The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1872-02-03

River Bridge, about five miles this side OF
the city. and told the bridge keeper that hl
had come to give information which had
cone to his knowledge of vital importance
to the road, which he wished communica-
ted to me. The nature of the communica-
ton was that party was then organized
in Baltimore to burn our bridges in case
Mr.. Lincoln came over the road, or i'll case
we attempted to carry troops for the de-
fence OF Washington. The party, ut that
time, had combustibe materials prepared
to pour over the bridges, and were to dis
guise themselves rs negroes and be at the
bridge Just before the train in which Mr..
Lincoln travelled had arrived. The bridge
was then to be burned, the train attacked
and Mr.. Lincoln to be put out of the way.
This man appeared to be 4 gentleman, and
in earnest. and honest in what he said; but
he would not give his name, nor allow any
inquiries to be made rs to his name or
exact abode, as he said his life would be in
peril were it known that he had given this
information: but # we would not attempt
to find him out, he wonld continue to come
and give information. He came subse-
quently several times, and gave items of
information as to the movements of the
conspirators; but have never been able
to ascertain who he was. Immediately
after the development of these facts, went
to Washington. and there met 4 prominent
and reliable gentleman from Baltimore.
who was well acquainted with Marshal
Kane, then the Chief of Police. ! was
then anxious to ascertain whether he was
loyal and reliable, and made particular
inquiries upon both these points. was
assured that Kane was perfectly reliable;
whereupon made known some of the facts
that had come to my knowledge in refer
ence to the designs for the burning Of the
bridges. and requested that they should be
laid before Marshal Kane, with request
that he should detail police force to make
the necessary investigation. Marshal Kane
was seen, and it was suggested to him that
there were reports of a conspiracy to burn
the bridges and cut off Washington, and
his advice was asked as to the best way of
ferreting out the conspirators. He secuted
the idea that there was any such thing on
foot: said he had thoroughly investigated
the whole matter, and there was not even
the slightest foundation for any such ru
mors. l then determined to have nothing
more to do with Marshal Kane, but to
investigate this matter in my own way, and
at once sent for a celebrated detective, who
resided in the West, and whom | had
before enjoyed on an important matter
lie was man of great skill and resources.
| furnished him with few hints, and at
once set him on the track with eight assist
ants. There were then drilling upon the
line of the railroad some three military
organizations, professedly for home defence,
pretending to be Union men, and, in one or
two instances, rendering their services to
the railroad in case of trouble.
Their propositions were duly considered;
but the defence of the road was never
entrusted to their tender mercieS. The
first thing done was to enlist a volunteer in
each of these military companies. They
pretended to come from New Orleans and
Mobile, and did not appear to be wanting
in sympathy for the South. They were
furnished with uniforms at the expense of
the road, and drilled as often as their asso-
ciates in arms, became initiated into all the
secrets of the organization, and reported
every day or TWO to their chief, who imme-
diately reported to me the designs and
plans of these military companies. One
of these organisations was loyal, but the
other two were disloyal and fully in the
plot to destroy the bridges and march to
Washington to wrest it from the hands of
the legally-constituted authorities. Every
nook and corner of the road and its vicin-
ity was explored by the chief and his detec-
tives, and the secret working of secession
and treason laid bare and brought to light.
Societies were joined in Baltimore, and
various modes known to and practiced
only by detectives were resorted to to win
the confidence of the conspirators, and get
into their secrets. This plan worked well,
and the midnight plottings and daily con-
situations of the conspirators were treas
ured up as a guide to our future plans for
thwarting them. 1t turned out that al
that had been communicated by Miss Dix
and the gentleman from Baltimore rested
upon a foundation of fact, and that the
half had not been told. 1t was made as
certain as strong circumstantial and posi-
tive evidence could make it, that there was
plot to burn the bridges and destroy the
road and murder Mr.. Lincoln on his way
to Washington, if it turned out that he
went there before troops were called. If
the troops were first called, then the bridges
were to be destroyed and Washington cut
off and taken possession Of by the South.
| at once organized an armed force of about
two hundred men, whom / distributed
along the line between the Susbuehanna
and Baltimore, principally at the bridges.
These men We're drilled secretly and
regularly by drill masters, and were appa-
rently employed in whitewashing the
bridges putting on six or seven coats OF
Ahitewash saturated with salt and alum.
to make the outside of the bridges as nearly
fire-proof as possible. This whitcwashing,
so extensive in its application, became the
wonder of the neighborhool. Thus the
bridges were strongly guarded, and train
was arranged so as to concentrate all the
forces at one point in case of trouble. The
programme of Mr.. Lincoln was changed,
and it was decided by him that he would
90 to Harrisburg from Philadelphia, and
thence over the Northern Central road by
dav, to Baltimore, and thence to Washing
ton. We were then informed by our dctec-
tive that the attention Of the conspirators
WAS turned from our road to the Northern
Central, and that they would there await
the coming Of Mr.. Lincoln. This state
ment was confirmed by our Baltimore gen
tIeman. who came out again and said their
designs upon our road were postponed for
the present. and unless we carried troops,
would not be renewed again. Mr.. Lincoln
was TO he wayiaid on the line of the North