. Lincoln were 
 privy to all the arrangements made in reference to his journey. 
 I had no conversation with any of them that occurs to me now 
 on the subject. He gave me all the knowledge I had, and what 
 was done was discussed before it occurred. 
 
 You thus have substantially the circumstances attending his 
 visit to Harrisburg and his departure for Washington so far as 
 I had any connection with the events. 
 
 Very respectfully your obedient servant, 
 
 A. G. CURTIN. 
 ALLAN PINKERTON, ESQ. 
 
TIMOTHY WEBSTER 
 
 I860 
 
[LETTER OF H. E. THAYER.] 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 3d, 1867. 
 
 ALLAN PINKERTON, ESQ., Principal National Police Association, 
 Chicago, 111. 
 
 Dear Sir: I am in receipt of yours of 3ist ult, enclosing 
 "Extracts from Lossing s History of the War," one of which is 
 a copy of a letter from John A. Kennedy, General Superintend 
 ent Metropolitan Police, New York, in which Mr. Kennedy claims 
 for himself and David S. Bookstaver, of the Metropolitan Police, 
 the honor of having prevented the assassination of Mr. Lincoln 
 at Baltimore in February, 1861. In your letter you request a 
 statement of my connection in the matter, and what I know of 
 it, viz. : The passage of Mr. Lincoln from Harrisburg to Wash 
 ington via Philadelphia and Baltimore, on the night of Feb. 22d, 
 1861. 
 
 In February, 1861, I was Manager of the American Tele 
 graph Office in this city. On the morning of the 22d of February 
 I was introduced at my office by W. P. Westervelt, Superin 
 tendent, to Geo. H. Burns, Confidential Agent of E. S. Sanford, 
 Esq., President of the American Telegraph Company, who in 
 formed me that a plot had been discovered in Baltimore to 
 assassinate the President-elect on his passage through that city, 
 and it had been arranged that Mr. Lincoln should go through 
 from Harrisburg to Washington privately on the night of the 
 22d, and it was desired to prevent any possibility of the fact of 
 the President s departure from Harrisburg being telegraphed 
 from Harrisburg to Baltimore; that the telegraph wires on the 
 line of the Northern Central Railroad, from Harrisburg to Balti 
 more, should be cut, so as to prevent communication from passing 
 by that route, and asked if I had a trusty man to do the work. I 
 replied that I had, and detailed Andrew Wynne, my lineman, for 
 the service; provided him with a coil of copper wire and gave 
 him instructions to attach a ground wire to each of the two line 
 wires at the back of a pole, and if possible to cut the line wires 
 and make the ground connections on both sides and leaving the 
 line attached to the pole so that parties who might be sent out 
 to hunt for the difficulty would not discover the trouble for some 
 
 39 
 
time; at least, until long after Mr. Lincoln should have arrived 
 at Washington. 
 
 W. P. Westervelt, Esq., Superintendent, was to accompany 
 Mr. Wynne to Harrisburg. They can speak for themselves as 
 to how the work was done. Mr. Wynne reported on the 23d, 
 having successfully accomplished his mission, having cut and 
 grounded both wires. 
 
 On the morning of the 22d, I also promised Mr. Burns that 
 I would myself be on duty at my office during the night and until 
 Mr. Lincoln s arrival in Washington, to see that no despatches 
 passed over the wires from Harrisburg to Baltimore, giving 
 information, and also to receive and deliver to the St. Louis 
 Hotel any despatches that might come for "J. H. Hutchinson." 
 I was on guard on that eventful night all night. Early in the 
 evening a despatch came from Harrisburg for "J- H. Hutchinson," 
 I think, from Burns, announcing the departure. No despatches 
 came from Harrisburg to Baltimore. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 23d, a despatch was received, 
 announcing the arrival of Mr. Lincoln in Washington, and that 
 he was met at the depot by Hon. W. H. Seward. I then left the 
 operating room and went home. 
 
 Mr. Burns afterwards informed me that Allan Pinkerton had 
 saved Mr. Lincoln s life, and subsequently introduced me to you 
 as Allan Pinkerton, alias J. H. Hutchinson. 
 
 This is the substance of my knowledge of the matter. I have 
 always believed, and, in fact, know, that you took Mr. Lincoln 
 from Philadelphia to Washington on that eventful night, and 
 to you is due the honor of having saved the life of Mr. Lincoln 
 and the country its President-elect. 
 
 Yours truly, H. E. THAYER. 
 
 40 
 
[LETTER OF ANDREW WYNNE, ESQ.] 
 
 PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 3d, 1867. 
 
 A. PlNKERTON, ESQ. 
 
 Dear Sir: Your note of Oct. 3ist received, and in reply 
 have to state that I am the person who cut the wires between 
 Harrisburg and Baltimore, for the purpose of preventing the 
 report of Mr. Lincoln s departure on that occasion. The facts 
 of the case are as follows : 
 
 On the morning of February 22d, 1861, I was employed in the 
 office of the American Telegraph Company, Philadelphia, and 
 received orders from H. E. Thayer, Manager, to hold myself 
 in readiness for important duty in the course of an hour. Before 
 that time had expired, Mr. Thayer asked me if I had any ob 
 jections to fix the wires of another company so as to prevent any 
 communications passing over them. I answered I would not in 
 some cases. Mr. Thayer then stated that the life of President 
 Lincoln was in great danger, and that he (Mr. Thayer) wanted 
 some good man he could depend upon to cut the wires between 
 Harrisburg and Baltimore. I replied, under that circumstance 
 I would. He then gave me orders to proceed to Harrisburg in 
 the next train in company with W. P. Westervelt, Superintendent. 
 We proceeded to Harrisburg with necessary tools, fine copper 
 wire, etc. Arriving in Harrisburg, we met Capt. Burns. We three 
 then proceeded to the office of the telegraph company, and I 
 traced the wires through the city and found the wires that were 
 necessary to cut. Capt. Burns, W. P. Westervelt and myself 
 walked south of the city about two miles. I then climbed the 
 pole and put fine copper ground wire on wires between Harris 
 burg and Baltimore, which prevented all communication passing 
 over them. I then returned to telegraph office in Harrisburg 
 and asked the operator there to send a message for me to 
 Baltimore when the operator stated he could not, as all com 
 munication with Baltimore was cut off. I reported the fact to 
 
 41 
 
Capt. Burns and W. P. Westervelt. They thanked me, and 
 requested me to stay in Harrisburg that night and return to Phil 
 adelphia next morning, which I did. When I returned I met 
 Mr. Thayer. He told me he had been on duty all night so as to 
 prevent any communication passing over the wires of the Ameri 
 can Company. I received his thanks for the part which I had 
 taken. 
 
 The foregoing is a truthful statement of what passed. 
 
 Yours respectfully, ANDREW WYNNE. 
 
 42 
 
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