Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-01-25

Walker Taylor's Scheme for the Alb.
duction of President
Lincoln.

Mr. William Preston Johnston, who served
on Jefferson Davis staff, and is n son of the
late Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, ina recent
Interview with Gath" remarked: 81 was
present ut IA breakfast at President Davis
mansion when proposition wills made t. him
to abiuct Abraham Lincoln cut Of Washing
ton City and bring him Il prisoner to Rich
mond"
"Who was the MANI" said l.
1T was Walker Taylor, n 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 i'll Louisville. |
never knew n Taylor who was not personally
brave. Walker Taylor was one of the
bravoSt Of the brave. At Fort Donclson he
| was captured and taken to Louisville. He
WAS hadly wounded ut the time 1t was in
the month of February, think, while he
was standing in the line of prisoners, IA friend
close at hand slipped an overcoat upon him
and he stepped out nf the lines into the crowd
and could not le found Wounded l> he was
he was concealed from house Ia house, AMI
searched for, and after no got better he re-
| solved Ia go to the south again. So he came
east to Washington City AMI went south
probably 10y the same route that Booth after
ward took, across the lower Potomac.
"The Kcntuckians were not like the Mis-
sourians in tho war, AMI always protected
each other though on different sides Those
| TaylorS had two brothers on ono side and
two on the other Walker Taylor had
members Of his family in high government
positions-some in tho navy, SOM in tho
army, some in the civil service. They wcre
astonished to see him around there unIarol,sl,
going at large. Still they did not give him
up; they cntrcated him either t. take tho
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, AMI,
seeing that he limped, said to him: i sce
that You have been wounded, my friend.
Where did you get your woundF AT Fort
Donelson, Mr. president said Taylor. Tho
president paid him n compliment. little sup
posing that ut his wrist was one of the most
| deadly men in the world.
"When Taylor left Washington and came to
| Richmond he came to see me, knowing that |
was President Davis aldo de camp, ana ho
said: Johnston, can capture Abe Lincoln
| and bring him to Richmond, AMI all want
is the permission of President Davis to do it,
Can't you get me an interview with Davis.H
Said !, Yes and l 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: MIR.
Taylor has an important proposition Ia make
to you, Mr. Davis We'll, Walker said
Davis affaby. what is it, Mr.. Davis |
want to bring Abe Lincoln n prisoner to you
In this city oh, pshawr said Davis, how
can such thing rs that be doner just as
easy said Taylor, as walking out of this
town. | came across the Potomac mt no
great distance from Washington City. and
while was in Washington l watched Lin
coins habits closely. AMI knew his outgoing
and incoming / tell you, sir, that | can
bring him across that river just rs easily Us
can walk over Your doorstep How would
you do itf said Mr. Davis.
Lincoln replied Walker Taylor, does
not leave the White House till evening. Or
near twilight, and then, with only II driver,
he takes lonely ride into the country, to u
place called the Soldiers home, which is his
summer residence My point Il to collect
several Of these Kentuckians whom l SEQ
about here doing nothing, and who are brave
| enough for such thing rs that, and We will
throttle or kill the driver and gag Lincoln,
run him down to the Potomac, and cross him
over just where crossed. AMI next day we
will have him here Mr. Davis Davis shook
his head. Said he: 4 cannot give my
authority Walker. In the first place. sup
pose that Lincoln is a man of some courage.
He has beon in Indian war, and is western
man. He would undoubtedly resist
being captured. In that case You would kill
him. l could not stand the imputation Of
having consented to let Mr.. Lincoln H. assLs-
sinated Our cause could not stand it. Be
sides, what value would In bo To us as a
prisoner. The moment hn was removed q
far worse man, Andrew johnson. would take
his place, a man highly nccnsosl against us
all. Lincoln is not the government Of the
Federal power. He is merely the political in
strument there lf h. were brought to Rich
mond, what could do with him. lie would
have to I've treated like the magistrate Of the
north, and We have neither the time nor the
provision. No, sir, will not give my author
ity to alSluct Lincoln"
"Do you think that Walker c"nld have
been successful, Col. Johnstonf'
Eyes. Booth chose a theatre to kill the
president in, AMI got across the river withou!
much trouble. Taylor was one Of the l@s,i
men in the world for an adventure like that u