Ted Widmer (Distinguished Lecturer at Macaulay Honors College of the City University of New York) has written a fascinating book entitled Lincoln on the Verge, Thirteen Days to Washington. It chronicles the newly elected Abraham Lincoln’s railroad journey from Springfield, Illinois to Washington, D.C. in February, 1861. It took thirteen days, 1,904 miles, 18 railroad lines, through 8 states, where he gave 101 speeches, thousands of handshakes and was seen by millions. He went through Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Albany, New York, Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Baltimore.

Lincoln was elected by only 39 percent of the voters in a field of four candidates with the Democratic Party splitting in two (North and South). He was regarded by the South as a monster, a tyrant, a would-be dictator, or alternatively a weak and vacillating politician. They thought the Republicans were Communists, who wanted to redistribute wealth and would free all the slaves. Orators called for Lincoln to be hanged and many effigies of him were burned. The Buchanan administration was corrupt and ineffective. There were rumors that militias from Maryland and Virginia would seize the capital and prevent Lincoln from being inaugurated. As the southern states seceded there was a possibility that Jefferson Davis would move into Washington, D.C. and make it the capital of the Confederacy. Conspiracies abounded that Lincoln would be assassinated in Baltimore or on the steps of the Capitol. The Chicago Tribune reported that $40,000 had been raised in New Orleans to hire assassins. Winfield Scott, the nation’s leading military figure, took charge of the situation and recruited Allan Pinkerton to discover any information about possible attempts on Lincoln’s life. In the meantime Lincoln was receiving hundreds of hate mail.

On February 11, the presidential party left Springfield on a special train. Lincoln was overcome with emotion as he bid farewell to his friends and supporters from the platform of the railroad car. It was raining or sleeting as he composed himself to deliver a two minute speech.

My Friends: No one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have been a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man [he was 52]. Here my children have been born and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you and be every where for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.

The speech was transmitted by telegraph and the next day ran on the front page of nearly every Northern newspaper, and it was printed separately as a handbill.

A pilot train preceded the Presidential Special to secure the line and to prevent any danger. People lined the route and cheered him at every crossroad. Thousands turned out in the cities where he stopped to greet him and catch a glimpse of the President-elect.

In these turbulent times in which we find ourselves it is comforting to compare ourselves with the lessons of history, to learn of the dangers the nation has been through before, and to draw strength from its heroes. The journey was tumultuous and the prospects daunting. Yet Lincoln, hated by many, and facing terrific odds, persevered through his term in office and was re-elected. He never returned to Springfield, but his farewell address and the immortal words he left us in his two inaugural addresses, the Gettysburg address and his Emancipation Proclamation still resonate and call us to our better angels. May we, with the help of the Lord, and our prayers for the nation, rise to the resolution of our present difficulties.