New-York tribune., 1879-05-20
AssAssINATING JEFFERSON DAVIS.

AssASsINATING JEFFERSON DAVIS
WHAT THREE UNION SOLDIERS PROPOSED 10 DO.
To the EditOr Of Tbe tribune
SIR In looking over a bundle of Old letters
ind which sadly reminds of fifteen years ago.
II is a scrap OF unwritten history when may interest
readers OF THE TRIBUNE.
There three Us. tent-mates inthe Army Of the
Potomac, who had Just returned OF those terri
BILE reconnoissanoes through Virginia storm OF mingled
rain and snow. We dead than i've when
reached old quarters. and after building fire
snd eating a rough supper, We sat talking
over the suner!ngs We had JUST undergone
and the men we had lost. and quite
naturally fell to specuiang on the results Of The
Would it end fdvorablY for the UHon Would we
live to II close and return 70 friends and home AT
last said he would willingly die. If by doing he
could bring peace the country Then TINS Tas dis
cussed very earnestly by little company and we all
agreed. TO the sentiment that It would be better
10 die voluntarily and deliberately, Winkered and
Others had for their country in ancient times, than TO
be marched To death, be killed in some insignificant
skirmsh OF comrades had been that day.
80 strongly had tins thought taken root in minds
that it frequently brought mp, and at
last shaped itself into earnest desire to do something
WHAT to do the second step On this point our
minds led to beeve.that if the head Of the Con-
federacy was removed the would soon close. The
case OF Sergeant Champe IN the Revolutionary war was
brought up, and by similar scheme two
Of escape deserters
70 the COntederates, WORK our way TO Richmond.
and end the war by killing Davis. OF course
there would be obstacles, and certain death the
who went; but this all worked out aud the cost
counted. Il death 90 and pretty death to
remain. There would be a name connected with the
attempt which private soldier could hope to gam
I'm the ranks.
Just at this time unusual event occurred. One OF
our mess was stationed safeguard az farmhouse
Uln Uni ,ffv-
named Tanner. To this family day old lady
ana Ler daughter, bearing the family name Of the
mother OF the guard, who born and raised III Nr
ginia The meeting between the two ladies and the
der resulted in a friendship and several interviews
took place. The Old lady had two who
were prisoners in our lines and from whom she had not
heard for many months and through the efforts Of the
safeguard size was enabled TO correspond with them
The young ladies' Of whom there two anxious
to visit camp, and got pass from General Sedg
wick FOR that purpose aud day they rode into
camp. accompanied by their brother boy OF twelve
fourteen years. The girls handsome and fine
riders, ike an the Virginia girls and were
all treated them cOurteOusy fine dinner pre-
pared in their honor by the o MS sable cook after
which Of The girls who was a good singer and a
fierce secess0nist. sang the Bonnie Blue Flag" The
Dress the southern LADIES' Wear and other pa
tuOtic % This naturally led TO a little
talk on the war and she boldly claimed
the called Cousin, 'oin the Confederpcy.
WueTc she would well pCelvtd. size
had relatives IN GOOD army standing at Richmond and
WOud recommend MS % them. Sle knew OF several,
sne said Who mad left our army IN that way, and who
were stationed at Richmond aud not sent 70 the nOnt
ana exposed to recapture.
The dinner party closed and escorted the girls to
the picket line and parted with them, all parties ap-
partnTly pleased with the VISIT When returned 70
the campfire that evening We're all unusually Inn
with the events Of the day. ana the path which
seemed 10 be opened so plainly to US. We were In
earnest now, and the question not which
should 20, but which must remain. for all
ta-er 70 MAKE he attempt But u was necessary lor
one TO remain to state the aeis IN regard to our dese
tlOn, and put rt-ht the OF friends IL
her were also agreed upon we at nrsI lnteHGed 70
obtain the consent OF superior officer. like Scdg
wick, and have false pursuit made aterus done
~ CuAmpcs case but afer sounding the proper persons
that ldea was abandoned and we determined 70 make
the effort on our own responsibility. When these pre-
HmIuurles were all arranged, the one who 10
main began 10 have mis 20 the results Of the
enterprise Would the killing or Davis. II we were
successful, have tie desired efectl He argued that
prisons would endure more suffering, etc We firmly Oe
uevcd thai the way was clear that We should accom-
pah deed OF which our friends would De proud, and
dle n good cause But he persisted that men who
knew more OF Affairs generally than We did would know
better as 90 the results.
Then whom should we ask for advice Not our Army
friends or officers Tor they had no faith IN anything
but themselves. Not 20 friends at home, for they
the last who must know IT, AT last we Thought OF
Horace Greeley. We felt We could trust IN ms honor
aud judgment, and our plan was laid before
him. In a week the following letter received which
decided Us % aOandOn the effort tor time. Shortly
aferWarl the sixth Corps ite march through the
Wilderness both my ent-nates killed. as they
anticipated, and for fifteen years nave slept
in unknown graves. The letter have
kept memento OF my brave comrades
know not what the world may think say u this stOrYi
1 only know that We were IN earnest about II, and
give the readers Of The TRIBUNE evidence
OF NJ. Greeeys estimate OF tne characters mentioned.
Summit. ohio, 4prt "A, 1879 sixth Cops"
MP GPFEI FY'S RTpIY