New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-07
PRICE THREE CENTS
ANDREW JOHNSON'S PLOT.
HOW THE CoNsPIRATORs WERE FoILED.
FORCES ORGANIZED FOR THE OVERTHROW OF THE
GoyERNMENr-woRK OF IBE SECRET SERVICE.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


(BY TELEGR,rH TO THE TRIBUNE
ST. PAUL, Nov. CDR. w. 5. Collins,
OF Fargo, Oak, who Assistant Adtutant-Gen-
eral OF the Grand Army OF the Republic at Washington
at the time OF the Johnson conspiracy says relative to
the statement contained In the letter recently written
10y Chauncey NJ Depew: johnson determined upon
stsntons removal and the overthrow of the constituted
authority and issued order TO General Emery, COM
mander Military Department. certain troops
then guarding the War and Navy Departments removed
and replaced 10y others who known to be more In
sympathy with the Presidents purposes. The order was
issued direct and General Emery refused 10 recognize
IT, Being called before the President TO answer he
again refused recognize obey order not passing
through the regular military channels.
About this time IL was discovered that attack was
contemplated from Virginia aDd Maryland for the cap
ture OF the departments, aud about midnight 1eherai
Logan then Comm ander r. Chief. and General f. @.
Chinman Adiutant General OF the Grand Army OF the
Republic hurrIedly summoned to tho war Depart
ment. One hour later I received similar summons
and on reaching the department found General Grant,
one or more members of his stan, and Generals o. o.
Howard Logan and Chapman III consultation with tho
Secretary OF War;
"I was informed OF the contemplated move
ment and tho probable necessity for calling upon the
Grand Army OF the Republic Washington, which then
COMPRISED good organization, to aid IA repeliing any
movement OF the kind contemplated. Signals ana
points for rally and arming established and LEFT
the Department about O'Clock Win autnor
y 10 make necessary preparations and have charge OF
a special secret service force. Immediately on
quitting the war Office to the honse of tho Com
mander OF Grand Army OF the Republic and with him
to the houses OF officers IA turn sending them out 20 give
the alarm and necessary Instructions TO the members
On returning to National Headquarters preparations
were entered for receiving the secret service re-
ports and giving notification TO the Grand Army as
large through department officers, Of tho impending
crisis and the possible necessity for the early call upon
the old defenders 10 the rescue OF the Nation
Thrse notices were with promises amounting
in the aggregate TO 100000 men ready to respond
To the call The secret service forces were sent into
every Southern state and kept close watch on the
White House and all suspected prominent consprators
II was discovered that meetings OF prominent men,
either engaged Ia the conspiracy or In sympathy WIN
t. we're being frequently held and that force was oeing
organized and equipped In the Immediate nelShDorhooo
of Washington. One force In Virginia which hao
boen organized and equipped from Washington and
Baltimore was dsbanded by the sending OF two cempa-
MES Of United states troops under trusted officer to
tho .e. of .aulzation aud notice conveyed to the
other forces Of what penalty would be Tor any overt
act
1.-THE President and leaders became aware OF the
nrop,rstions going Oh aud overwhelmed with dis
NAV at the near approach Of retrbutIve justice
liable to overtsKe the cOnsprators. And wen
founded was their fear for the first movement OK any
Organized force OF the consprators IN the direction OF
Washington would been answered by thousands Oh
the Old veterans rushing arms nler the guidance oil
their Old commander Ift ever becomes public VINO the
me. we're VINO entered the conspiracy with Johnson
the list will include names OF some VINO helu h's '''
al tho time"