Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1875-09-23
A Scrap Of War History.
How a Secret Scheme for Secur-
ing Recognition of the South
ern COnfederacy Was Averted.

uC 1AdL tAOlN COUJ ttICG I6ldlCS
the following on the authority of
a trustworthy gentleman of that
city:
''In the Autumn of 1861. this
gentleman was called to Louis,
vile, KY, on business. On his
arrival there he found the city in
a state of feverish excitement, the
Union and disunion parties being
about equal in strength, and an
outbreak at any moment would
not have been surprising. He
stopped at the Gait House, and
he had just entered his name on
the register when a distinguished
looking stranger entered the room,
and was Immediately surrounded
by a number Of gentlemen of the
secesh persuasion, with whom he
entered into an excited conversa-
tiou. On inquiry the stranger
was found to be Mr.. William Mure.
iof Charleston, S. c., British Con-
sui at that port. lie was an ard
ent syn3 lthizer with secession,
and expected soon to be appointed
British Minister to the Confeder-
ate Government. lie was fresh
from the rebel capital with the
latest news. which was eagerly
absorbed by the listeners. Later
lin the evening, as the Hartford
gentleman was smoking his cigar
in the Office, Mr.. Mure entered
the room with Il friend, AMI tax,
ing seats near him, the two com
menced a conversation in low
tone, which, however, in their
earnestuess was soon 50 audible
that the other occupant Of the |
room could not help overhearing |
q large portion Of it. From what
he heard he gathered that Mr.. |
Mure had been closeted with Jcl |
Davis and his Cabinet for several |
days, and as q result carried a.
bout his person papers which lie !
believed would insure the rec0g-
nition Of the Confederacy by the
Governments OF Great Britain and |
France, together with bills of eE-
change representing a large a.
mount Of money for the purchase
of arms and munitions of war
Mr.. Mure further stated that he
should leave Louisville on the fol-
lowing (Snndly) morning under
an assumed name for Boston. via
New York, and that he would
take the Cunard steamer at Bos-
ton for EngIond on the next
Wednesday. Our informant i'm
mediately decided that his business
in louisville might wait. and that
he would travel with Mr.. Mure
as far as Cincinnati, where he
would take the train for Washing.
ton, and lay the case before Mr..
Seward. On Sunday morning he
,rose early but found that Mr..
Mure had started the night be
'ore. He Immediately took the
rain and arrived at Cincinnati
ate at night, only to find that a
bridge on the railroad to Wash.
ngton had been carried away aud
ravel would be interrupted for
wenty-four hours. He went at !
nee to the telegraph Office and
oun1 it closed, it being nearly I
midnight. A policeman, hoWev- {
+, came to his assistance, and
the operator from an a. !
oothecary shop near by. Inform j
ng the latter that lie desired TO
end an important message to Mr..
'4ward, the operator replied that /
e possessed the Government cy- !
her, whereupon the following e
Message, in substance, was sent: /
70 the Secretary Of State, i
WaShingt0D:. s
Mr.. William Mure, British Con- !
ll at Charleston, S. c., left Lou /
'ville last night for Boston, via o
lew York, bearing about his per- J.
On papers from Jefferson Davis I
-hich he says will insure the re- 5
ognition of the Southern Confed- a
racy by the Governments Of Eng
md and France, together with
ther valuable documents. He e
ails from Boston on Wednesday. {
(Signed) B. I. H. t
The name signed WAS a ficti- 4
ous one, used for the occasion for 5
rivate reasons, the gentleman re- G
alling the fact that certain mem O
ers OF bis family were on terms 7
intimate friendship with the i
lure family, and not desiring to c
nvolve others than himself in the
fair. Doubling whether Mr..
eward would notice the dispatch, 0
he gentleman started for Boston s
ia the New York Central Road, @
esigning to have Mr. Mure ar t
ested as he went on board the G
:eamer, in case no previous efforts 4
D letain him weres made. In (