Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-12-21
SURRATT'S CONFESSION.

Revelations of the Plot to Abduct Pres
fdent Lincoln-A Rebel Rough Rider
First Acquaintance With John
Wilkes Booth-TLe Ramifieations of
the PIot-The Flight to Canada.
John H, Surratt, one of the alleged
conspiratons in the plot which resulted
IN the assassination of President Lin
coin, made what he claims is full con-
fession or statement, on the night of
the 9th, in the shape of a lecture deliv-
cred in the Courthouse at Rockville,
Maryland, little town sixteen miles
from Washington After some prelim-
mary remarks as to his experiences in
court rooms and the cause of his ap-
pearing in the lecture field, which he
was frank enough to say was want OF
friends, he said:
AT the breaking out of the war was
a student at ST. Charles College, in
Maryland, but did not remain long
there after that Important event T left
IN July, 1861, and, returning home.
commenced to take an active part in The
stirring events of that period I was
more than Is years of age, and was
mostly engaged in sending information
regarding the movements of the United
States army stationed in Washington
and elsewhere, and carrying dispatches
to the Confederate boats on the Poto-
mac We had regular established
hne from Washington to the Potomac.
and | being the only unmarried man or
the route had most of the hard riding
to do. uaughter). I devised
various ways to carry the de-
spatches. Sometimes in the heel of nv
boots; sometimes between the planks
h11n T +1a@
my life did / come across a more stupid
set of detectives than those generally
employed by the United States Gov
ernment. They seemed to have no idea
how to search men, In 1864 nv family
eft Maryland and moved to Washing
on, where took a more active part in
he stirring events of the period. 1t
'eemed as if [ couIl not do too much
II run too great risk. In the fall of
864 [ was introduced to John Wilkes
Sooth, who, [ was given to understand.
Wished to know something about the
nain avenues leading from Washington
0 the Potomac. We met several times.
'ut as he seemed to be very reticent
nth regard to his purposes. and
cry anxious to get all the information
ut of me he could. I refused to tell
i'm anything at all At last said to
i'm, ''It is useless FOR you, Mr.. Booth.
seek any information from me until
know whoyou are and what are your
attentions, He hesitated some time.
ut finally said he would make known
is views to me provided Iwould prom
'e secrecy. Ireplied: "I will do moth
az of the kind. You know well [ am
Southern man. If you cannot trust
1e we will separate" He then said:
will confide my plans to you. but
efore doing so L will make known 9
on the motives that actuate me. In
he Northern prisons are many thou
ands of our men whom the z. S. govern
nent refuse to exchange You know as
veil as | the efforts that have been made
% bring about that much desired
exchange. Aside from the great sr1ffer-
.ng they are compelled to undergo, we
are sadly IN want of them as soldiers.
We cannot spare one man, whereas the
United States government is willing to
let their own soldiers remain in our
prisons because she has no need of the
men. have proposition to submit
to you, which, [ think, If we can carry
out, will bring about the desired ex-
change" There was long and omi-
nous silence, which [ at last was COM
PEELED to break by asking, 'sWell, sir,
what is your proposition ~ He sat
quiet for an instant, and then, before
answering me, arose and looked
under the bed, into the ward
robe, in the doorway and the
. passage, and then said: eve will
have to be careful, walls have ears. y
He then drew his chair close to me, and
In whisper said: cit is to kidnap
President Lincoln, and carry him off to
Richmond" ''Kidnap President Lin
coin !" said. I confess that I stood
aghast at the proposition, and looked
upon it as a foolhardv undertaking; to
think of successfully seizing Mr. Lin
coin in the capital Of the United States,
surrounded by thousands of his sold
iers, and carrying him off TO Richmond,
looked to me like foolish idea. [ told
him as much. He went on to tell with
what facility he could be seized in va
rious places in and about Washington
As, for example, in his various
rides to and from the Soldiers Home,
his summer residence. He entered in
TO minute details of the proposed cap
ture, and even the various parts to be
performed by the actors in the perform
ance. I was amazed, thunderstruck,
and in fact I might also say frightened,
at the unparalleled audacity of the
scheme. After two days reflection ]
told him was willing to try it. I be-
heved it practicable at that time, though
L now regard it as foolhardy under
taking
Ihope you will not blame me for 60
ing thus far [ honestly thought an
E o,>,,Jl IL 1
about could we have once obtained pos
session of Mr. Lincoln's person. And
now reverse the case. Where is there
young man in the North with one
spark of patriotism in his heart who
would not have with enthusiastic ardo1
Joined in any undertaking for the cap
trlre of Jefferson Davis and brought
HIM to Washington. There is not one
who would not have done So And SO
L was led on by sincere desire to as
slst the South In gaining her independ-
ence. | had no ohesitation in taking part
IN anything honorable that might tend
towards the accomplishment of that OBJ
lect. Tremendous applause) Such a
thIng as the assassination of Mr.. Lin
c)ln L never heard spoken of by any Of
the party. Never. (Sensation) Upon
one occasion, L remember, we had call
ed meeting in Washington for the
purpose of discussing matters in gene
raj, as we had understood that tbe GOV
ernment had received information fbat
there was lot of some kind on hand
Ihey had even commenced to build a
stockade and gates on the navy ward
pfldge- gates opening towards the
South, as though they expected danger
Ifom within, and not from without. At
tihs meeting L explained the construc-
ton OF the gates, and stated that was
confident the government had wind of
our movement, and that the best thing
we could do would be to throw up the
whole project Every one seemed -