Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-11-27
A BOLD REBEL PLOT.
Walker Taylor's Scheme for the Alb
duction of President
Lincoln. fe

Mr. William Preston Johnston, who served
on Jefferson Davis staff and is son of the
late Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, ina recent
interview with ':Gath," remarked: 81 was
present at breakfast at President Davis
mansion when q proposition was made to him
to abduct Abraham Lincoln out of Washing
ton City and bring him prisoner to Rich
mond.n @
who was the man?' said 1.
''It was Walker Taylor, a nephew of old
President Zachary Taylor. At the beginning
of the war went into the First Kentucky
regiment, commanded by Tom Taylor, who
is now the chief Of police in Louisville.
never knew q Taylor who was not personally
brave. Walker Taylor was one of the
bravest of the brave. At Fort Donelson he
was captured and taken to Louisville He
was badly wounded at the time. It was in
the month of February, think, while he
was standing in the line of prisoners, a friend |
close at hand slipped an overcoat upon him
end he stepped out of the lines into the crowd
and could not be found. Wounded as he was,
he was concealed from house to house, and
searched for, and after he got better he re-
solved to go to the south again. So he came
east to Washington City and went south
ward took, across the lower Potomac.
''The Kentuckians were not like the Mis-
sourians in the war, and always protected
each other, though on different sides. Those
Taylors had two brothers on one side and
two on tho other Walker Taylor had
members of his family in high government
positions-some in the navy, some in the
army, some in the civil service. They were
astonished to see him around there unparoIed,
going at large. Still they did not give him
| up; they entreated him either to take the
oath Or leave Among other places he went
to the White House to call on Abraham Lin
coin. He got some body to introduce him.
Mr.. Lincoln treated him with courtesy, and,
seeing that he irlped, said to him: 4 see
that you have been wounded, my friend.
| Where did you get your woundp tAt Fort
Donelson, Mr. PRESIDENT said Taylor. The
| president paid him compliment, little sup
| posing that at his wrist was one Of the most
| deadly men in the world.
| "When Taylor left W ashington and came to
| Richmond he came to see me, knowing that
| was President Davis aide de camp, and be
| said: Johnston, can capture Abe Lincoln
| and bring him to Richmond, and all / want
| is the permission Of President Davis to do it.
! Can't you get me an interview with Davisp
| Said |, Yes and arranged with the presi
dent that he should come to breakfast the
| next day. at the breakfast table, or after
the breakfast, said to the president: 'Mr
Taylor has an important proposition to make
| 20 you, Mr. Davis well, Walker said
Davis affably. what is 1T! Mr.. Davis.
want TO bring Abe Lincoln a prisoner to you
in this city on, pshawr said Davis, 'hovg
can such thing as that be doneP Just as
easy said Taylor 'as walking out of e.:
town l came across the Potomac at no
great distance from Washington City, AMI
while was in Washington l watched Liz
coins habits closely, and knew his outgoing
and incoming. I tell you, sir, that l can
bring him across that river Just as easily as
can walk over your doorstep How would
you do it9 said Mr.. Davis.
@-Lincoln, replied Walker Taylor, does
not leave the White House till evening, OF
near twilight, and then, with only a driver
! he takes . lonely ride into the country, to a
place called the Soldiers home, which is his
summer residence My point is to collect
several of these Kentuckians whom i see
about here doing nothing, and who are brave
enough for such thing as that, and we vii
throttle or kill the driver and gag Lincoln
run him down to the Potomac, and cross hin
over just where crossed, and next day W.
will have him here, Mr.. Davis Davis shool
his head. Said he: I cannot give N,
a1tEority, Walker. In the first place, sup
pose that Lincoln is a man of some courage
He has bsen in Indian war, and is 8 western
IMAM He would undoubtedly resis
being captured. In that case you would XII
him l could not stand the impatation O
having consented to let Mr.. Lincoln be asas
sinated. Our cause could not stand it. Be
sides, what value would he be to US as
prisoner. The moment he was removed
far worse man, Andrew johnson, would tax
his place. man highly incensed against U
all. Lincoln is not the government of th
Federal power. He is merely the political il
i stTument there. If he were brought to Rich
J mond, what could do with him? He woul
have TO be treated Ike the magistrate of tn
g north, ard we have neither the time nor til
provision. No, sir, viii not give my author
3 ity to abdrct Lincoln.'n
''Do you think that Walker could hav
5 been successful Col. JohnstonF'
g Eyes. Booth chose q theatre to kill tn
president in, and got across the river withou
much trouble. Taylor was one of the be>
= meR in the world for an adventure like that.