At approximately 7:30 A.M. President-elect leaves Chenery House without Mrs. Lincoln for Great Western Railroad depot, to start trip to Washington. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 12 February 1861, 3:6; Thomas D. Jones, Memories of Lincoln (New York: Press of the Pioneers, 1934), 16; Monaghan, Diplomat, 28.

Withdraws $400 from Springfield Marine Bank; deposits $82.25, payment by S. H. Melvin for certain household furniture. Pratt, Personal Finances, 164, 179.

Shakes hands with friends as they file by. At 8 A.M. boards train and in response to demands of crowd (estimated at 1,000) speaks from rear platform: "My friends—No one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. . . . I now leave, . . . with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. . . . Trusting in Him, who can go with me, and remain with you . . . I bid you an affectionate farewell." Later, with aid of John G. Nicolay, he writes out farewell remarks at request of reporter. Illinois State Journal, 13 February 1861; Villard, Eve of '61, 70-73; Farewell Address at Springfield, Illinois, 11 February 1861, CW, 4:190-91.

Lincoln acknowledges greetings of people at number of stops during morning. At Decatur, Ill. moves rapidly through crowd at depot, shaking hands right and left. Illinois State Journal, 13 February 1861.

Makes brief remarks at Tolono and Danville, Ill. Baltimore Sun, 13 February 1861; Remarks at Tolono, Illinois, 11 February 1861, CW, 4:191; Remarks at Danville, Illinois, 11 February 1861, CW, 4:191-92.

At 12:30 P.M. train arrives at Indiana State Line where he is welcomed by committee of state legislature headed by Capt. Frederick Steele. Here Great Western joins Toledo and Wabash, and large numbers of Indiana politicians board train. At Lafayette, Ind., Lincoln says: "While some of us may differ in political opinions, still we are all united in one feeling for the Union. We all believe in the maintainance of the Union, of every star and every stripe of the glorious flag, and permit me to express the sentiment that upon the union of the States, there shall be between us no difference." Remarks at Indiana State Line, 11 February 1861, CW, 4:192; Speech at Lafayette, Indiana, 11 February 1861, CW, 4:192.

Greets people at Thorntown and Lebanon, Ind. Every station along route has its crowd. Remarks at Thornton and Lebanon, Indiana, 11 February 1861, CW, 4:192-93.

Arrives in Indianapolis at 5 P.M. At West Washington St. is officially welcomed by Gov. Oliver P. Morton (Ind.) and receives 34-gun salute. Evening Star (Washington, DC), 13 February 1861, 2:6.

Lincoln replies: "To the salvation of this Union there needs but one single thing—the hearts of a people like yours. . . . my reliance will be placed upon you and the people of the United States— . . . It is your business to rise up and preserve the Union and liberty, for yourselves, and not for me." Indianapolis Indiana State Guard, 16 February 1861; Reply to Oliver P. Morton at Indianapolis, Indiana, 11 February 1861, CW, 4:193-94.

Leaves train for carriage, remains standing, and joins procession of 20,000, composed of both houses of legislature, public officers, municipal authorities, military, and firemen, to Bates House, where he stays overnight. From balcony he says: "The words 'coercion' and 'invasion' are in great use about these days. . . . Would the marching of an army into South Carolina, for instance, without the consent of her people, and in hostility against them, be coercion or invasion? . . . But if the Government, for instance, but simply insists upon holding its own forts, or retaking those forts which belong to it, or the enforcement of the laws of the United States . . . or even the withdrawal of the mails from those portions of the country where the mails themselves are habitually violated; would any or all of these things be coercion? . . . What is the particular sacredness of a State? . . . I am speaking of that assumed right of a State, as a primary principle, that the Constitution should rule all that is less than itself, and ruin all that is bigger than itself. But, I ask, wherein does consist that right? . . . I am deciding nothing, but simply giving something for you to reflect upon." Speech from the Balcony of the Bates House at Indianapolis, Indiana, 11 February 1861, CW, 4:194-96.

At 7 P.M. begins greeting no fewer than 3,000 persons during impromptu reception in main parlor. Villard, Eve of '61, 75-79.

Becomes excited over temporary loss of satchel containing copies of Inaugural Address. Nicolay, Lincoln's Secretary, 61-65.

[See also February 15, 1861.]