Early 1861---The Baltimore Plot

FEBRUARY 22, 1861:        

President-Elect Lincoln is spirited through the “secesh” city of Baltimore late at night on his way to Washington, D.C. for his inauguration. Although Baltimore was one of his planned whistle-stops, the President-Elect’s security detail is convinced that an assassin, assassins, or a mob of “plug-uglies” is planning on waylaying and killing him, and so Lincoln allows them to arrange his surreptitious passage. Upon his arrival in Washington he is soundly mocked by even his political friends for demonstrating supposed cowardice. The contemporary Press has a good time at his expense, and the negative “public opinion bath” as Lincoln calls it convinces him to make light of any such future threats. 

"The Flight of Abraham"--- Harper's Weekly

Historians long doubted that “the Baltimore plot” was more than the imagining of Alan Pinkerton, the President-Elect’s Chief of Security. However, more recent scholarship has given greater weight to the idea that Lincoln’s life was in very real danger. 

Lincoln being frightened by a cat. Note the graffiti: "Freight: Bones". Although there is no evidence he wore such a hat, the "Scotch Cap" became an object of derision throughout Lincoln's Presidency. He was shown cloaked in Scotch plaid, wearing a kilt, and was even accused of wearing a dress in the pattern.