June 30, 2020
By Les Conklin
Now is a good time to read this beautifully written book. 1/11/2021
“… nor only a historical achievement but a literary one.” – The Wall Street Journal
Many Americans have heard or read about the funeral train that left Washington D.C. on April 21, 1865. The train carried the coffin of assassinated President Abraham Lincoln to Springfield, Illinois where he was buried. As the train passed through seven states and 180 cities, mourners stood silently by the tracks as the train passed.
Far fewer Americans are familiar with the special train that left Springfield, Illinois on February 11, 1861, and carried President-Elect of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, his family and key staff members to Washington D.C. where he was to be inaugurated as the 16th President of the United States. This trip is the subject of Ted Widner’s “Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington.” This remarkable book, released on April 7, 2020, is a must-read, especially during this period of national division and crisis.
“Widmer brings off his panoramic, almost mystical interpretation with riveting panache. His book is not only a historical achievement but a literary one.” – The Wall Street Journal
“A Lincoln classic…superb …. So much has been written about Abraham Lincoln that it’s rare when a historian discovers an episode in his life that, if fully developed and interpreted, yields important new insights. Ted Widmer has done just that…” – The Washington Post
The book has a 4 1/2 out of 5- star rating on Amazon.
Government in Crisis
Today, we all know that Lincoln arrived in Washington D.C. and was inaugurated as president. What I didn’t fully appreciate was that as the train pulled away from Springfield the Federal Government was on the verge of collapse, without money or leadership. Americans wondered if the south would leave the Union. Would there be war? Who was this tall, ungainly “westerner” Abraham Lincoln? Could he possibly measure up to the challenge?
There was talk that Congress, which was controlled by the supporters of southern interests would refuse to certify the election. What if southerners took control of the records and sacred documents of the Republic, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, etc. and declared a new United States under their control? There were groups of southern sympathizers who were taking up arms, claiming to be the rightful government of the United States. Jefferson Davis was on his own railroad trip to Montgomery, Alabama to be sworn in as president of the Confederacy.
Lincoln in Danger
There were fears that Lincoln’s train would be attacked, or tracks sabotaged to derail it. And if that was not enough, Pinkerton’s agents, working to protect Lincoln, confirmed that there was a plot to assassinate Lincoln as he travelled through Baltimore.
Mixing with Americans
This was also a trip designed to introduce Lincoln to the populations of large cities and small towns of the Midwestern and Eastern United States. Trains were the fastest way to travel but this one followed a circuitous path, with stops in cities that include Chicago, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, New York City and many smaller cities and town. It was a physically and mentally demanding journey, with Lincoln making several speeches every day in formal settings and many more informal appearances and speeches from the back of the train. He met with dignitaries, the press, and political allies. In every city, he and his small party had to push their way through excited, curious crowds to reach the hotels in which he hoped to finally get a few hours of rest. Usually, people were not impressed by his appearance, but they remembered what he said and the way he spoke to them. They sensed a deepness, a strength.
Missing Inaugural Address
The book provides insights into Lincoln’s family and his relationships with them. My favorite story is about Lincoln’s missing inaugural address.
Americans were waiting anxiously for inauguration day. The fate of the nation would largely be determined by what he said. Lincoln and his aides had been working on the speech for weeks. It was essential that the content of the speech be kept secret. Lincoln entrusted the care of the latest version of the speech to his own son.
One night Lincoln and his aids wanted to work on the speech. His son had gone out for a night on the town to local clubs. The whereabouts of the speech was not known. Finally, his son returned, and Lincoln learned that the packet containing the speech had been left with the other baggage – out in the open – near the front desk. It was still there.
A reading journey that you will not forget!
Lincoln improvises, survives the arduous trip and discovers personal strengths, while drawing on the strength of America and its people. If Lincoln could survive and grow from this 13-day trip, and the Union could survive the Civil War, we can deal successfully the challenges we now face as Americans.
I purchased the Audible version of the book. I have since learned that about 20 percent of the book consist of historic photographs and is highly recommended.
“Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington” is available at Amazon.com and other major book sellers.
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