Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-05-15
CHARIEsTON BEFORE AND AFTER
THE FALL OF SUMTER.
AN INSIDE VIEW OF THE REBELLION.

Mr.. r. Thomson, late sergeant in the
Nnotieth New York regiment, contributes to
the Brooklyn Daily 7y,ues a narrative of his
experiences in Charleston from November,
1860, to the middle of April, 1861. He was
employed during that time as mail-clerk in the
office of the Charleston Mercury, but lief after
the outbreak of the war. The following are
extracts from his interesting story:
REBEL sYMpATHIzERs IN NEW YORK.
1t was well known even among the minor
employees in the Mercury Office that the dis
patch came from DIR. Alexander Jones, of the
New York Herald, who, was, and had been for
a long time contributor to the paper. /
heard Mr.. VIM. Courtenay, the business man.
ager and principal owner of the Mercury, say
that they had secured the cooperation of the
Herald people in their efforts to overthrow the
government. He had received this assurance
through Mr.. Frederick Hudson, Mr.. Benefits
Grand Vizier in the conduct of that journal
He had also received similar assurances from
the editor of the Day Book, but for that he
cared but little. There was an entente cordidlc
between the Mercury and the Herald, the Mer-
c,uy sending great deal of special informa-
ton to the Herald, and the latter paper recip-
rocating in kind,
FEMALE SPIES.
A letter of Judge Magrath's was given to
our subj editor to mail, who handed it over to
me to post. 1t was addressed to "Miss Annie
Riordan, Washington" Thinking it contained
some instructions to secession spies did not.
scruple to open it, and took notes of the con-
tents. This Miss Annie Riorden was sister of
Mr.. Riordan, sub-editor of the Mercury. The
letter stated that Fort Sumter would soon be
attacked, and gave the position of the batteries,
the number of men and guns, &C. 1t was plain
that she was expected TO forward it to other
parties, who had, perhaps, desired information.
THE PLOT TO AssAssINATE MIR. LINCOLN.
| wrote North to warn them to be prepared
to guard against the scheme which was being
Matched TO assassnate President Lincoln. Col.
Huger formerly of the United States army,
and now Brigadier- General of the Confeder-
ates, was to lead the enterprise as the represen-
tative of South Carolina. The other parties
concerned were Baltimoreans and Richmond
men. Of the details of their plan, at that time,
l could not ascertain nothing, but saw that they
were daily looking for its contamination. AT
first the clique contented themselves with
threats and predictions, but as the probability
of the peaceabe Inauguration of President
Lincoln became each day more manifest, they
began to conspire to bring about the fulflment
of their prophecy. Accordingly, money was
subscribed, proper persons selected, and cor
respondence established the assassination of
the President was the end to be achieved. By
listening gradually l ascertained that Huger
was entrusted with the management of the af-
fair, that Richmond and Baltimore were pledg
ed 10 aid, and that $4,000 was to reward the
assassin, and Bob Haslett of Baltimore, agreed
to find the man. Finally the whole thing fell
fOr - ,bor ,,;
ton became known, but there appeared to be
no lack of WILL men or money.
PLAN TO REINFORCE SUMTER.
The position of Charleston is very similar to
that of New York, making allowance for the
difference in size. There was time when a
very small force of determined men could have
seized their batteries and held possession OF
the city long enough TO send one of the steam
ers lying at their wharves and reinforce Sum-
ter, whether or no. Two or three men, in an
ticipation of such an enterprise, might have ac-
cumulated provisions in a small vessel as If to
send it down the coast, and on the seizure of
steamboat, it might have been towed to the fort,
the guns being spiked as we left. But the few
to whom the plan seemed feasible, had neither
money or men. / proposed the plan to Mr..
Forney. Buxton was a personal friend of For
ney's and through him the scheme was commu-
nicated to the latter. But the government
would have nothing to do with strategem or
anything ION the sly" even if they brought on
war;
DEPARTURE FROM CHARLESTON.
After the fall of Sumter and the issue of
President Lincoln's proclamation made up my
mind that Charleston was no place for a north
ern man to stay in. | asked for settlement
with NV an,Dloyprs but tbpu uoull mot Estop
to my going. judged from the temper of my
"friends as | suppose l must call them, that
they might at any moment become my enemies,
and accordingly made preparations for hasty
departure. Buxton went at the same time, as
bearer of dispatches to Lord Lyons. Invent as
South Carolinian, and enacted the part of a
rabd secessionist. Being well dressed, and
having the Mercury Office cards in my posses
sion, was regarded on the route as a sub
editor of the paper, and took no especial pains
to underceive people who entertained this i'm
preston. was universally regarded strong
secessionist, going to Washington. l sat next
to Buxton on the cars, but we appeared not to
be acquainted
THE SPY SYSTEM AT THE SOUTH.
Northern men at the South, even so early a.
when left Charleston, were under close sur.
veillance. ! was closely and constantly watched
and had no little difficulty in getting out of thu
city at all. When the news of Lincoln's proc
lamation arrived, and it appeared likely that
war would ensue, in which | might be com
PEELED TO bear arms against the North, / got
man whom / could trust to drive me to the
railroad Office We drove through back streets
but still soon became aware that there was
detective my track. had been talking TO
two or three days about settling up at the office
but they appeared disincned TO let me go
They said, Thomson, Fort Sumter is takel
now, and there will be no blockade and yol
had better stay" / soon found out that the,
intended to keep ire whether or no, and wa
afraid that if ! started off without their knowl
edge, they would telegraph after me and hav
me tarred and feathered, in the southern fashion
on the route. When / started, then, said
was going on an excursion to Fort Sumter, t.
see the place. When the carriage got near tn
railroad depot, my friend who drove me tool
the detective into hotel to get drink, havn
first supplied me with a through ticket to Phil
adelphia. Thus got clear of the too marke
attentions of the detective.
THE CHARLESTON MERCURY.
The Mercury is mainly supported by sub
scription and by the government. If the pro
prietors are hard up for funds they call upoI
the government for money, and get it readiI,
1t has been the perseyering and consistent ad
vocate of disunion for many years. Rbett him
self said in my hearing, 1--WE only make
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