The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-05-05
"REMINISCENCES OF THE BURR CON-
SPIRACY.

"REMINISCENCES OF THE BURR CON-
SPIRACY.
Mrs. Frances D. Gage is now upon trip
to the South, whence she is writng'a series
of letters to the st. Louis Republican. Pass.
ing Bayou Sara awakens in her mind ere.
minscence Of her childhood" which she thus
sets down in her letter:
When it became necessary for Thomas
Jefferson to proclaim Aaron Burr and Har-
man Blennerhassett traitors to the Govern.
ment, it sent shock hardly to be conceived
of in this day, to the hearts of the Buckeye
boys about Marietta. Large numbers of
them, suspecting no evil, had enlisted in the
service under BlennerhasSett, and were all
ready to bid "good by"to homes and friends,
and 90, as they supposed, to settle new
colony in the West. One farmer; who was
at the same time mechanic, had contracted
to build two barges Gas they were then caled)
for the use of Mr.. Burr, Onc.half were already
completed, and the crews and provisions
ready, and the rest in rapid process of being
finished, when the fearful proclamation came,
the blasting of hope to all engaged. All laid
down their plans, and abandoned the enter.
prise, but three, whose names need not be
called. Blennerhassett was not in his palace
home on the Island, and his beautiful and
accomplished wife was left to brave many
indignties alone. These three young men,
full of nerve and ardor, resolved to rove
Mrs. b., who was much loved by those who
lived her neighbors and who to this day
spurn the ISLANDERS hcaped upon her. They
manned their barge, cludcd the vigilance Of
the guards, slipped down in the night to the
lowest point of the "Fary Island" took Mrs.
B. on board, and escaped with her in safety.
At Bayou Sara, II rendezvous had been ap-
pointed, where Burr was to meet his men;
there they found him. Quite number Of
his followers with the ardor that then stirred
the bosOms of the young men for adventure,
for the hunt and chase, and the excitemcnts
Of border life and the warfare with the say
age, were collected together. Burr told them
that his plans had failed, that he meant them
no harm, but had intended to have led them
to wealth and honor. lie insnuated that in
the sanction of the Government. But the
change of affairs between the French and
Spanish Governments brought about by the
success Of Bonaparte and the growing trou-
bic between our own country ana Great Drl'
tain, had induced Jefferson to withdraw his
aid and to plunge him and his followers, into
shame and danger. lie made 4 beautiful nd.
dress to the young men, advising them to
high effort, to honesty, sobrety and industry,
and weeping, shook hands with each and
babe them farewell.
One OF the three from Marietta, whom l
well knew afterwards, ana whose chIldrch
still live, changed clothes with the traitor
giving his 'lnscy woolsey hunting sh'rt ana
fox skin cap for the "outlaws broadclo'h
ana lur, ana upon the banks OF bayou oara
inc seducer ana ms vlctlms par!ed. 90 often
hau l heara 'he taie OF this VIA adventure
toiu' WIN 'ne s''rr'h9 inc,deh's connected
WIN IL, mat almost iaiicIed couId see some
rene oil the past upon us sandy point. But
alas. even ti,e memory OF THESE deeds Is III
most e'facea from ihe records Oh time.
IL was whispered IN my ears long ago.
(tnousn not oreat'leu aloan) Dy inc o'u men
ot the tImes that Jefferson had ~ ilrst entered
INTO the plans oi burr ana PROMISED nm pat
on this boat, near the Bayou Sara, an article
rom an Almost u'a'spu,eI source sllou'a pre-
In The IIno NJ T F.hru,rv ,S5I which b,d
on board, will be found an extract of Il letter
from Prot. Slliman. giving an account OF his
y,sll 70 ba,oh Won humboldt. epeaA'hs G'
lUumb"ldD tnId no th,t Ls n,ssed three
weeks at Monticello, with the late Mr.. Jeiler-
son, who entertained him with M extraordl
nary PROJECT OF ms lhVen'i'e' put OH 'islC"ar!