To His care
commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I
bid you an affectionate farewell."
The conductor gave the signal, the train rolled slowly out of the
station, and the journey to Washington was begun. It was a
remarkable progress. At almost every station, even the smallest,
crowds had gathered to catch a glimpse of the face of the
President-elect, or at least to see the flying train. At the
larger stopping-places these crowds swelled to thousands, and in
the great cities to almost unmanageable throngs. Everywhere there
were calls for Mr. Lincoln, and if he showed himself; for a
speech. Whenever there was time, he would go to the rear platform
of the car and bow as the train moved away, or utter a few words
of thanks and greeting. At the capitals of Indiana, Ohio, New
York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and in the cities of
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Buffalo, New York, and Philadelphia, halts
of one or two days were made, the time being filled with formal
visits and addresses to each house of the legislature, street
processions, large evening receptions, and other ceremonies.
Party foes as well as party friends made up these expectant
crowds. Every eye was eager, every ear strained, to get some hint
of the thoughts and purposes of the man who was to be the guide
and head of the nation in the crisis that every one now knew to
be upon the country, but the course and end of which the wisest
could not foresee.
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