The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-09
The Rebel Proposition to Destroy the
CrOton Dam.


We have q copy of remarkable letter, pur-
porting to have been written in March last to
Jacob Thompson. the Confederate agent in Can
ada, by the since notorious James Watson Wallace,
propounding scheme for the destruction of the
Croton dam which supplies New York city with
water. The holders OF the original letter claim
that its genuineness can be proved in o way that
will leave no room for doubt. Though unable to
verify the evidence spoken Of to the fullest we
think there can be little doubt that Wallace is the
writer of the letter. The following is the copy
which has come into our possession
T., r,,o.,raos - s.,.-- ' @"''" ~ low
s--Boevfhg you to be officer or agent Of the Con-
federatc government authorized to direct enterprises OF
deraton project which, IL executed will give
mics bitter taste Of at their homes and inct
damages which hear can only De computed by millions
you win probably remember me witness in behalf Of
the raiders, to prove the gcnuineness Of Lieutenant
Mr. Cameron, the bearer hereof, will explain to you
the Of my addressing you in writing instead Of
seeking personal interview
The project in question involves the destruction of the
Croon DAM whereby the city Of New York Is supplied
with water.
sends through aqueduct about 900 gallons daily
and capable Of sending the aqueduct OF conduct
ing, twce that amount The receiving and distributing
reservoirs at the city never contain than supply
for two two and half days Destroy this dam and
destroy city Of it's whole Of supply of water
The fondries and factories engaged in the manufactur
ing Of the munitions OF war and supplies being de-
pendent on the Croon for steam and other purposes
must necessarily suspend operations. Steamboats, and
railroad locomotives likewise dependent, 70 great
tent this water will be greatly embarrassed In their
emenis and will be obliged, at great cost Of time
gincs daily and nightly called into 10 suppress
fires will become useless and the best parts OF the town.
without the aid OF incendiares, would fall prey
confagration. Water in New York would soon become
and expensive az whskey in Richmond Thousands
Of poor devils who will otherwise be the Yankee
armies will be required to reconstruct the dana work
| urbi w re ali md cocfu o.f
S. 600 900 to complete. But this Is not ALI The DAM
which Is miles above the mouth Of the river holds
back 500 600 600 gallons Below several extensive
rolling mills, foundres, manufactures and bridges in
GLIDING the great bridge Of the Hudson River railroad
BY the sudden destruction Of this DAM all these works
works would be swept away In 1s41, when this dam
less than half finished the pressure OF the water
forced away aud oil the houses mills and manufacto-
res below were swept Oh, together with many persons
and great number OF cattle and swine Let the water
loose at the present time and the destruction will be
thrice as great The people Of the Empire State by Wis
ting the banks OF the Croton, would receive some
ccpt OF the devastation their meTcenares have spread
along the Shenandoah.
This scheme not only practicable but may be exc.
cued with very little trouble and expense One Of my
auns, Virginia lady, enemy OF everything Yankee,
the land upon which the dam Ia built aud her resi-
dencc and oubuildngs are only few rods from the
abumens Of the work. This will afford you some idea
OF the facilities we command to accomplish OBJ
ect The necessarylmen for the business arc already
engaged.
do deem II necessary at present 10 enter into the
details OF plans but II you entertain proposition,
sunni 'ahc PiehSut n ihyinR tnem peioTe yOu IN
nntia and in giving you an estimate OF the sum requisite
for their execution.
Respectfully your obedent servant,
j. WATSON WALLACE
SIf II would be preferable TO you or the govern
ment, the matter OF destruction be effected such
| way as To appear entirely accidental j. w. w.
The two points in which this letter of March
| 20 contradicts the testimony Of Conover alias
| Wallace in washington are these:-First, having
sworn to conversations with Thompson almost
every day during the whole Of February, 1865. II
now appears from his own letter that up to March
20, 1865, he had not even the pleasure OF Thomp.
| conclavcs and discussions for the destruction o
the Croton dam with Thompson and Others II
| January, 1865. IL now appears from his owl
letter that on March 20 this proposition wa,
made to Thompson, as II original, by Conove
| himself.
This is not the first that has been heard of thi
| letter. When the Southerners in Montreal go
hold of James Watson Wallace, after the publ
cation of his Sanford Conover testimony before tn
| military court at Washington, and induced him :,
make the affidavit denying that he had ever giveI
the evidence at Washington, and alleging that h
muet have been personated by some scoundrel
they accompanied his affidavit with number o
afIidavits and certificates by parties In Montreal
The object Of these was TO prove that the Jane
| Watson Wallace, then making the affidavit that h
| was not C0nover, was the genuine wallace VIII
had given evidence In the st. Albans raid case
Among those who thus Unidentified Wallace was on
John Cameron, Jr., who made very lengthy ali
davit contradicting many things In the Conove
I evidence, but making couple Of admissions. On
| was that he had heard of certain proposed raids
| among them the projected attack on Ogdcnsburg