American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-04-19
The Confession of Kennedy.

The Confession of Kennedy.
The following confession, in substance,
was made by Kennedy while awaiting his
execution: "After my escape from John
sons Island went directly to Canada,
where | met number of Confederate of
Ulcers. They asked me if | was willing
'to go on an expedition. | said, Yes, if
it's in the service Of my country To
which they replied, It's all right but
gave no intimation as to it's nature, nor
did ask for any | was shortly after
sent to New York, where | stayed some
time. There were some eight of us in
lthe party, and after we had been in the
'city three weeks, we were told that the
object of the expedition was to retaliate
upon the North for the atrocities of
Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley.
g 1t was originally intended to set fire
ito the city on the night of the presidential
election, but as the phosphorus was not
it was postponed until the night
iof the 25th Of November. OF the eight
men who formed the original party, two
fled to Canada, leaving but six. | was
.at first stopping at the Belmont House,
lin Fulton street, but afterward moved
into Prince street. | set fire to four
hotels, or rather to Barnum's Museum,
Lovejoy's Hotel, Tammany Hall, and the
New England House. The others only
set fire to the house in which each was
stopping, and then cut Off Had the en-
,tire eight done as | did, we would have
set fire to thrty-two houses, and played a
big joke on the Ere department.
" I know that am to be hung for
Setting fire to Barnum's Museum. but tho
fact is that the affair was simply a reck-
less joke. ! had no idea of doing it but
when We were in there, for the mere fun
:of the thing | cmptied bottle of phos-
sphorus on the floor, just to scare the peo.
!ple. | knew it wouldn't set fire to wood,
for we had tried that before, and had at
lone time concluded to give it up. There
Iwas was no fendishncss about it. The
Museum was set on fire by merest acci.
dent, after had been drinking, and just
for the fun Of scare.
I" After setting fire to my four places, /
walked the streets all night, until near
'morning, when | went to the Exchange
Hotel There We all met the next morn.
ling, and again ct night. My friend and
/ had rooms there, but we sat most of the
time in the Office, reading the papers,
while the detectives, who were thick,
watched us. ] expected then that
should be caught, aud if caught | expect
led to die. Had done so then it would
have been all right but | think now it
sis rather rough. | escaped to Canada,
las did all the rest, and very glad | was
to get safely across the bridge. | was
restless, however, and wanted to rejoin my
command. ! started with my friend via
Detroit. just before we reached the city,
;he received an intimation. that the detec-
hives were on the lookout for us, and Civ.
3ing ME signal, he jumped from the cars,
II didn't notice the sigud, but kept on,
sand was arrested in the depot.
j " l wish to say that the killing of wo-
/ smen and children was the last thing we
Thought Of We wanted to let the people
sof the North understand and feel that
sthere are two sides to this war, ard that
,they cant be rolling in wealth and CONF
fort while we at the South are bearing all
sthe hardship and privations. In retalia-
stion for Sheridan's atrocities in the She
fnandoah. we desired to destroy property,
hot the lives of women and children, al
Though that would of course have follow
BED in the train"
The French soldiers in Mexico are
getting away as fast as possible. They
shave abandoned the projected expedition