The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-28
Mr.. Jacob Thompson's Connection with the
Plots to Scatter Smallpox and Yellow
Fever Through the North.
For Him the Interior Department Closes
and the National Flag Drops.
ThOmpsOn's Reports to the Richmond Govern
ment-The Plots to Release Rebel Pris-
Oners and Invade the Loyal States.
INcENDIARIsM AND INFECTION.


II. v. B.. in Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
The record of Thompson's operations as the
confederate agent in Canada exists in his own
handwriting in reports which he made to jeff
Davis, and which documents are now in the pos
session of the government. From these papers
it appears that he established his headquarters
at Toronto. His first move was to put himself
in communication with the Knights of the Golden
Circle, and furnish them money to hold meet
ings at Peoria, Indianapolis, and other points in
Illinois, Ohio and Indiana. He spent $25. 900
upon the meeting at Peoria, but it did not yield
very rich return. At the same time he pur-
chased lot of arms and sent them to Indianap-
lis, to be used in case instruction could be in
cited. The day fixed for tho outbreak became
known to Mr.. Mcdonald and he threatened to
expose all concerned unless the project was
abandoned.
A scheme was then concocted to capturea gov
eminent steamer on the lake. release the prison
ers on Johnsons island attack and burn San
dusky and Cleveland and to release the prison
ers at Camp Douglas, Ill, and burn Chicago He
also provided money to pay men dispatched to
burn steamboats, on the Western rivers, whish
resulted in great loss of life among persons not
in the military service.
money has been advanced" writes Thompson
to Davis Ito Mr.. Churchill, of Cincinnati, to or
ganize corps for the purpose of incendiarism
in that city. consider him true man. AS
yet he has effected but little I am in constant
expectation of hearing of effective work in that
quarter"
Thompson's attempt to burn New York is
thus reported to Davis: Having nothing else
on hand, Colonel Martin expressed wish to
burn New York city. He was allowed to do so,
and most dayng attempt has been made to fire
that city, but the reliance on the Greek fire has
proved misfortune. 1t cannot be depended on
as an agent in such work. have no faith what
ever in it, and attempt shall hereafter be
made, under my general directions, with any
such materials"
OF Thompsons success as an incendiary he re-
great amount of property has been destroyed by
burning. Several parties claim to have done the
work in St Louis, New Orleans, Louisville.
Brooklyn, Philadelphia and at Cairo
He recommends "for the future" plans ito
burn whenever it is practicable, and thus make
the men Of property to feel their insecurity. and
tire them out in the war. The attempt on New
York has produced a great panic, which will not
subside at their bidding
AS to Thompson's connection with the plot to
introduce yellow fever into Washington, into
President Lincolns family and into the armies
about Washington, records in possession Of the
Government show that Thompson and one Dr.
Luke Blackburn roomed together at ST. Law
IIo1l
and G. Clay were engaged in their plots to burn
cities From this point Blackburn, under in
structions, went to Hnvana and Bermuda, where
trunks of new clothing were infected with black
vomit and clothing from patients who had died
Of yellow fever. These were then sent to New
York, and thence to Washington for sale
in this city and to the suffers in the army
With the lot sent to Washington was a
valise containing a new suit fully infected
and intended as present to Mr.. Lincoln. Some
of those trunks were captured by the United
States consul at Bermuda, who reported to the
State Department that the trunks being taken
to the quarantine station and opened, "were
found to contain wearing apparel and bedding,
made up in small packages decently clean, with
dirty flannel shirts and drawers on the outside,
all evidently taken from sick bed. Inter
mingled with these packages some poultices and
many other things. which could have been placed
there for no legitimate purpose. were found, the
whole of which were buried by direction of the
health officer"
Some Of the goods Of this character were sent
to Halifax and there DR.. Blackburn engaged
one Joseph Hyams to take them to Washington
ho1 hcap hx,o Of he fa1a
agents at Montreal to meet Blackburn on his
arrival at Halifax. The following extracts from
the testimony of Hyams at the trial Of Mr. Lin
coins assassins is sufficiently detailed to show
the character of the plot and Mr.. Thompson's
connection with it:
After relating his arrival at Halifax and meet
ing Blackburn. he continued:
~ then went around to Dr. Blackburn and told
him had got the goods off the steamer He told
me that the five trunks tied up with ropes were
the ones for me to take, and asked me If would
take the vaise into the States and send it by ex-
press, with an accompanying letter, as dona-
ton to President Lincoln l objected to taking
it, and refused to do it. / then took three of the
trunks to Messrs. w. l.. Wall & Co., commission
merchants in this city, and four to a man by the
name of Myers from Boston, a sutler in Sigels
or Weitzels division He said he had some
goods which he was going to take to Newberne
N. c., and I told him that had lot of goods
that l wanted to sell, and to make the best mar
ket could for them / would turn them over to
him on commission. ] also told him I would
shortly have more and mentioned that
had disposed of some to Wall e. Co.,
of this city. DIR. Blackburn told me
I should tell the parties to whom I disposed my
goods that l would have big lot to sell, as it
was in contemplation to get together about a
million dollars worth Of goods and dispose of
them in this way Br. Blackburn stated that
his object in having these goods disposed of IN
different cities was to destroy the armies. or any
body that they came in contact with. All these
goods, he told me, had been carefully infected in
contagious diseases. The goods in the valises
which were intended for President Lincoln. /
understood him to say, had been infected both
with yellow fever and smallpox. This valise