The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-15
REoALL4NG A WAR INCIDENT.
What is Maid About the Plan TO Cap
ture President incoin.

What is said About the Plan to Cap
ture President iacoin.
Referring to the attempted capture of
President Abraham Lincoln, the .Phila-
delphia Press couples the name of Mr.. @.
Irving Ditty, and says that "Mr. Ditty
commanded the rebel cavalry company
(which was detailed to capture Mr.. Lin
coin, in pursuance of the first plot ar
ranged by Wilkes Booth and John H.
Surratt.
To this statement Mr. Ditty takes ex-
ception, and this morning publishes an
account of the expedition, which reads
as follows
"My regiment. First Maryland Cav
airy, commanded by Colonel. afterward
General Bradley T. Johnson, of this
city, in June, 1854, was lying near Rich
mond, together with large force of
other cavalry, when we were ordered
north, with several days rations. l was
quite unwell at the outset, grew worse,
and on the first night of the march was
hurt by horse. applied for short
sick leave, when General johnson, stat
ing that very important movements were
on foot which he could not disclose, but
in which would regret not to share,
urged me to remain with the command.
l did so.
"a few days afterward we met General
Sheridan a, Trevillian Station and fought
him for three days, when we returned to
Richmond and we marched on Washing
ton and Point Lookout, in lower Mary
land, where there was large number of
Confederate prisoners, whom we intended
to release.
81 heard nothing more, except vague
rumors of the movement to which Cen
eral johnson referred, until after the
war closed, when l learned that General
johnson, not Booth, had planned the cap
ture of Mr.. Lincoln at the Soldiers
Home, near Washington, where he was
then spending the summer. This plan
would doubtless have been executed or
attempted, had not General Early Or
dered General johnson to cover his rear
while he (Early) advanced on General
Hunter at Lynchburg."
The name of General johnson being
so intimately connected with this cir
cumstance, and Mr.. Ditty being respons-
ibe for the assertion that General
Johnson, not Booth, had planned the
capture of Mr.. Lincoln at the Soldiers
Home, near Washington" News re-
porter called on General johnson this
morning at his Office, and in a conversa-
ton CLEANED the following facts from
chat gentleman.
The General said that after the great
cavalry battle between Hampton and
Sheridan at Trevillian, on June 10th
and 11th, he obtained permission from
Hampton to proceed with his command,
First Maryland Cavalry and Balls Light
Artillery, to Maryland, where the plan
was to make a rapid raid on the Sol
diers' Home, where President Lincoln
stayed at night, capture MIN, and send
him back to Virginia under an escort,
while Johnson's force was to be divided
into two parties, one to cross the Poto-
mac about the Point of Rocks and the
other above Williamsport.
This plan was frustrated by Early Or
denng johnson to guard the lower val
lev, while he went after Hunter at
Lynchburg; and after that he placed
Johuson in command of his advance into
Maryland and as his rear guard on his
withdrawal from the State; therefore,
there was neither time, inclination nor
opportunity to attempt it.
Neither Hampton, johnson nor Ditty
had at that time ever heard the names of
Booth or Surratt, and did not know that
such men existed. The plan of the cap
ture OF Lincoln waSa military plan, or
iginated by soldiers and to be executed
and carried out by soldiers, acting under
military orders, and had in no way,
shape, manner or form any connection
with any other plan whatever.
1t was known to Hampton and John
son alone, and the latter afterwards
communicated it to Early. In conse-
quence of the communication Early for
bade him, Johnson, from making direct
to Maryland TO try to carry the plan out
and ordered him to cover his rear until
he marched to Lynchburg to head off
Hunter.
Capt. Ditty, Gen. johnson says, never
knew nor heard Of any such plan until
after the war.