The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-05-26

Received Feb. Il. 1865"
Messrs. John Potts and Nathan Rice,
of the war department, testified that. to
the best of their knowledge, the indorSe-
ment was in the handwriting of Jefferson
Davis.
On Saturday the assistant secretary of
war, Mr.. Dana, identified an instrument
exhibited as one he took from the office
OF the rebel secretary of state. Benjamin
it is key to the rebel official cipher
Benjamin's office consisted of suite of
three or four rooms, his personal office be-
ing the innermost of all: this was in a
room occupied by his confidential secreta-
ry; most of the articles and records have
been taken away, but found some inter-
esting documents; this is KEY to the ci-
pher by which certain letters of the alpha
bet can be used for other letters. and bv
using these pointers such a cipher can he
translated, ORPHAN writing turned into
cipher the machine is about foot long.
eight inches high, and consists of wood
en- cylinder which has a paper envelope
inscribed with letters: the cylinder re-
wolves in pivot holes at each end. and a
bar across the top contains wooden indi-
ces pointing down to the letters.
Major Eckert testified that cipher
shown him and which was taken from the
trunk OF J. Wilkes Booth and that taken
from the rebel secretary of wars office were
the same. Several rebel cipher dispatch
es which have fallen into the hands oi
our war department had been referred to
him for examination, some of which wen
the same as this and worked on the same
principle. Rebel dispatches of the 18th
and 10Th of October last were in his pos
session, and were deciphered on the same
principle, although the key word was diff
terent. The following translation wa.
then read,
October l3. We again urge the I'M
mediatelneeessity ofgainins immediate adj
vantages. Strain every nerve for victory.
We now look upon the reelection of Lin
coin in November us almost certain. and
we need to whip his hireling> to prevent
it a; besides. with Lincoln reelected and
his armies victorious. We need not hope
even for recognition. much less the he'll
mentioned in our last. Holcumh will eX-
PLAIN this These figures of the Yankee
armies are correct TO a unit Your friend
shall be Immediately set 10 work a. You
direct"
October 10. 1861. Your letter of the
18th inst is at hand There l. not tim,
enough 10 COLOMBO many voters before
November A blow will shortly lie >trick,
en- here. Ii Is not quite time, Gen.
LongStrcct Is to attack Sherman without
delay and then move north ~ far IA pr;,c-
ticable toward unprotected points Thi-
will be made instead of the movement b.
fore mentioned. He will cn,ieayor to H.
sist the Republicans in collecting the hal
lots. BE watchtul and assist him
The original was sent 10 lis address.
The cipher of the 18th came from Canada
and went 10 Richmond. and that of I'll,
10Th came from Richmond ami went 1,
Canada.
Among the the testimony in the con-
Spiracy trial. from which the Injunction of
secrecy has been removed. Is the following.
which shows that George n Sanders did
know and confer with Booth. notwith-
standing his stout denial:
John Devenev testified that he s.w
Wilkes Booth in Montreal in October la,t.
IN conversation with George n Sanders.
Witness also saw in Canada during Nh,
same month. Jacob Thompson. {. {. CLAY.
beverly Tucker and IIolcomhc. and OBJ
served them talkin. with Booth at differ
ent times. Witness thought Booth hal
come 10 Canada TO fulfill a theatrical en-
gagcment. He next saw Booth on the
steps of the kirkwood house in Washing
ton on the night of April II. between >
and o'clock. Booth spoke 10 him and
said he had been back from Canada some
time Witness asked if he wis going 10
play again. Booth replied: No. | am
not gong TO play again; l am in the oil
business Q.-lou say Won saw him
and Sanders drinking together. us well aS
talking. A-leS. sir. did; am sure
of it. Sanders SAYS he never srw him :
but Sanders did see him. | SAW him talk
ing TO him
1t was Mrs. Mary Hud>pelh of Harlem.
y. T.. who testified that while rilinr in
the Sd Avenue cars in New York in No
vember last, she saw Booth with falls,
whiSkerS talking with another man. One
of them dropped two letters. which She
picked up srpposlns she dropped them
One of the letters declares that Abe must
die now. You can choose Your weapons
the cup. the knife. the bullet. The cup
failed US once and might again. Ii has
much TO say about the intended assaS>ina-
ton. In conclusion ii says: ...Slnitrs IS
doing us good IN Canacia''
Some additions are made 10y newspaper
correspondents TO the revelations brought
ont by the testimony in the great trials.
which NAV prove TO he true. 1t is stated
that. about the first OF April. Harold
made several efforts to obtain a situation
at Thompsons drug store, corner of FIT
teenth street and New York avenue
Washington. The medicines for the
White House were obtained from this
drug store, and it Is now believed that the
plan Of the conspirators was to get Har-
old place in this drug store (he was
trained to the drug business. it will he re-
membered) for the purpose of nlacinr mi