The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-06
sUGGRsTTVR RUINS
The Plot to Capture or Kill Grant
and Sherman in a Jackson Hotel.


Correspondents of the Globe Democrat
JACKSON, MISS, Jan. l4-North of the
Capitol grounds are still 10 be seen m,
ruins of the Bowman House Il was :
four-story structure and loomed up only "a
little inferior in proportions to the Cant
tol itself. Before the war jackson had a
hotel commensurate with her importance:
the same can not be said now. This site
like those of the State institutions, is ON
the summit of the ridge which forms the
eastern line Of Jackson. To the west tho
slope inclines gradually, and there is the
| city. To the east the ridge falls away
suddenly. At the base of il is a stretch of
| bottom land half mile wide. 1t is most
| " unoccupied now save by the track and
structures of the fair ground. During the
war 1t was bare field losing itself in the
seemingly impenetrable swamp of Pearl
River. The highways out of Jackson lead
north, west and south, none of them east
ward. To 90 in that direction requires a
detour some distance north or south.
This explanation of the location is neces-
sary to the better understanding of one of
the bold schemes planned by daring Mis-
sissippian. The project seems 50 feasible
to look back upon that the wonder is that
il failed of execution. When the Federal
army moved Oh the rear of Vicksburg the
route was by way of jackson, and for sew
eral days headquarters was here. Both
Grant and Sherman stopped at the time IN
the Bowman House. To the eastward, in
the adjoi hing county of Rankin, near
Brandon, lay Joe Johnston with $4,000 or
10000 troops. He was twenty-five miles
away, and directly between him and Jack
son Law the Pearl river and the swamps.
sVak,1 oh Inv he
bridge and road south of the city, and a
strong body Of Federal soldiery guarded
that The troops we're coming from the
south and being moved out west toward
Vicksburg. Those that camped here did
so to the westward of the Bowman House.
sMYLIE's PLAN.
So it happened that with their staff
officers and few orderlies Grant
and Sherman were in the hotel, and
there was no guard on the east
furtner than the swamp, supposed to be
painless, afforded. Seen from the ridge
there was no break in the wall of green
which rose at the edge of the swamp. Hun
ters and few old residents of the county
knew of a wagon trial which entered the
swpmp at one of the points nearest TO the
Capitol II wound among the tangled un-
derbrush and the fallen trees and led 20 n
ford of the river, one of the few shallow
places in the stream. A citizen of Jackson
slipped through the Federal lines, made
his way to Johnston's headquarters near
Brandon and told of the situation. John
NJ. Smylie, now Swamp Land Commis-
sioner of Mississippi, was a member of
JOhnston's staff. He had grown up near
Brandon and knew the country foot by
foot. II occurred 10 him that a night raid
upon the Bowman House by determined
band could be made, which would result in
he capture or killing of Grant and Sher-
nan and their stats. There could be
no discovery of the purpose before
he command reached the edge of the
swamp. Then there remained only n
lash of half a mile, the climb of n hill
and the storming Of the hotel. The chances
we're desperate. The surprise might not
be so complete as was expected, and few
might return to tell of the daring deed.
Still the game was big and worth the try
ing. Smylie detailed his plan 20 Gen.
Johnston. The latter listened and said he
would take till dark to think about 1t.
Meanwhile Smylie went about his prepara-
lions He made his selections Of the men,
forty of them, to accompany him. They
we're told that the mission was dangerous
one but that there was great Esegy in IL.
They asked for no more explicit explana-
ton. Night came and lhe little party was
waiting the word TO saddle up. Smyle
went TO the commander for the order
which would give sanction TO the under
taking