Josie Underwood's Civil War Diary

[RJNorton]

(05-24-2016 10:54 PM)Susan Higginbotham Wrote:  When Josie and her father were returning to their hotel from the Soldiers' Home, where they had met Mrs. Lincoln, they encountered a "lone horseman" riding out of the city, who of course turned out to be President Lincoln. Josie writes, "Pa and Mrs. Etheridge thought it very imprudent and unwise risk for him in such a time of warfare and especial hatred of Mr. Lincoln himself for him to be riding unattended, unguarded out a lonely country road--and called his attention to the dangers--Mr. Lincoln's smile--expressed kindliness to all men and fear of none--as he said--he 'did not think anybody would hurt him that way.'"

I think this was a common practice of his until there was an apparent assassination attempt by a sniper in August 1864. Harold Holzer wrote on page 50 of The President Is Shot! The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, "...from that day on, Lincoln rode to and from the Soldiers' Home in a carriage, surrounded by soldiers."