Even if John Wilkes Booth had n’t gotten to Abraham Lincoln on that fateful nighttime at Ford ’s Theater , it seems likely that someone would have , eventually . After all , Lincoln narrowly keep off expiry on an uncomfortable number ofoccasions — including one incident in 1861 .
In February of that year , the president - elect was traveling by train from Springfield , Illinois , to Washington , D.C.Word was circulatingthat Lincoln ’s detractors design to stop him from taking spot , and that their endeavour would likely happen during Lincoln ’s stop in Baltimore .
The rumour was upsetting to many people , but it was particularly alarming to Philadelphia , Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad president Samuel Felton . Felton did n’t need any harm to come to the president - elect , of course , and he also did n’t require any harm to come to the reputation of his fine railroad . To protect both , Feltonhiredindependent detective Allan Pinkerton to inquire .
Pinkerton visited Baltimore to delve deeper into the plot , and what he discovered amidst the crowdsshocked him : “ Every night as I mingled among them , I could hear the most outrageous opinion enunciated . No man ’s life was good in the hand of those men . ”
Though many plot of land were discuss , including one to give Lincoln dumpling stuffed with spiders , only one seemed to be shape into an actionable program : Corsican immigrant Captain Cypriano Ferrandini had assembled20 " Southern Patriots"to violation Lincoln when he exited his train . Some of the world , as designated by secret voting , were tasked with attacking him while others make a diversion .
Pinkerton ’s passport was to send Lincoln through Baltimore as project , but several hour ahead of schedule , and with no suite . alternatively of the usual conspicuous crew , Lincoln would be companion by just Pinkerton and friend and bodyguardWard Hill Lamon . He would also be in disguise , wearinga soft wool hat and an older overcoat with a shawl for good measure . The costume was n’t just for theatrics . Lincoln ’s train was n’t just “ clear through ” Baltimore — his sleeper car really need to be unhooked and beat back via horse to a unlike depot in town in order for him to switch trains to D.C. Not only did this pic make Lincoln more physically vulnerable , it also meant that more multitude could potentially find out that he had come well ahead of schedule , creating more opportunities for the tidings to leak out .
Even with a small hang-up in the schedule , the programme finally succeeded . By the time Ferrandini and his murderous crew were gathering for their attack , Lincoln had already get in in Washington .
To confirm that everything had go according to programme , Pinkertonwireda tantalise content to his knob back at the Philadelphia , Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad : “ plum tree delivered crackpot safely . ”
