Absolutely furious at this perceived slight and wrote that if this light cannot he reasonably explained, the citizens of maryland will take umbrage and their exit from the union will be assured. That was the problem. Maryland was seriously ticked off and lincoln needed maryland. If maryland went confederate washington would be entirely hemmed in by confederate territory and it seems likely the Federal Capital would have to remove itself to philadelphia and new york. The stakes were huge. Anyone else . I have a question. Did mary todd, on the train or the children . Its one of the very interesting things about the story. Was Mary Todd Lincoln on the train . Among the many reasons lincoln was criticized for falling in with pinkertons plan on that night, his family was on the train with him and the thinking was quite reasonably, if you are in so much danger why did you leave your wife and children on the train to face these dangers that you would not . Have them to lunch at the home a pro