[Genoa]

Your source is suspect.
This is from Donald, p. 278: "Inevitably Lincoln's secret night ride attracted unfavorable comment. It took on elements of farce after an enterprising newspaperman, Joseph Howard, needing to flesh out his story for the New York Times, wrote that Lincoln had not merely fled from Harrisburg but had disguised himself by wearing a Scotch plaid cap and a long military coat. Cartoonists presently portrayed the disguise as a tam and kilts."
The account was a disgusting mixture of fact and outright fiction.

[ml/nj]

Your source is suspect.

Actually the NY Times was a pro-Lincoln paper and the Times reporter was one of five people who knew about Lincoln's plans in advance. He was there. He was a witness. Donald is some guy who wrote a sugar coated history, apparently without footnotes, in 1996.

And the issue isn't whether Lincoln sneaked off a train in disguise. It is that he abandoned his wife and children letting then continue on on a train he believed might be attacked.

ML/NJ