Abraham Lincoln: The Baltimore Plot

By Nicholas L. Vulich

February 11, 1861 was cloudy, and cool. A light rain was falling. President-elect Abraham Lincoln and his family boarded the train at the Great Western Depot in Springfield, Illinois. Their destination was Washington, DC, where Lincoln was to be inaugurated on March 4th. Along the way, the Presidential train stopped in numerous cities and towns to allow Lincoln to meet with the people who elected him.

In Baltimore, Detective Allan Pinkerton, was investigating an alleged plot to blow up bridges and ferries along the route of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad. On February 10th, his operatives caught wind of a plot to assassinate the President-elect on his passage through Baltimore.

Pinkerton accepted the challenge, and determined to uncover the details of the plot, and get the information to Lincoln before it was too late.

At the same time, Washington City was rife with rumors. Stories circulated that people were going to up end the railroad tracks, blow up the public buildings, seize the city, kidnap President Buchanan, and kill President-elect Lincoln. Earlier in February the Committee of Five assembled to investigate the rumors, and get to the bottom of it.

General Winfield Scott was charged with defending the Capital city, and had for several months been receiving letters loaded with rumors of conspiracies, and plots about assassination attempts against Lincoln, Buchanan, and himself. As a result of these threats, General Scott, together, with Senator William H. Seward, asked New York Police Superintendent John A. Kennedy to investigate the situation in Baltimore, and determine if it was safe for Lincoln to pass through.

With less than twelve days until Lincoln was scheduled to pass through Baltimore, the race was on, to uncover the assassins.

Read the book. Learn the exciting details of the Baltimore Plot, and decide for yourself whether Lincoln's life was ever actually in danger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nicholas L. Vulich
• Release date: Jan 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507075470

Book preview

Abraham Lincoln

The Baltimore Plot

Copyright © 2013 by Nicholas L. Vulich

Table of Contents

Introduction

Uncovering the Plot

Committee of Five

New York Police Investigation

Night Ride to Washington

Sources

Appendix

How Allan Pinkerton thwarted the first plot to assassinate Lincoln

An Unwritten Page of History

Lamon on the Baltimore Plot

History and Evidence of the Passage of Abraham Lincoln

The Baltimore Plot

Testimony of Cypriano Ferrandini before Committee of Five

Testimony of General Winfield Scott before the Committee of Five

Vanity Fair published this cartoon in their March 9, 1861 issue. It was titled The Highland Fling, and portrays Lincoln in his Scotch cap and kilt sneaking into Washington City after dark.

Introduction

The tale that I’m about to tell you is all based upon hearsay. He said. She said. Several people overheard this and that being bantered about among drunken rowdies on the streets, in saloons, and in the backrooms of bars.

None of it can be substantiated. No one was ever charged with a single crime for any of it, even though it involved the possible assassination of a United States President elect, the kidnapping of a sitting President, and several plots to seize Washington City, and to overthrow the government of the United States.

And, yet, much if not all of it, is based upon fact, or what passes for fact.

Could it be possible that a power crazed Italian barber wielded so much power among influential Baltimore secessionists, that he could cause the members of many of Maryland’s best families  to want to kill the President elect?

Having the basic information of the plot to assassinate the President elect corroborated by two independent sources, why didn’t the Government take action to protect him? Or, more importantly, why was Lincoln’s security left to a private detective hired by the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad, rather than the United States Government?

Because so many of the details of the Baltimore plot were divulged in saloons and backrooms, was it ever really more than just talk bantered around by loose lipped drunks?

These are the central questions surrounding the Baltimore Plot to Assassinate Abraham Lincoln.

Even Detective Allan Pinkerton, whose operatives uncovered the plot, and Abraham Lincoln, the President elect who was convinced of the need for his sneaking into Washington City on the eve of his inauguration, came to question whether such a plot really existed, or if it was just a bunch of barroom banter.

My intention is to present the facts, or what passes for the facts in this case, and let you the reader decide, whether the threat against Abraham Lincoln was real, or not.

Comments from participants

Lincoln himself later told Henry Whitney, I do not think I should have been killed or even that a serious attempt would have been made to kill me unless some excitement had arisen; but [Norman B.] Judd and the other cool heads thought I had better take the course I did, and I reckon they were right; it ain’t best to run a risk of any consequence for look’s sake.

Lincoln biographer, Ward H. Lamon’s opinions vary greatly depending upon when he was writing. Here are four separate views from his pen.

Ward Hill Lamon, Lincoln’s self-proclaimed bodyguard and biographer. Lamon weighed in at 300 pounds, and carried on his person 2 pistols, a knife, a slungshot, and brass knuckles.

––––––––

Neither he [Lincoln] nor the country generally then understood the true facts concerning the dangers to his life. It is now an acknowledged fact that there was never a moment from the day he crossed the Maryland line, up to the time of his assassination, that he was not in danger of death by violence, and that his life was spared until the 14th of April 1865, only through the ceaseless and watchful care of the guards thrown around him.

Mr. Lincoln soon learned to regret the midnight ride. His friends reproached him, his enemies taunted him...He was convinced that he had committed a grave mistake in yielding to the solicitations of a professional spy [Pinkerton] and of friends to easily alarmed. He saw that he had fled from a danger that was purely imaginary.

It is perfectly manifest that there was no conspiracy, no conspiracy of a hundred, of fifty, of twenty, of three – no definite purpose in the heart of even one man to murder Mr. Lincoln at Baltimore.

This last one from Lamon is taken from his Life of Lincoln, and is a bitter attack upon Allan Pinkerton.

Being intensely ambitious to shine in the professional way, and something of a politician besides it struck him [Pinkerton] that it would be a particularly fine thing to discover a dreadful plot to assassinate the President elect; and he discovered it accordingly.

Allan Pinkerton wrote Myself 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 inaugurated as President. The plot was well conceived, and would, I am convinced, have been effective for the purpose designed.

The final say is from Secretary of State, William H. Seward, who said that if Lincoln had not changed his itinerary that night, General Winfield Scott would likely have sent United States troops to escort Lincoln through Baltimore.

What do you think?

Uncovering the Plot

Detective Allan Pinkerton, says he accidentally discovered the plan to assassinate the President elect when he was working in Baltimore for the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad.

Detective Allan Pinkerton, who with his detectives uncovered many of the details of the Baltimore Plot, and revealed its existence to Abraham Lincoln.

Pinkerton and his detectives had been called there early in 1861, by Samuel Felton, President of that line, to uncover suspected plots to destroy bridges and ferry boats along that railroad in the area of Baltimore and Havre De Grace.

Felton had originally turned to Baltimore Police Chief George P. Kane, but Kane assured him that he had already heard of the plots to destroy the railroad bridges, and had checked them out, and dismissed them as nothing more than talk.

Felton also made his case to General Winfield Scott, who was at that time in charge of security for the Capitol City. He explained to Scott how vital transport was along the line, and that he had information that a plan was underfoot to disrupt transportation. According to C.C. Felton, General Scott stated that, though he had long foreseen the impend­ing trouble, he had been unable to induce the President to take any precau­tions, and was entirely powerless. The officers of the railroad would be obliged, therefore, to rely on their own resources to meet the danger.

Placing Pinkerton’s Detectives

Wilmington, Delaware was one of the first cities checked out by Pinkerton and his men. While they found the city filled with political excitement, they soon discovered there were no plots there to damage railway property so they moved their operations closer to Baltimore.

In Perryville Pinkerton says they found the same excitable condition of affairs, but nothing of a more aggressive character than at Wilmington. Once again there was no plotting underfoot to destroy railway property.

Next they visited Havre De Grace, one of the more vulnerable points along the line.

Havre De Grace was a key point on the railroad, and was easily susceptible to attack. It was here that trains were ferried across the Susquehanna River, and any attack on the ferry boats could easily shut down railroad travel. 

Pinkerton discovered political tensions were particularly strained in Havre De Grace, and determined to leave a man there to keep watch on the situation. His orders were to get close to the men there, and to infiltrate the local organizations to discover their intentions.

A little farther down the line, Pinkerton found Perrymansville was a hot bed of secessionist activity and talk. Loud threats were uttered against the railroad company, and it was boastfully asserted that ‘no damned abolitionist should be allowed to pass through the town alive.’

Pinkerton posted Timothy Webster, one of his best detectives, at Perrymansville with instruction to keep a careful eye on everything. Webster was described as a strong athletic type. He fit in exceptionally well with middle and lower class types there.

The closer he came to Baltimore, the more intense were the secessionist feelings that Pinkerton and his men experienced. He left detective John Seaford to keep watch at Magnolia, and himself travelled on towards Baltimore.

The Spy Game in Baltimore

When he reached Baltimore, Pinkerton found it to be a whole different animal altogether. The city was literally on fire with secessionist activity and bitterly opposed to the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln. Pinkerton commented that sentiment of disunion was far more widespread and deeply rooted than I had before imagined.

Pinkerton set himself up as a stockbroker named J. H. Hutcheson (spelled Hutchinson in some accounts), at a centrally located building in Baltimore. Pinkerton also used the alias E. J. Allen in other dealings.

One of the first things he advised Felton was to hire a force of men sufficient to guard the bridges and ferries. To this end Felton put together a force of nearly 200 men, and set aside a special train for their immediate transportation (if needed). To avert suspicion the men were put to work white washing the bridges with a solution of salt and alum designed to make the wood fireproof.

According to Felton’s son, C. C. Felton, writing in the Harvard Review in 1885, the first revelation of the Baltimore Plot came from a Mrs. Dix, a well-known Philadelphia Philanthropist. She had informed his father that there was a conspiracy to prevent Lincoln from being inaugurated...and that the plan was to burn the bridges leading into Washington and seize the City.

Mrs. Dix told Felton, "there was then an extensive and organized conspiracy throughout the South to seize upon Washington, with its archives and records, and then declare the Southern conspirators de facto the government of the United States. The whole was to be a coup d’ etat. At the same time they were to cut off all modes of communication between Washington and the North, East, or West, and thus prevent the transportation of troops to wrest the capital from the hands of the insurgents. Mr. Lincoln's inaugu­ration was thus to be prevented, or his life was to fall a sacrifice to the attempt at inauguration.

It was made as certain as strong circumstantial and positive evidence could make it, that there was a plot to burn the bridges and destroy the road, and to murder Mr. Lincoln on his way to Wash­ington, if it turned out that he went there before the troops were called. If the troops were first called, then the bridges were to be destroyed, and Washington to be cut off and taken possession of by the South.

The plot was corroborated by the keeper of the Back River Bridge. According to him an unidentified man had approached him on several occasions, and told him that while the bridges were burning, conspirators would board the Presidential train ...disguised as negroes, and in the confusion, Mr. Lincoln’s chance of life would be small.

Pinkerton says his first indication of the conspiracy came to him on February 10, the day before Lincoln boarded the train to leave Springfield.

He had received a letter from the Master Mechanic of the railroad –

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.

At this point Pinkerton communicated the information he had to Samuel Felton, the President of the line. At the same time he determined to have his men infiltrate the local military societies and discover all the details of the conspiracy.

One of Pinkerton’s operatives, Joseph Howard (real name Harry W. Davies) was located in Baltimore. Howard is described as a young man of fine personal appearance, and insinuating manners. He was of French descent, was well travelled, could speak several foreign languages, and had a thorough knowledge of the South thanks to an extended residence in New Orleans. Howard posed as an extreme secessionist visiting from New Orleans.

Barnum’s Hotel

Pinkerton noted that Barnum’s Hotel in Baltimore was a hot bed of secessionist activities. The place was visited by all types of Southern aristocracy. Their conversations were loud and unrestrained, and any one bold enough or sufficiently indiscreet to venture an opinion contrary to the righteousness of their cause, would soon find himself in an unenviable position and frequently the subject of violence.

Howard’s task was to infiltrate the Barnum Hotel. Because of his Southern background and refined personality Howard easily worked his way in with this crowd, and was soon cavorting with the finest citizens of Baltimore. Shortly after this he was in with the friends of Police Chief George P. Kane, a strong Southern sympathizer. From Kane he learned that the majority of the Baltimore Police force had rebel sentiments, and they used their power to watch anyone expressing Union sympathies.

Cypriano Ferrandini

Kane invited Howard to attend a meeting of one of Baltimore’s secret societies. To his surprise many of the men from the city’s upper classes were in attendance at the meeting that night. The leader of the society was Cypriano Ferrandini (also referred to as Fernandina).

Cleveland Moffett in his 1894 article on the Baltimore plot described Ferrandini as a fiery young Italian, who used to be a barber, and was at that time captain of a military organization, and a dangerous following of extremists.

Pinkerton described Ferrandini as educated with Italian ideas and possessed of the temperament of his people, he openly justified the use of the stiletto, and fiercely advocated assassination as the means of preventing the President-elect from taking his seat in the executive chair. He was also the Captain of a military company which drilled regularly and whose members were believed to fully indorse the views of their chief.

Pinkerton further describes Ferrandini drawing a long gleaming dagger while exclaiming, This hireling Lincoln shall never, never be President. My life is of no consequence in a cause like this, and I am willing to give it for his.

After hearing Howard’s account of this meeting Pinkerton set out to meet Ferrandini himself, to wring whatever details he could from the man.

Pinkerton met with Ferrandini the next day at Guy’s Restaurant in Baltimore, a fashionable secessionist hangout. Howard introduced him as a Georgia resident interested in the secessionist cause. After a round of drinks and cigars they retired to a private saloon to discuss matters in more detail. Pinkerton says, The question of assassinating the President was freely discussed, and Captain Fernandina expressed himself vehemently in its favor.

The following account of the meeting is taken directly from Pinkerton’s The Spy of the Rebellion –

"With the first shot the chief traitor, Lincoln, will die, then all Maryland will be with us, and the South will be forever free...

Our plans are full arranged, answered the Captain, and they cannot fail; and, he added, with a wicked gleam in his eyes – "if I alone must strike the blow, I shall not hesitate or shrink form the task. Lincoln shall certainly not depart from this city alive.

Yes, added Captain Trichot, "it is determined that this God damned Lincoln shall never pass through here alive, and no damned abolitionist shall ever set foot upon Southern soil except to find a grave.

But about the authorities, - I asked – is there no danger to be apprehended from them?

Oh, no, said the Captain assuringly, they are all with us. I have seen Col. Kane, the Chief Marshal of Police, and he is all right. In a week from to-day the North shall want another President, for Lincoln will be a corpse.

Lieutenant Hill

At the meeting they befriended a Lieutenant Hill (his real name was Lieutenant O. K. Hilliard), who was a member of the Palmetto Guards, a secret military organization from Baltimore. Howard became a constant companion to Lieutenant Hill, accompanying him to saloons and secret meetings throughout the city. Through the influences of Hill, Howard was able to make numerous connections in Baltimore.

Hill eventually divulged many of the details of the plots against Lincoln. The first stage was to incite hatred and dislike for Lincoln among residents of the city. The next step was to eliminate Lincoln entirely.

Here is how it would happen: Mr. Lincoln was scheduled to arrive in Baltimore on February 23rd coming from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on the Northern Central Railroad. A large crowd was expected to meet him at the Calvert Street Depot. From there it was expected that he would take an open carriage to the Washington Street Station, about a half mile from there. At Washington Street Station, there was to be only a token police detail, thanks to the help of Police Chief Kane. The plan was to have a crowd of roughs start a street fight close by. In the confusion, most if not all of the police would disappear to break it up. That would leave a perfect opportunity for the assassin to rush in and shoot the President elect.

According to Howard, Lieutenant Hill told him. Rome had her Brutus, why should not we? I swear to you, Howard, if it falls to me I will kill Lincoln before he reaches the Washington depot, not that I love Lincoln less, but my country more. No doubt this was a literary invention of Pinkerton’s, but it shows the attitude of the conspirators, that many of them were committed to killing Lincoln.

Perrymansville

Timothy Webster, Pinkerton’s ace detective, was stationed at Perrymansville and helped uncover important details of the Baltimore plot. He was hanged as a spy in 1862 while on a mission behind enemy lines.

Meanwhile at Perrymansville, Timothy Webster was working his way into the secret societies there. A few days before Lincoln’s expected arrival in Baltimore, Webster was invited to one of their meetings.

Webster reported that, "The plans for the assassination of the President had been fully matured, and only need the selection of the person to perform the deed...If the affair stopped simply with the assassination of the President, but little, if any good, would be accomplished. The North would rise as one man to avenge the death of their leader, and they would only hasten a disaster they were anxious to avoid. It was necessary, therefore, that the work should be thoroughly done, and the plan suggested was as follows:

As soon as the deed had been accomplished in Baltimore, the news was to be telegraphed along the line of the road, and immediately upon the reception of this intelligence the wires were to be cut, the railroad bridges destroyed and the tracks torn up...

Detective Kate Warne

At this point Pinkerton called up his best female detective, Kate Warne. Her job was to cozy up to the wives and daughters of the conspirators to learn what she could from them.

Pinkerton described Mrs. Warne as eminently fitted for this task. Of rather a commanding person, with clear-cut, expressive features, and with an ease of manner that was quite captivating at times, she was calculated to make a favorable impression at once...She was a brilliant conversationalist when so disposed, and could be quite vivacious... On her breast she wore the black and white cockade (the symbol of secession, worn by many of the Baltimore women to show sympathy for the cause).

Details of the Plot

As Lincoln