Dorothea’s Warning began on a January Saturday in 1861 when Dorothea Dix arrived at the Philadelphia office of Samuel M. Felton, Sr., the president of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad. While Dix’s original mission was to advocate for humane treatment in asylums, she brought a far more alarming piece of information with her. Having traveled through the South, she shared her troubling discoveries, revealing the growing political unrest and the secessionist movement. Felton, who had long respected Dix for her dedication to social causes, listened intently as she spoke of her findings, noting that the once-quiet South was now brimming with unease. At fifty-eight, Dix appeared as a figure of grave resolve, with her tall, thin frame and dark silk dress conveying a sense of unyielding determination.

Dix hesitated, uncertain about whether to share the full extent of what she had learned. However, the gravity of her revelations overpowered her reservations, and she recounted conversations she had overheard among Southern elites. These discussions exposed deep fears about President-elect Lincoln, with whispers of a conspiracy to assassinate him and disrupt his journey to Washington. Dix revealed that conspirators had meticulously studied railroad routes, planning to target these critical transportation links to thwart Lincoln’s travel plans. Her deep voice, filled with solemn conviction, resonated as she described how these elements were aligning, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. She warned Felton of an immediate threat to Lincoln’s life and the capital, painting a picture of a nation on the brink of chaos.

Shaken by Dix’s alarming account, Felton immediately understood the gravity of the situation. Recognizing the urgency of the threat, especially with Lincoln’s inauguration fast approaching, he wasted no time in taking action. Felton quickly sent one of his associates to Washington to alert General Winfield Scott about the plot, understanding that the safety of the President-elect was now in jeopardy. Additionally, Felton reached out to Allan Pinkerton of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, known for his expertise in matters of national security. He appealed to Pinkerton to increase surveillance and security measures for both Lincoln and the critical railroad infrastructure, understanding that disruptions to the rail lines could be disastrous. This swift response highlighted the seriousness with which Felton approached the danger, understanding the imminent risk to both Lincoln and the nation.

Pinkerton’s response was immediate, and he traveled to Philadelphia to assess the situation. Upon arrival, Pinkerton began setting up an extensive surveillance plan to track and infiltrate the conspirators, knowing that time was of the essence. On February 1, Pinkerton, accompanied by a team of agents including Kate Warne, the agency’s first female detective, set off for Baltimore, a city marked by political volatility. Baltimore, a hotbed of secessionist sentiment, presented a particularly dangerous environment, compounded by the fact that the city’s police chief was a known sympathizer to the South’s cause. Pinkerton knew that the stakes were incredibly high, and he wasted no time in organizing his team to safeguard Lincoln’s journey through this turbulent city.

Upon reaching Baltimore, Pinkerton quickly established a base of operations and began deploying his agents to gather intelligence. Warne, assuming the guise of a fervent secessionist, infiltrated the city’s high society, gathering valuable insights into the secessionist movement’s plans. Meanwhile, another operative was able to infiltrate a local militia group, uncovering the true intentions behind their activities. These undercover efforts led to crucial intelligence, confirming that a serious plot to assassinate Lincoln was being organized. The conspiracy included tightly guarded secrecy, with escape plans already prepared for the assassins to flee to the South once the deed was done. Pinkerton was acutely aware of the imminent threat and understood that the transfer of the President-elect between stations could be the moment when the plot would unfold. With these revelations, Pinkerton’s team worked diligently to ensure that the conspiracy would be thwarted before it could reach its deadly conclusion.

This chapter reveals the incredible foresight of Dorothea Dix, whose warning served as a crucial turning point in the efforts to protect President Lincoln. The rapidly escalating political climate, with the growing presence of secessionists and the immediate threat against Lincoln’s life, painted a picture of a nation teetering on the edge of collapse. Dix’s courage in sharing this information, despite the risks, and the quick response by Felton and Pinkerton highlighted the role of individuals acting in the face of impending crisis. It also illustrated the depth of the conspiracy that had been brewing in the South, where plots against Lincoln were meticulously planned with an understanding of how critical railroads were to the Union’s military and political stability.

The chapter underscores the complex and dangerous environment of the time, where political allegiance and loyalty to the Union were constantly tested by factions seeking to preserve the institution of slavery and the South’s way of life. The efforts by Pinkerton’s agency, along with the invaluable contributions of Kate Warne, who was among the first women to serve in such a capacity, were pivotal in preventing a disaster that could have drastically altered the course of American history. The detailed surveillance and intelligence gathering operation set in motion by Pinkerton and his agents exemplified the essential role of intelligence work in the nation’s security, demonstrating the strategic importance of countering internal threats with speed and precision.