Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-11-20

A FORMIDABLE CONSPIRACY NIPPHB IN
rHR BuD.-The projected attack on Johnson's
Island, for the purpose Of releasing the rebel
prisoners confined there. referred to in our
last. was not false alarm, but proves to have
been reality, ard but for its timely disceV-
erv through the Canadian authorities, might
have proved . very serious affair. 1t was, it
seems, a project got up in Rebellion, with the
aid, probably, Of the rebel refugees in Canada,
and contemplated not only the release Of the
prisoners, but hostile demonstrations against
the commeres Of the Lakes, and the American
eitiea on their shores. The intelligence OF
the plot was communicated by the Canadian
authorities to Lord Lyons, and by him to the
Secretary of War, who at once tGlegraphed to
the Mayors of the threatened cities and to the
military authorities in the west, which led to
sueh military preparation as made the priaOn-
ers safe and put stop to the proposed opsr-
ations of the conspirAtors. The plan OF oper-
atiouu is thus related by the MOntreUl Com
mercial Advertiser, a paper Of strong secession
rrocIivitieS:
The expedition intended to effect the liberia
tiou of the Confederate officers held prisoners
on Johnson's Island, Lake Erie, having failed
in order to remove the missappr ehensions that
may be created by Federal accounts of Ca
madam plot TO burn Western cities, we give
below all the facts in which the public is in
terested, which may, we are assured be i'm
plicitIy relied on.
The Washington Government having re-
fused to costume the exchange of prisoners oi
war under the cartel, sent the Southern Off
GERS, accustomed to tropical climate, to
Johuson's Island, where 2,O00 Of them were
confined in wretched quarters, absolutely unft
to house cattle. There is no reason to doubt
that the officers selected for this prison were
those upon whom the cold, damp climate and
exposure would act most prejudieially. Il
was in fact an attempt to commit murder
without publicly incurring the Cdium o
slaughter.
In these circumstances the Confederate
Government determined to make an attemp
to rescue the doomed officers, and for thi
purpose an expedition was fitted out, consist
ling of thirty-six officers, under the command
of one who had distinguished himself in simi
lar dashing enterprises, and three hundred
men,. The officers embarked at Wilmington
, lin the Confederate steamer, r. E. Lee, aBt
landed at Halifax. The cotton and tobacc'
brought by the steamer as freight were sol
to furnish the funds required, amounting t
10000 dollars. The men came oVerlan
through the states, in small parties, to th
general rendezvous.
: The intention was to surprise the FEEDERS
garrison on Johnson's Island, libeFate th
prisoners, convey them 10 Canada in vessel
provided for that purpose, and forward ther
by Halifax to Nassau or Bermuda; th
: greater part of the funds being specially dew
ted to paying their passage to one OF thef
Q points.
=. Any further operations on the lakes vel
left to the discretion of the officer in con
mand whose orders were stringent and pr
Z emptory TO avoid breach Of British neutra
e ity, and to take care that even the semblanC
q Of international wrong should be prevents
Had Johnson's Island been taken, it migt
have formed basis for other operation
IL against Federal commerce on the lakes; bU
), the real object Of the expedition was to re
T cue 2O00 valuable lives from the cruel
/ which had devoted them to slow but certa
death in a climate and situation in the la
degree inimical to them.