With Barack Obama scheduled to ride a train to Baltimore for a pre-inauguration stop tomorrow afternoon, history buffs are recounting a similar trip by another famous Illinois politician: Abe Lincoln.

In early 1861, Lincoln’s trip was much rockier. Detectives found evidence of a plot to sabotage his train on the way to Baltimore or assassinate him as he transferred from one downtown station to another.

The tale is recounted in Michael J. Kline's The Baltimore Plot. To foil the plotters and avoid angry secessionist mobs, Lincoln was disguised, and he slipped through Baltimore in the middle of the night. But he was soon ridiculed for cowardice by the press, which noted that no conspirators were ever charged. The Sun said, "Had we any respect for Mr. Lincoln ... the final escapade by which he reached the capital would have utterly demolished it, and overwhelmed us with mortification." 

You can hear an interview with Kline on WYPR's Maryland Morning show; just scroll down to the Tuesday, Jan. 13, show.

I'm betting Obama gets a warmer welcome -- from Baltimoreans and Sun editorials -- tomorrow.