The National tribune., 1885-11-19
UNCLE DANIELS STORY.
Continued from 1st page.)

know what was to be DONE if anything should
this attempt to capture these men fail. Quite
a discussion here arose, during which consider
able feeling was shown on the part of some OF
the Southern men. Finally they determined
to recommend that Wilkes, Page Aston and
Durham be put i'll charge and organize for the
purpose mentioned, and that they receive
their Instructions directly from Jacob Thom-
linson. One Of these men should go to
| Richmond with G. g. Carey there meet
| Durham and consult with the authorities as to
the route to be adopted in getting into and out of
| Washington, and the means to be also adopted
for their assistance and protection; also that,
| III the event of failure in capturing either of
! these men, in that case they, or some of them,
were to return to Canada and confer further
| with IhOmlnsOn; and whatever measures he
and they should adopt that looked like bring
ing success were to be carried ont, with the
| understanding that the assem- mbiyaSsented: and
| appointed Mr.. ThOmins0n, with full power to
act as fully as if the matter had been laid be-
| fore the assembly and agreed to by q vote
| This concluded the business of the dele
| gates, and they adjourned TO meet on the call
Of the Grand Commander at any future time
| when necessary for the benefit of the cause of
the Coniederacy. Henry remained day or so
| in order to note any further developments
| Carey and Page left at once for Richmond, in
| tending to make their way in disguise by rail
| into West Virginia, and from there to Rich
mond. Wilkes started for New York and
| Aston for Buffalo. They were to make their
way to Baltimore, and meet there OH a certain
day and remain until Page should return from
Richmond with Durham. They were then to
have an understanding as to how they should
operate. Before leaving they all had a secret
meeting with ThOmlinSon, but what instruc-
tions they received of private nature Henry
did not know, except that he learned if
their scheme should fail, one or more of them
! were TO come at once to Canada and consult
further with Thomlinson as to future opera
tions.
:" had this written in full by Henry, and
leaving him and his wife, Seraine, with what
of cur family was lett, telegraphed to the
President:
:" Stay indoors; important: am comingI
(Signed) DANIEL
Z" then left for Washington, feeling that
time was important. The desperation of these
men was such that they would undertake an
enterprise of any kind and the condition of
the Confederacy such that nothing less than
some heroic remedy would avail anything for
them. When l arrived at Washington it was
early In the morning. l directed my steps
toward the Executive Mansion. On arriving
at the door the usher recognized me- but said
that the President had not been to breakfast.
u said: do not wish to disturb him. but
it is very important that see him before any
crowd comes in. | will remain here
He stepped in and very soon returned, and
at once showed me to the Presidents office up
stairs. He was waiting for me, and as | entered
he came forwarded with both hands extended,
and said, My dear friend Lyon, how are you?'
Il answered him in sad tone as to nv
health. He spoke of my great affections in the
most tender manner, and inquired as to the
telegram.
Il said: Mr.. President, this paper handing
him Henry's report, will explain it,
He said: This is long paper-as long as
II &c,
expect you have been writing one for me?'
81 replied that it was an important message
for President. At this he laughed and said
49, That is quite good, and is very wise dis
tinction but said he, we will not read it
now. When we get our breakfast that will do,
will it not?'
replied: 'Yes, perhaps it will
He would have me take breakfast with
him. His family only were present, and we all |
conversed freely, but principally about the late |
election and our success in the West against |
Head, and the prospects of Silent against Laws. |
lie was feeling very happy and confident of |
final success. He told me about he and the |
Secretary OF State having just returned from |
Hampton Roads, where they had met the Vice
President of the Southern Confederacy and |
others on peace mission; but said he, it |
was the same kind of peace that the Copper |
heads have been preaching in favor of, under |
Instructions from Richmond and the rebel |
After breakfast we returned to his Office |
He instructed his usher that he could see no /
one for the present After being seated, he
drew the paper that had given him from his |
side pocket and commenced reading. Very
soon he exhibited some little excitement, rang
his bell and sent for the Secretary of War, who
soon came in and was seated. After exchang-
ing compliments with myself, the President |
continued. When he had finished he turned
to me and said:
This is the most extraordinary thing that
have ever read or heard of, in or out of his
tory. Mr.. Secretary, please read this
The Secretary read it very carefully and
This is what they are coming to;
they will stop at nothing But the most sur
prising part of all is the attitude of your Vice
President What can he mean by hob nobbing |
with those traitors and having interviews with
one of their principal leaders inside of our
lineS?'
50 Yes said the President; .this is strange
indeed
After further conversation it was deter
mined TO have the Cabinet officers meet that day.
The President also directed the Secretary of
War to ask Gen. Silent to be at the Executive
Mansion the next morning. He asked me to
remain in Washington and come to see him the
next day at 10 O'clock and not to fail left
and went to the Owen House and took room.
"While there l met man in rather delicate
health, who said his name was Aston; that he
was Canadian, and had come to Washington
ON account of the mildnesS of the climate. He
was about five feet ten inches in hight hazel
eyes, light hair, with small goatee; was quite
a nervous man, moving his hands, or sitting
down and immediately rising again, picking
his teeth, or pulling his goatee. l remembered
the mans name as that of one of the conspira-
tors, and marked him well. On inquiry l
found he only arrived the day before and was
as he said, to remain for some time
in order to test the climate in his case. / STEP
ped up to the War Department, and finding my
friend, the Secretary, in asked him to send
detective with me, and he did so. put him on
the man and said no more to any one until l
met the President and others the next day.
At 10 o'clock next morning | appeared at
the Mansion and was admitted at once. On
entering the Presidents office Imet Gen. Silent.
Having met him at Chatteraugus and elsewhere
he recognized me, and after the usual compli-
ments asked me about Gen Anderson. | told
him my misfortunes, of the last of which he
was not aware. He said no more for short
time; he then asked me if Gen. Anderson
would not like to come East and have better
had been given command equal to his ability,
and he would order him East if agreeable.
wrote the General as soon as l returned to my
hotel.
The conversation was then turned to the
report of Henry. The President seemed serious,
md said the astounding statement about the
ce-President worried him, and yet, he said, it |
VAS almost incradbe