"The Baltimore Plot"

As we all know, Abraham Lincoln, our 16^th president, was assassinated. It is perhaps the most famous event in all our U.S. history.  

But did you know that prior to that assassination there had been at least one other foiled attempt on his life? In fact, it was planned even before his first inauguration in 1860. It came to be known as the “Baltimore Plot”.

After his successful presidential election, Abraham Lincoln left with his family from his home in Springfield, Illinois to travel to his new home in Washington D.C. It was a journey that would take several days with a number of stops. One of these was in Baltimore.

But a plot to kill Lincoln in Baltimore was discovered by security agent, Alan Pinkerton.

So, under the directive of Pinkerton, Abraham Lincoln decided to switch his travel to another train. But Lincoln was so tall, 6’4” tall, that when he put on that stovepipe hat, he stuck out like a sore thumb. So, Mr. Lincoln had to wear a disguise.

That night, under the cover of darkness, he left his train dressed like an elderly lady. Instead of wearing his trademark stovepipe hat, he slumped over so as not to appear so tall. He covered his head with a scotch-plaid shawl, and he walked with a cane. Complete with disguise, the successfully made the switch to the new train, and the so-called “Baltimore Plot” to assassinate newly elected president Abraham Lincoln, was averted.

But there’s one last very odd, eerie fact in this story.

Abraham Lincoln boarded that train on a Friday night at 10:10 p.m. and it probably saved his life.

But, ironically, in 1865, when President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, it was a Friday night at, you’ve got it, 10:10 p.m. How bizarre!

Don’t forget to pray for our America.