, 1865-03-10
sTARTLING DISCOVERY.
a EEBE:dA EslAXD On TEE TEN.
NESSEE: RIVER.

STARTLING DISCOVERY
a EEnEh EAKD On TEE TEN
NESSEE: RIVER.
4 E1lE0LICAL PLAN TO DESTROY GOV
ERHMENT PROPERTY.
lFr6m the Chattanooga Gazette, March ~
lthas seldom been our lot to record more
diaGotcal plot to destroy human life and proper
y than the one disclosed 10 the following p1t M
eftaita to which he rebels have been reduced, and
the desperate remedies which they are iofcea to
adopt to relieve themselves from the iron grip Of
On Ha Last scnday s1s morning, captain CHAPMAN, q
pilot on tho steamboat Chiekamaaea, being at bis
homeat Charuan's Landing. on the tennessee
rebel women Of bis neighborhood were moving
ground the country rather more than usual.
hese proceedings attracted his attention because
movement being on foot. Thinking that per
haps some rebels non, the army bad re-
turned to their homes he took hs g9In ~
went down towsrd. tho river and had not gone
off his own place before he made start1inS
discovery. Ianled close into the shore and con"
eea'ed BY brush from the view Of my one psY pass-
out any occupants, but heartily loaded with seye-
ral boxes and various packages Captain Chapman :1
affairs, he looked around to see II the owners Of
The boat were bot co9id see no 9ne; II h9 =
Rsa5ns %anSat q san e e.p ps suap e0 %so a
display ofhis having discovered the boat he r.
turned to his own house, aud then started 96 to
them together he returned to the na.shbozhood
where the boat was fastened; Here be discovered
nlne men on hill, about half mile rom rom where
80 as to get between them and their boat he made
bold show Of what men he had, md issuing Or
DER to troops sa1lea 1poa the Esbeis
gurs and ammunition having been wet by the
recent heavy rains, and believing that snpe-
r'or force WIS around them. they immealate1y
psared: 6fler laying down thelr arms they were
Tba to
the boat. On The road The rebels asked where the
rest OF their captoss we're, and upon being inform
mere boy-Were Tie only force, they expressed
es 59ssa = eas5a sy saesd :,
boat 1t was thoroughly inspected but its load w,s
treated with the greatest care, no one even de-
was Composed: The boat itself was regular
built yaw1 thirty feet long, three feet deep, and
si1 feet vide at the bottom, haring cut constd.
wou1d hold between three and four tons. II
had mo. s. painted on the sides. There
were etx ours tn the boat, and were said by
make. Each o.r is eixteen feet long, and wss
mnflcd. Each man in the party had hne Enfield
muakct snd a, regular navy c9tlass. One Of the
It two feet si1 inches in length and the blade Is
letters &c. 5. T." The boxes found in ths boat
each containing torpedo. A large number Of
IRE balls, made by soak1ne balls Of cotton in tar
pentine, were also found; but the most dangerous
rF. t<1fh ham ant
ball combined. 1t was SIX inches In diameter and
| ten inches long, and appears to have been made
br wtntl1ng cotton ronLd come sort Of an Internal
machine, At one end ls cnp, 60 that tho #
| fatr would bust on striking any nard sub
stanee; and IS il to make @ssurlucc doubIy
.nre, a fnee was inserted at the lower end, 80
| some time before exploding. a network Of cop
per wire kept The cotton fa shape, and wooden
pose oi throwing the machine for eonaa distance.
As II toe cotuu Itself was otiutammable enough,
| It had hcen dipped In some gunlmy preparation
thing ihc. prisoners were sent with 4 strong
| guard, to Kingston. After they started Captain
| Chapman went ofer the fields TO hud the fellow
| within short dlatance Of where hts companions
| had surrendered. The steamer Lookout came
tow and the pl lisoner being placed Oh hoard, che
| went On to Kingston, where the Holaton received
the precious boat snd started with 1t for Knox
One OF the men captured had been keeping
dairy, and from that and their conversation We
| learn somewhas of their plans and proceedings,
hs aa IT. tSo no aa and
built In Richmond, and 10 crew wis composed Of
picked men from what tho rebels term the Confed-
efs 5sausry ey y sa saa
| went from there 70 the Salt Work., where the
boat was placed The wateEs Of The Holzton rlver.
| Their progress down the uo!stoa r1ret was de-
PEELED to lay by for several hys. 1Thoy
i piWsssb Ws b,ts S h..fS a RsEs ass 1t saasl an e.
9Ie q # but 1ere fdehtenea Of 6y ae sentinsls:
70 commit no Expectations nnti! they got below
Kingston. In passing under the bridge at London
they were hailed by the sentnels, bos On replying
to go On. After passing loudon the, stopped ard
| two Of the chief otilccrs went ashore and vera
captured by eome of our ierees, whs came aeEoss '
the boat, under command Of ifegteuant Whar
e n .e Z 1n ps ICY 81
they were certainly dangerous. Alter passing
they could, and they had evidently intended to
it was but a short defiance from Chspman's Lanl.
| ofttoppfng to wood. Proceeding down the river,
/ On arriving at Chattanooga they were to dre all
Soss q hs Se ana I'D h S deSf5 sa9E
| were to be set on fire. It was supposed that By
| this time the burning boats and warehouses on
the river front would attract the greater portion
OF the citizens and military to that locail5, while
they, landing at tho foot Of Seventh street, and
coming up into the western end Of town, would
fire the warehouses and depota
| Among The itens OF news which they conmunI-
Gated, WIS one TO the effect that Lees arm! was
| to leave Richmond ahout the first OF March and
retreat in tie direction Of East Tennessee. The
| operations Of these men were expected to clear
awsy soruc Of The distractions to such m advance
and render the march Of thu rebel army into Geor-
eia comparatively easy. Fortunately for the rest
dents OF cbattanoogs, and the preservation Of the
vast amount Of Government property in the shape
| Of steamers, tepo!s and quurtermsster and sub
aistence stores, etored about the city, the affair
wss discovered and all the parties actively coz.
these raidera found guilty OF all the internal
plots with which they have been CHARGED. that
| they will meet with q speedy justice. The fate
| Of Andrews. the Union soldier who II 1862 at
| tempted TO burn the bridges IN the Western and
Atlantic Railroad, should be taken as precedent.
Personal and Political.
NM.