The 1861 Journey to Washington

Scott D. Trostel

The fascinating story of Abraham Lincoln's Inaugural Journey to Washington

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Nationally noted history author, Scott Trostel does it again with the most comprehensive book detailing President-elect Abraham Lincoln's inaugural journey.

Trostel's book about the Lincoln Funeral Train has become an acclaimed and sought-after book detailing the first national funeral for an assassinated president, now he covers the epic journey to Washington with many new details.

   This is the story of President-elect Abraham Lincoln's 13 day journey to Washington, D. C. in February 1861. Departing from Springfield, Illinois, millions of supporters of the Union gathered along the margins of the railroad tracks and pack parade routes at cities enroute. In raw, cold, chilly winds, and rain, millions of people cheered Lincoln as he passed by traveling to his final destiny.

   Laced with photos, maps and illustrations this is a revealing story of the inaugural train passing through endless miles of well-wishers and the curious. Numerous stops were made, and brief speeches offered. Citizens demonstrated an overwhelming manifestation of support as cecession started in the southern states and a confideracy was formed.

   Each chapter covers one day of the journey, reception and proceedings at each of the eleven planned stops enroute. Elaborate preparations and massive processional displays were conducted at the principal cities of Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, New York City, Trenton, Philadelphia and Harrisburg. A twelfth planned stop at Baltimore, was canceled during a clandestine security move to avoid an assassination attempt, the third of three while enroute. Citizens seeking a glimpse of the President-elect came in throngs and filled miles of city streets. Near riots ensued at several locations in the effort by the masses to see and hear the President-elect.

   The overwhelming response of a nation during this terrible transitional time stands as a tribute to the courage of one man and the 36 million citizens during momentous events in one of the most intensely impressive chapters of American history.

February 11, 1861

Springfield, Illinois to Indianapolis, Indiana via Lafayette, Indiana.  It was the last time Abraham Lincoln saw his adopted

home town of Springfield. First assassination attempt foiled.

February 12, 1861

Indianapolis, Indiana to Cincinnati, Ohio.  Abraham Lincoln's 52nd birthday.

Lincoln first learns of an assassination plot planned in the Baltimore, Maryland area.

Perhaps the largest crowd to greet the train was at Cincinnati where over 100,000 people were present.

February 13, 1861

Cincinnati, Ohio to Columbus, Ohio via Xenia, Ohio.

Dayton, Ohio route quietly avoided, thought to be due to radical Dayton Copperhead faction.

Second assassination attempt foiled.

February 14, 1861

Columbus, Ohio to Allegheny City/Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania via Mingo Junction and Yellow Creek, Ohio

Passed through five tunnels and delayed nearly four hours by blocked tracks near Freedom, Pennsylvania.

February 15, 1861

Allegheny City/Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Cleveland, Ohio via Yellow Creek, Ohio.

Weather turned bad, cannon breaks glass out of restaurant where presidential part was dining

February 16, 1861

Cleveland, Ohio to Buffalo, New York via Erie, Pennsylvania

February 17, 1861

Day of Rest and worship at Buffalo, New York

February 18, 1861

Buffalo, New York to Albany, New York via Rochester, New York

Snow storm along the route.

February 19, 1861

Albany, New York to New York, New York via Troy and East Albany along the east side of the Hudson River

February 20, 1861

New York City speeches

February 21, 1861

Sailed across the Hudson River in a ferry boat, John P. Jackson.

New York, New York to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania via Jersey City, Newark and Trenton, New Jersey

Speaks at New Jersey Statehouse and arrives at Philadelphia late afternoon.

February 22, 1861

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania via Paoli, Pennsylvania.

Early morning, speaks at Independence Hall in Philadelphia then, raises flag there.

Inaugural Train departs for Harrisburg at 9:00 a.m.  Lincoln speaks to Pennsylvania Legislature.

On this night Lincoln was snuck out of Harrisburg and back to Philadelphia. Throughout the night he was

was transported to Washington via Wilmington, Delaware and Baltimore, Maryland to avoid an assassination plot.

February 23, 1861

Lincoln arrives in Washington, D.C. in the dawning hours under Pinkerton Guard.

The Lincoln Inaugural Train completes it final leg of the journey from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to

Washington, D.C. via York, Pennsylvania and Baltimore, Maryland but without Abraham Lincoln.

Third assassination attempt foiled.

The journey was 1,904 miles in length, about half this route was retraced for the 1865 funeral of Abraham Lincoln.