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Springfield, Illinois


My Friends -- No one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feelings of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe every thing. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. 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 that 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.

It was 7:55 in the morning when Abraham Lincoln climber the steps on this special 2 car train. The Hinkley locomotive, L. M. Wiley, had been chosen to pull the first leg of the trip to the Indiana border. The Engineer Elias H. Fralick was ready as were Ward Hill Lamon, borrowed from the Illinois governor's staff and Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, a youthful friend of Lincoln's.

A Springfield Journal writer in the crowd said "We have known Mr. Lincoln for many years. We have heard him speak upon a hundred different occasions; but we never saw him so profoundly affected...Although it was raining fast when he began to speak, every hat was lifted and every head bent forward to catch the last words of the departing chief"

Copyright © by Abraham Lincoln Camps 2005