Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-26
MISREPRESENTATION.

Rebel Eucendiarisni.
The following is that portion Of Jacob Thomp-
sons report found among the rebel archives
lately purchased by the government, which re-
lates to the plots by rebel agents in Canada, now
the friends and supporters of Horace Greeley, TO
burn northern cities and otherwise destroy prop
erty employed in the occupations of peace:
Soon after | reached Canada, Mr. Minor
Major visited me and represented himself as an
accredited agent from the confederate states TO
destroy steamboats, on the Mississippi river, and
that his operations were suspended for want of
means l advanced to him $4,000 in federal cur
rency, and soon afterward several coats were
burned al st. Louis, involving an immense loss
of property to the enemy. He became suspect
cd as he represented TO me, of being the author
of this burning, and from that time both he and
his men have been hiding, and consequently
have done nothing, Money has been advanced
10 Mr.. Churchill, of Cincinnati, TO organize
corps for the purpose of incendariSm. in that
city. ! consider him true man, and although
as yet he has effected but little, am in constant
expectation of effective work in that quarter
Previous to the arrival of Lieut.-Col Martin
and Lieut.. Ieadly bringing an unsigned note
from you, all the different places where our
prisoners are conined-Camp Douglas, Rock
Island Camp Morton, Camp Chase, Elmira-
had been thoroughly examined, and the cOncu-
sion was forced upon us that all efforts to release
them without an outside cooperation would
bring disaster upon the prisoners, and result in
no good. All projects of that sort were aban-
doned except that at Camp Douglas where Cap
tain Hines still believed be could effect their re
lease. We yielded to his frmness, zeal and per
sistence, and his plans were plausible, bat
treachery defeated him before his well laid
schemes were developed, Having nothing else
on hand, Colonel Martin expressed wish TO Or
ganize a corps to burn New FORK city. lie was
allowed to do so, and most daring attempt has
been made TO fire that city, but their reliance on
the Greek fire has proved Il misfortune. 1t can
not be depended on as an agent in such work.
have no faith whatever in il, and no attempt
shall hereafter be made, under my general dl-
rections with any such materials, | knew
nothing whatever of the raid on st: Adams I'M
til after it tranSpired. Desiring TO have boat
on whose captain and crew reliance could he
placed, and on board of which arms could be
sent TO convenient points for arming such YES
sells could be seized for operations on the lakes,
| aided Dr. James I. Bates OF Kentucky, an old
steamboat captain, in the purchase of the
steamer Georgian. She had scarcely been trans
ferred when the story went abroad that she had
been purchased and armed for the purpose of
sinking the Michigan, releasing the prisoners
on Johnsons island, and destroying the ship
ping on the lakes, and the cities on their mar
gin. The widest CONSERVATION prevailed in all
the border cities; ut Buffalo two tugs had can
non placed on board, four regiments OF soldiers
have been drawn from the army of Virginia.
Bells were rung at Detroit and churches broken
I'D on Sunday. The whole lake shore was Il
scene of wild excitement Boats were sent out,
which boarded the Georgian, and found moth
inp contraband on board, but still the people
were ineredulous. The bane and curse of car
rying out anything in this country is the sur
vigilance under which we act Detectives or
those ready to give information stand at every
corner. Two or three cannot interchange ideas
without reporter.
The presidential election has so demOralized
the leaders of the order of the 'Sons of Lbcr-
ty'' that new organization under new leaders
has become an absolute necessity. This is now
going forward with great vigor and success
The new order is styled the "Order of the Star"
There is general expectation that there will
soon be q new draft, and the members swear re-
siStanCe to another draft, 1t is purely military,
wholly independent of politics and politicians,
1t is given out among the members that Stone
wall Jackson is the founder OF the order, and the
name has its significance from the stars on the
collars of southern officers. There is no ground
to doubt that the masses, to a turge extent. of
the north are brave and true, and believe Lin.
coin tyrant and uSurper,,
During my stay in Canada great amount of
property has been destroyed by burning. Tie
information brought to me as to the perpetra-
tors is so conflicting and contradictory, that
am satisfied that nothing caIf be certainly
known Should claims be presented at the war
office for payment for this kind of work, not
one dollar should be advanced on any proof adj
duced until all the parties concerned may have
an opportunity for making out and presenting
proof. Several parties claim to have done the
work at st. Louis, New Orleans, Louisville,
Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and at Cairo. Within
the last few days DR.. X. ]. Stewart, of Virginia,
| has reached this place, and very nlysteriously
| informs me that he has plan for the execution
| of something which has received the sanction
| of the president. lie is in want of money, and
| states to me that yOn gave him a draft on me
| for $50 900 in gold, which has been lost on the
way. lie has sent back to Richmond for Il re-
peWal. He has rented a large house and
moved his family into it. ! cannot doubt his
word, but, Of course, do not feel authorized to
advance him money without your authority
| or that of the president. have, however,
been constrained to advance him $500 in gold
| on his written statement that, unless the money
| was in hand the lives and liberties of high con-
federate officers would be iRperiled.
| Owing to the health OF Mr.. Clay we separated
| at Halifax, and since then we have not lived
| together, though we have been in consulting
| distance,
As the money was all in my name, which l
supposed TO be controlled by us jointly, and as
| he desired to have sum placed in his hands at
all times subject to his personal control, trans
ferred to him S93,614, for which l hold his re-
ceipts and ior which he promises to account to
the proper authorities at home. Including the
money turned over to Mr.. Gay, all of which he
has not yet expended, the entire expenditures
as yet on all accounts is about 100000. still
hold three drafts for 100000 each, which have
not been collected. Should you think it best
for me TO return | would be glad to know in
what way you think had best return with the
| funds remaining on hand,
] infer from your personal in the New York
News thatit is your wish ! should remain here
| for the present, and ! shall obey your orders.
| Indeed, have so many papers in my possession,
| which in the hands of the enemy would utterly
| ruin and destroy very many of the prominent
| men in the north, that due sense of my obi.
| CATION to them will force on me the EXTREMIST
| caution in my movements,
| For the future, discarding all dependence on
| the organilatiOnsi in the northern states, our
efforts, in my Judgment, should he directed TO
| inducing those who are o0pscrpted in the north,
| and who utterly refuse to Join the army to fight
| against the confederate states, TO make their
| way south to join our service. 1t is believed
| by many that at least a number sufficient TO
make up a division may be secured in this way
for our service before spring, especially II Cur
| army opens up road to the Ohio.
Some are now on their way TO Cornth, which
at present is the point of rendezvous Also to
| operate on their railroad and force the enemy to
| keep up guard on all their roads, which will
| require large standing army at home, and to
burn whenever it is practicable, and thus make
the men of property feel their insecurity, aud
tire them out with the war, The attempt on
New York has produced great panic, which
will not subsde at their bidding,
This letter, though long, does not, I am
aware, report many things of minor impor-
tance which have obcurred during my soiourn in
| Canada, but shall omit them at present,
Very respectfully, your Obedient servant,
| j. THOMPSON.
NoTE.-The original copy bears the follow
ing endorsement in the handwriting of j. p.
Benjamin, confederate secretary Of war; "kecd
10 Feb'y, 65. j. P. b."
EFFECTS OF ELECTRICITY on MILK.-The