General Scott’s troops and cannon were visible throughout the city, a potent symbol of the Army’s resolve to ensure that the electoral count and certification of Lincoln’s election, set for February 13, would occur without disruption. One of the most common rumors held that the biggest threat came from Baltimore, where six thousand men were reputed to be armed and prepared to act. As the date of the count neared, one hundred police officers from New York and Philadelphia converged on Washington to further ensure its successful completion.
