The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1863-11-29
Tho Great Jol,nson,a IsInnd plot.

II
New Yofk, arrived there on the light of th
18Th Instant A large force of infantry am
two batteries Of artillery were sent to Johnson
Island on Thursday, and eight hundred men 0
the 18th Ohio cavalry left Cleveland on Frida,
for the same place A report obtains in Bul
falo thata tunnel had been discovered from
tho prisoners quarters on the island to som,
woods several hundred feet distant, and abou
ak hundred muskets found concealed in il
The plot is said to have been TO seizo tht
United States steamer Michigan and two of the
New York Central prOpellers, and make a raC
upon tho shipping. Additional information
shows their design TO burn and lay waste the
oities Of oBnffalo CLEVELAND, Detroit, and every
other town from 0sdenburg to Chicago, and ia
obiterate entirely the commerce of Lake Erie
Yallandigham, James Clay, and Marshal Kane
are said to have been the "arch. .conspirators.
Reports from Sandusly say that everything is
quiet inthat vicinity, and ihatall the prepara.
tious are made to guard against danger There
were no indications on the part of the rebel
prisoners at Johnson i Island Of an intention to
escape. The Washington Star says that Hon.
Preston King was dispatched 10 Montreal on
the l4th to confer with the Canadian authori.
ties relative TO the alledged plot. The Detroit
Free Press gives The following frightened exs
posure of the plot; -rr.
The scheme is. worthy the ingenuity and
audacity Of the robel leaders, and if it is not
fully successful il will be in consequence Of the
vigilance Of tho. ciiicors Of tho Government, ass
sisted by The detectives whom they have en-
ployed in ferr9ting, out and bringing it 10
light. The scheme compreheuds no less than
tba onfgr1rh 90 I1afFpif a 10 n, 1,,s
ing The winter, and the organization of a rebel
army 70 take the field in the spring as an active
invading force against Michigan, Ohio and
indiana. The public may feel very natural
curiosity to know how. this is to be done. I'd
II 10 estimated that thero arc in the neigh
boring proyinces Of Canada not less than one
hundred thousand able bodied men, refugees
from the Southern Sates, and deserters from
the Onion aralics, who are well drilled and may
in short time be organized into an army Of
thoroughly disciplined soldiers. 1t is known
that they are already pinched with want, and
it is calculated that as the season advances
they viii be driven by destituton to any des.
peraje adventure that promises relief from
starvation and exposure. These men are rolled
upon to furnish the material for the enterprise.
Detroitis selected as the field of operations
from its nearness to the Canadian frontier, aud
hence IFS facility of communication not only
for procuring mon and supplies, but also doubt
less as afordiRg a tolerably safe means Of
escape to the leaders Of the movement 10 case
Of disaster. .-.5. -.-..e .,I, t....... I''lt
. A necessary part of The scheme is naval
force How is this to bepTocured will be
asked. II. .onr information is correct it is ais
.aad,, ~ MANA Rvary oya min ooIi - .-osnl
the frequent mention in the telegraphic dis
the escape Of blockade runners from
the port Of Wilmington, and their, arrival at
Halifax These vessels, most OF them are com.
pactly built, swift light draft steamers. BO.
sides the supplies Of cotton and other articles
Of commerce taken from the rebel ports, they
carry regular Commissions as part of the Con.
federate navy, and such armament as 10 suited
20 fheir tnnna9a end AAPRsitJ. Tho faCt VI
their coming from Confederate port bearing
those commissions will relieve them from the
objections urged against British built vessels,
like the Alabama and others, which have never
touched at port under arebel Jurisdiction.
3 These vessels, after having procured what
supplies they could at Halifax without violat.
ing the neutrality lave, are TO start osteusibly
on q cruise hut will make their way directly
up the ST. lawrence, through Lake Ontario,
the Weland Canal. and Lake Erie, and taking
position in the river opposite Detroit, demand
lie unconditional surrender. ...,
The plot is entirely consistent with the lately
conspiracy in Cincinnati to seize
The steamer Michigan and release the prisoners
confined on Johusoh's Island, in Sandusky bay,
and that conspiracy was doubtless part, tho'
by no means q necessary part oft. The plot
is q novel one, but it must be confessed not
more rash than many warliko enterprises that
meet with success The de[encelosB condition
Of eur lake coast and towns, not only suggests
but invites some such enterprise but Detroit,
from it's location, seems best adapted for its
execution.
A dispatch fromdWashingto says;
1t is understood here from Canada that VAL
aadigham, Henry Clay's beautiful son JameP,
md that pardoned william, Marshal Kane, had
July arranged for passing through the Well
and canal an armed steamer whose mission
was: ..,.. "a eHsli s'Is.usI-l aIs.. ..
First--to open the prison doors for captive
rebels az Sandusky bay. .. ...-...ts,'. l1a.
Second-to arm and equip these veterans,
over two thousand innunber . F
Third--to seize as many propellers on LIKE
Erie as were needed and arm and man them.
Fourth--to mako Buffalo heap Of ashes
aud her vesssls inportsoharred skeletons. Of
Fifth-tO burn Cleveland '-" - 10
I'd Sixth4-to wipe out the commerce OF Lake
Eric. sdl IHlr' uc Oh tia .aa. atl sa'
SeVAnh-- to consume Detroit, and in effect
10 destroy the oommerce aud cities of the
Lakes, from 0gdensburg to Chicago, almost at
4 blow. Uu a Ib glaisi gfH4 bt4l a- ift.-' j
IIordLyons got out Of bed after midnight to
the news TO Seward, and after
ward tho Secretary of War was got up and got
10 othe wires of the military telegraph t'[ 4
We hear from the West tonight that, by
received at Buffalo on Thursd ay
morning the sloop-of-waF Michigan was or.
lcred of the mouth of the WeIland Canal, with
the approval of Lord Lyons, to smash that Sc
,esh steamer il she came through, .rt
Atelegram from Toronto, Canada, dated the
L4ih. saws. ij ls81 $50 a0 hlial'a' Aai0 1
The Advertiser, q secession paper, to-day
admits the failure of tho bel plot, aud says
that the Confederate Government, in fitting out
The steamer r. u. Ice, from Wilmington to
Halifax, with a cargo, was to furnish the me-
cessary funds Thirty.six officers aud 300
men were TO como over 10 small parties, and
meet ata general rendezvous II was their in.
tention To- surprise the Federal garrison on
Johneohs Island, libsrate The prisoners there,
aud convey them into Canada. They did not
- A.