Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-07-13

DALIlhOhE1 July o.
The American has received a special
report OF the confession of Atzerodt.
which was prepared by one who has
known him him since his arrest. The
details of the plot TO abduct and muir
der the President which are set forth
below were given the author by Alter
\ odt but a short time previous to his
death.
George Andrew Atzerodt was born In
/ the Kingdom of Prussia, in 1885 and
came to this country with his parents
In 1874. He arrived at Baltimore in
which he resided with his family for
about one year, when with his parents
he moved to Westmoreland County Va.
His father farmed and carried on his
business, that of blacksmith at the
court House. At that period he was
placed as an apprentice to the coach
making business at the Court House,
where he learned the painting branch.
lie remained at the Court House until
1856, when he went to Washington and
worked for Young aud also for Mr.. Dor
matv. vel! known coach makers. In
1867 ne joined his brother in the coach
making business at Port Tobacco. This
continued for four years when the firm
was dissolved. After this he carried on
painting in Port Tobacco until last fall
when he went with John H Surratt and
man named Hurting; Surratt induced
bin to join in the conspiracy for alb
Quoting the President AtzerOdt's
knowledge Ofthe country in the vicinity
of Port Tobacco, and in fact of all the
countries bordering on the Potomac,
gave to the conspirators a valuable as
sistant, He was well acquainted with
Harold, whom he was not long in find
ing out and who was also engaged in
the conspiracy. Surratt went several
times TO Port Tobacco, and often sent to
Atzerodt to come TO Washington where
he was known to many as Port To-
bacco," and looked upon as very weak
supplemented man, in fact was regard
ed as very harmless and silly fellow.
Surratt introduced Atzerodt to Booth
who toasted him and furnished him with
horses; the horses being held in the
the name Of Surratt, who appeared to
be the Principal In the absence of Booth
The first meeting of all the conspirators
actually engaged was at a saloon on
Pennsylvania Avenue. called Gettee's.
At this meeting O'Laughlin, Arnold,
Booth Surratt, Harold and Atzerodt
were present. The first attempt to alb
duct the President was to be on the 7:h
street road. This was to be about the
middleOf March, when the expected the
president to visit camp.
O'Laughlin, Arnold, Payne, Surratt,
Booth and Atzerodt were present. Har-
old left with the buggy carbinps for at.
B." The plan was to seize the coach of
the President, Surratt to jump on the
box as he was considered the best dri-
yer, and make for "T B." by way of
Long Old Fields to She Poto nae river.
in the vicinity of Nargoney creek, where
they had boat waiting with men, to
carry over the party. The boat was
capable OF carrying Is men and was a
large fat bottom bstteauX, painted lead
color, which had been bought for the
purpose by Booth. This plan failed, the
President not coming as they supposed.
Harold went next morning TO Washing
ton.
All things remained quiet for some
time after this. Booth went north and
Arnold and O'Lsughln TO Baltimore,
Payne or Wood left also for New York.
A man named Howell was about this
time arrested; this alarmed Surratt. aud
ne LETT, with Mrs. Slater. for the north.
This was about the lst of April.
The next plan was to visit the theatre
an the night the President was expected
70 DC there II was arranged that Sur
raft and Booth were to go to the boy
Arnold, oLaugalin and Payne were 10
act some important part in getting him
out; Harold and Aircraft were TO have